BUDAPEST, Aug 2, 2008 (AFP) - World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton spearheaded a McLaren one-two to take pole position for Sunday´s Hungarian Grand Prix ahead of team-mate Heikki Kovalainen.

The English driver clocked 1min 20.899sec, just 0.2 seconds ahead of Finn Kovalainen to take his fourth pole of the season.

Ferrari´s Felipe Massa was third but team-mate and reigning champion Kimi Raikkonen could only finish sixth, over half-a-second adrift of Hamilton.

Hamilton will now bid to become the first driver to win three races in a row since Michael Schumacher triumphed in the United States, French and German grands prix two years ago.

And he admitted he was full of optimism that McLaren could achieve their first one-two of the year on Sunday.

"It would be great to have a 1-2 for the team," said Hamilton.

"The team deserve it and I think me and Heikki have been pushing hard so we both deserve it."

Hamilton also insisted that he can go even faster.

"I have a bit of time in the bag still. The car was great - Sector 1 was very strong and when I got to turn 4, the quick left, was fine, and when I got back to Turn 5 I locked up the right front wheel and it pushed me on a bit.

"It might be half a tenth or a tenth but it is all important. Luckily I could save it and the rest of lap was good. Heikki was quickest in final sector so he is pushing me hard."

"I feel safe to be in the position I am in, we have speed to push on and challenge for the win. Tomorrow is another day and I´ll make sure I do the preparations tonight and tomorrow morning."

BMW´s Robert Kibica overcame difficult conditions and will start in fourth while Toyota´s Timo Glock bagged his best qualifying position of fifth.

Germany´s Nick Heidfeld was the biggest casualty of the first qualifying session as the BMW driver could finish only 16th, waving his arm in anger and frustration as he crossed the line.

Heidfeld was joined by usual suspects Giancarlo Fisichella and Adrian Sutil of Force India with Honda´s Rubens Barrichello and Williams racer Kazuki Nakajima also missing out.

Nico Rosberg completed a disappointing afternoon for Williams as he failed to take to the track in the second session. Others going out were the Toro Rosso duo of Sebastien Bourdais and Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull´s David Coulthard and Honda´s Jenson Button.