Heidfeld thrilled with 'unexpected' third.

Nick Heidfeld was left somewhat stunned by his third place starting position for the Italian Grand Prix, the German claiming BMW Sauber's pace in qualifying had come as something of a surprise.

Although both he and team-mate Robert Kubica had shown considerable pace in final practice and test driver Sebastian Vettel was quickest in both Friday practice sessions, Heidfeld admitted he wasn't expecting to be able to translate that pace into qualifying.

Nonetheless, having managed to trouble the top three times in both knockout sessions prior to the top ten shootout, BMW had clearly put themselves in a position to cause an upset, something Heidfeld duly exploited, improving the team's best qualifying position of fifth, a marker he set just two weeks ago in Turkey.

"This was pretty unexpected," the German said. "The recent test was not bad, but we didn.t know how we would go once we got here. I think this is my best qualifying lap of the year, although I lost time in the second sector. We opted for low downforce and it suits our car.

"Before we were quick in practice, but could not carry it over to qualifying. We have seen a change of trend in the last two races as we have been able to take this speed over to qualifying. I had a well balanced car and we made a good tyre choice, which was not easy as both types of tyres we have are good. The race will be difficult, but as I am starting third my aim is to finish third! As a new team we are very, very happy."

Indeed, the BMW package has proved strongest at faster, lower downforce circuits this year, with the powerful V8 unit regularly going through the speed traps fastest, something that allowed Robert Kubica to set the fastest first sector of the day, closely followed by Heidfeld.

However, the Pole was unable to extend that pace through to the rest of the lap, making a mistake through Lesmo on his best attempt and eventually having to settle for seventh on the grid, still his best result in the three races he has competed for BMW. Nonetheless, while Kubica was encouraged by the team's pace, he was disappointed not to have been higher on the grid.

"This was another good qualifying for us," he said. "In all my three F1 race qualifyings I was in the top ten times, but I ruined my last lap time. At the first Lesmo I went wide and with the tyres dirty I was sliding a lot in the second Lesmo. I'm pretty optimistic for the race as I believe right tyres."

Unsurprisingly, Mario Theissen was also over the moon, the BMW Motorsport director thrilled that he could continue such a strong run of form on a circuit where it was their engine in the back of Juan Pablo Montoya's Williams that clinched the fastest lap in Formula One of all time.

"That was a great qualifying for our team with the best result so far this season," he beamed. "For the first time one of our cars, with Nick driving, has made it onto the second row of the grid.

"Everything worked out perfectly for Nick. Unfortunately Robert made a mistake in the second sector on his final fast lap. Despite this, starting seventh is also a good position for him. It was very positive that in the second and third parts of qualifying we were equally as good with and without fuel."