Saturday, March 18, 2006
# posted by Rich @ 7:22 AM
Malaysia Qualifying: report
Tahniah Giancarlo! That means congratulations. Giancarlo Fisichella came through in qualifying to secure his first pole position of the year, and his first since Australia 2005, with a time 1:33.840. He just edged out Jenson Button by just over a tenth of a second. New boy Nico Rosberg put in a great performance to claim third on the grid with a time of 1:34.626, although he was clearly feeling the heat judging by the rate at which he was sweating in the interview room!
Rosberg's time was just 42 thousandths faster that Michael Schumacher who, even though he set the 4th fastest time, will take a 10 spot grid penalty for an engine change. Indeed, engine changes were the story of the day, with no fewer than 5 people - a new record for Formula 1 - having to take grid penalties becasue of engine changes. Not to sound immodest, but I did say that I was suspicious of the Ferrari engine's reliability!
The people affected by engine changes are Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa (who actually has taken two engine changes), Rubens Barrichello, David Coulthard, and Ralf Schumacher, whose engine failed during the second period of qulaifying just moments after crossing the line to set a time.
The cars eliminated in the first session were no surprises - both the Toro Rossos of Speed and Liuzzi, Both the Midlands of Albers and Monteiro, and both the Aguris of Sato and Ide.
The drivers eliminated from session 2 were Coulthard, Barrichello, Trulli, Villeneuve (who has a fresh engine this weekend), Heidfeld, and Massa, who didn't set a time in session 2.
There were some somewhat surprising performances in the final session of qualifying - Montoya beat out Raikkonen, and the two McLaren drivers will start 5th and 6th respectively. The biggest surprise was perhaps Alonso, whose performance compared to his team mate was rather slow. His time of 1:35.747 was almost 2 seconds slower than Fisichella. A very heavy fuel load might be the culprit, but even so, it seems a little suspicious.
So, the order for tomorrow's race, after all the grid penalties, will be Fisichella, Button, Rosberg, Webber, Montoya, Raikkonen, Alonso, Klein, Trulli, Villeneuve, Heidfeld, Speed, Liuzzi, M Schumacher, Albers, Monteiro, Sato, Ide, R Schumacher, Coulthard, Barrichello, and Massa.
So, it will be interesting to see how the race plays out - are the McLarens going to 1 stop with heavy fuel? How will Rosberg do? WIll Michael be able to do anything from 14th place? What will Alonso pull out of the bag? We shall have to wait and see.
Oh, andone last thing - I realise I forgot to give my prediction for pole. No matter, I would have been wrong anyway (I was going to say Button).
Rosberg's time was just 42 thousandths faster that Michael Schumacher who, even though he set the 4th fastest time, will take a 10 spot grid penalty for an engine change. Indeed, engine changes were the story of the day, with no fewer than 5 people - a new record for Formula 1 - having to take grid penalties becasue of engine changes. Not to sound immodest, but I did say that I was suspicious of the Ferrari engine's reliability!
The people affected by engine changes are Michael Schumacher, Felipe Massa (who actually has taken two engine changes), Rubens Barrichello, David Coulthard, and Ralf Schumacher, whose engine failed during the second period of qulaifying just moments after crossing the line to set a time.
The cars eliminated in the first session were no surprises - both the Toro Rossos of Speed and Liuzzi, Both the Midlands of Albers and Monteiro, and both the Aguris of Sato and Ide.
The drivers eliminated from session 2 were Coulthard, Barrichello, Trulli, Villeneuve (who has a fresh engine this weekend), Heidfeld, and Massa, who didn't set a time in session 2.
There were some somewhat surprising performances in the final session of qualifying - Montoya beat out Raikkonen, and the two McLaren drivers will start 5th and 6th respectively. The biggest surprise was perhaps Alonso, whose performance compared to his team mate was rather slow. His time of 1:35.747 was almost 2 seconds slower than Fisichella. A very heavy fuel load might be the culprit, but even so, it seems a little suspicious.
So, the order for tomorrow's race, after all the grid penalties, will be Fisichella, Button, Rosberg, Webber, Montoya, Raikkonen, Alonso, Klein, Trulli, Villeneuve, Heidfeld, Speed, Liuzzi, M Schumacher, Albers, Monteiro, Sato, Ide, R Schumacher, Coulthard, Barrichello, and Massa.
So, it will be interesting to see how the race plays out - are the McLarens going to 1 stop with heavy fuel? How will Rosberg do? WIll Michael be able to do anything from 14th place? What will Alonso pull out of the bag? We shall have to wait and see.
Oh, andone last thing - I realise I forgot to give my prediction for pole. No matter, I would have been wrong anyway (I was going to say Button).
Labels: Formula 1, Grand Prix, Malaysia
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