Kovalainen takes first pole at Silverstone

By Alan Baldwin

SILVERSTONE, England (Reuters) - McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen took the first pole position of his Formula One career at the British Grand Prix on Saturday after lapping more than half a second quicker than his rivals.

The 26-year-old Finn roared around the former World War Two airfield in one minute 21.049 seconds, with Australian Mark Webber second fastest in 1:21.554 in gusty and changeable conditions.

"Well done, you're on pole by a mile," he was told over the radio after depriving Red Bull's Webber of what would have been his and his team's first pole with the last lap of the session.

Ferrari's world champion Kimi Raikkonen, Kovalainen's compatriot, qualified third but ahead of his title rivals.

Britain's Lewis Hamilton was unable to match his 2007 Silverstone pole with fourth place for McLaren after running wide into the gravel on his first flying lap.

Championship leader Felipe Massa was ninth for Ferrari, the Brazilian's worst showing of the season, after being delayed in the pits while mechanics struggled to remove his car's right rear wheel.

"Tomorrow I can definitely expect to be fighting all race long to move up the order and I will do all I can to bring home a good result. But it won't be easy," he said.

Poland's Robert Kubica, second overall in the standings, was 10th for BMW-Sauber after being sidelined by handling problems that allowed German team mate Nick Heidfeld to outqualify him for the first time this year in fifth place.