McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen dashed Michael Schumacher's hopes of pole position yesterday for what could be the Ferrari great's Italian Grand Prix farewell.
The Finn, widely expected to be announced as Schumacher's successor at the Italian glamour team after today's race, pipped the seven-times champion by just 0.002 seconds in the Monza sunshine.
Schumacher, 12 points behind Renault's Fernando Alonso in the championship battle with four races remaining, lines up alongside on the front row.
Spaniard Alonso was dropped from fifth to 10th place on the starting grid for impeding Ferrari's Felipe Massa during qualifying.
In the evening, race stewards ordered that the Spaniard be stripped of his three best qualifying laps from the final session.
Alonso suffered a rear right tyre failure during the final session, limping back to the pits with the clock ticking down before roaring back out to cross the line for his final flying lap just one second before the chequered flag.
Sauber's Nick Heidfeld was third and shares the second row with Massa, winner of the last race in Turkey.
Raikkonen's third pole of the season, and 11th of his career, left the Finn with a hope at least of giving McLaren a first win of the year.
"It was close but the car has been pretty good all weekend," he said.
"It wasn't a clean lap, there was quite a big moment at Ascari, but it was quick enough for pole. I think we have a good race car.
"I think it will come down to tyres, which tyre will last better," he added.
Schumacher's disappointment was tempered by Alonso's penalty and with Massa to act as a buffer.
"The car is going very well," said the German, whose future should be clarified after the race when Ferrari announce their 2007 driver line-up.
"It's a comfortable position... it would have been nice to be on pole but more important is what we may try and achieve tomorrow."
Schumi's decision
But, never mind who wins today's Grand Prix, the big question this weekend is what Schumacher, Formula One's most successful driver, will say afterwards.
After months of feverish speculation, the anticipation has reached boiling point. There is only one story in town and it is Schumacher's future.
Schumi fans fear the worst, a red-shirted army hoping against hope that Ferrari's champion does not do what many have predicted and announce that he is retiring at the end of the season.
"Michael, I beg you not to leave Ferrari," declared a handwritten banner in Italian on the main grandstand.
On the internet, there is an outpouring of messages urging the 37-year-old to stay.
Jackie Stewart, one of only a handful of F1 champions to have quit at the top, thinks otherwise.
"If he were to win the world championship this year, and he's got every chance to do it, he should retire categorically," the triple champion told Reuters.
"Sport, unlike business, requires an athlete to recognise that some of his human attributes eventually diminish and you want to be out before that happens," added the Scot.
"Tiger Woods will retire before he loses it. So, therefore, you've got to make that decision."