Felipe Massa described his return to pole position an “emotional” one after a five year drought, his last coming at the 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix.
The 33-year-old will start ahead of team-mate Valtteri Bottas in Williams first 1-2 since the 2003 German GP having managed to outpace the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg in third.
Speaking after, Massa said: “I am so happy with what has happened today. I am happy, very emotional. I am so pleased for me and Williams as well.
“For our team was such a great moment. It was already a long time ago when I had my last pole position, which was in Brazil 2008, so it’s such an incredible moment.
“For sure we need to concentrate on the race tomorrow. It will be a difficult and important race for us.
“The best place to be is here, the first place. It is something I got the chance to be many times in my whole career and I am again now.”
Massa knows the Mercedes pair will be strong, despite Lewis Hamilton starting ninth, but he says he’ll do everything he can to win the race.
“We cannot forget what Mercedes have been doing until now,” he added. “We cannot forget they have been ahead. At the moment they are in front, they are stronger and I hope during the championship we can close or even pass.
“We start in a better position and we need to see how Mercedes will be in the race but we will try everything we can, definitely.”
