The qualifying will take place under clouds. There are 17°C in the air and 33°C on the track. The wind speed is relatively raised (3,5 m.s) and the rate of humidity is close to 46 %.

Felipe Massa remains the Caliph of Istanbul with three poles consecutive (on 2006, 2007 and 2008). In the afternoon, he signs the exceptional time of 1'27"617. The first line will be completed by Heikki Kovalainen. Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Räikkönen will have to content themself with observers' places. Robert Kubiça is the fifth. Mark Webber raises himself on the sixth rank in front of Fernando Alonso. Jarno Trulli is eighth. Nick Heidfeld is only ninth. David Coulthard ends tenth. "Q2" sees the exclusion from five drivers besides tries. Nico Rosberg fails near the top 10. German considers eleventh. Rubens Barrichello is classified twelfth. The pauliste is followed by his team-mate. Sebastian Vettel occupies the fourteenth position. He signs a remarkable performance with his modest STR-02B. Timo Glock is fifteenth. It is rather disappointing in comparison with Jarno Trulli's result. At the conclusion of the first part, the eighth, ninth and tenth lines come to light finally… Kazuki Nakajima is sixteenth. Williams driver outstrips distraught Nelsinho Piquet. This beginning of season is certainly extremely difficult for the young Brazilian. We look forward to a reaction of his part !… Sebastien Bourdais is eighteenth. Force India drivers are last.

To note : 2:08 pm, Kazuki Nakajima visits the relief roads after a big spin.