Ferrari driver Felipe Massa starts today's Brazilian Grand Prix from pole position after Michael Schumacher's car suffered a problem, leaving him tenth on the grid.

World champion Fernando Alonso, driving his last race for the Enstone-based Renault F1 team before his move to McLaren, starts fourth on the grid The McLaren of Kimi Raikkonen joins Massa on the front row. On the second row alongside Alonso will be the Toyota of Jarno Trulli.

Behind Alonso was Rubens Barrichello in his Brackley-built Honda, Alonso's team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella and the second Toyota of Ralf Schumacher.

Alonso needs just a point from the race to be crowned back-to-back champion and become only the eighth driver in Formula One history to achieve such a feat.