ISTANBUL — Felipe Massa's bid to become only the fifth Formula One driver to win at the same circuit four straight years took a setback Saturday after the Brazilian qualified seventh for the Turkish Grand Prix.
Massa's previous victories here - and teammate Kimi Raikkonen's in 2004 - all came from pole position, making his chances of catching the front row of pole sitter Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button appear slim.
"A podium won't be easy so we need to think about the points," Massa said. "For sure we're not in a position to say we're fighting for victory."
Ferrari came to Istanbul with momentum following two straight positive performances - including Raikkonen's podium at Monaco - following its worst ever start to a season.
"It's not a step back," said Massa, who trails Formula One leader Button by 43 points. "No, for sure not. We keep working, improving the situation. Looking at the championship to now, we've improved a lot."
The two Ferrari drivers were at the top of the qualifying sheets through the first two sessions, but Massa said the added fuel load in the final phase left the Italians struggling for balance and battling oversteer on an already slippery track.
"We just couldn't put a lap together," Massa said. "I think that's the only explanation."
Raikkonen starts one spot ahead of Massa, but on the dirty side of the track. Both will be hoping that the KERS overtaking technology can help them move up the grid since all five cars in front aren't equipped with it.
"I don't know if it will be enough to gain a lot of positions but it's better to have the KERS than not," Massa said.
Massa said Vettel would likely be the fifth straight winner from pole if Red Bull hadn't left him too light on fuel.
"If he went again on a crazy strategy maybe Jenson has a chance to win the race. If he went on a reasonable strategy, he has a chance," the Ferrari driver said.
GROWING PAINS: The Istanbul Park Circuit's high-speed track and tricky corners have proven a tough right of initiation for Toro Rosso rookie Sebastien Buemi.
The Swiss driver will line up 18th for Sunday's Turkish Grand Prix, an unsurprising result considering the 21-year-old Swiss driver was slowest across both of Friday's practice sessions and 18th in Saturday's last practice.
"OK, starting 18th I'm not really thinking of a points finish, but we will still give it our best shot," Buemi said.
It's been a rough couple of races for Buemi and Toro Rosso, which will have Sebastien Bourdais starting last on the grid on Sunday.
After scoring points in two of his first three races, Buemi has failed to finish two of the three since.
He also personally apologized to Nelson Piquet Jr. for ending both their races at Monaco after crashing into the rear of the Renault driver.
Piquet Jr., who failed to finish six races in his rookie season last year, couldn't get past the first qualifying session for the third time in seven races after running off the track at turn eight due to a brake problem. The Brazilian driver will start 17th.
"I was being cautious, but it wasn't easy as the track was so slippery," Piquet Jr. said. "On the last run the problem got worse and I spun off."
DOUBLE TROUBLE: Although a new aerodynamic part didn't provide the miracle solution, BMW Sauber remained positive after its qualifying performance for the Turkish Grand Prix ranked as perhaps the team's worst.
The German team was running a double diffuser - a rear air vent that helps provide the car with better grip - for the first time this season. The push to add the piece that had provided leader Brawn GP with a key advantage to start the season came after Monaco, where Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica finished 16th and 17th, respectively.
The result: Kubica will start 10th and Heidfeld 11th at the high-speed Istanbul Park Circuit, where it is also ditching the KERS overtaking system.
"I have mixed feelings," Heidfeld said. "On one hand it is annoying to miss the top 10 qualifying by such a margin, but on the other I'm happy to see the progress we've made."
Kubica said BMW Sauber's car was clearly better suited to the track, but that pace was still missing.
"There are a lot of cars between us and the front row. It will be difficult," the Polish driver said.
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