The Finn's third career pole was his and struggling McLaren's first since the U.S. Grand Prix at Indianapolis last September.

"We had a really bad start to the season so it's good to get some results finally," said last year's championship runner-up. "I'm looking forward to the rest of the year."

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Raikkonen's time of one minute 18.233 seconds was 0.072 quicker than Ferrari's Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, last year's race winner from pole position who will line up alongside him on the front row.

Briton Jenson Button qualified third for BAR and starts on the second row alongside Ferrari's six times world champion Michael Schumacher, who will be chasing his 10th win in 11 races this weekend.

Italian Jarno Trulli in a Renault starts on the third row with Briton David Coulthard in the second McLaren alongside after Spaniard Fernando Alonso, who qualified sixth, was relegated 10 places for an engine change.

The session followed a bizarre pre-qualifying, with the threat of rain later in the afternoon prompting drivers to slow down to ensure an early slot for the decisive run.