Fernando, a very different sort of qualifying session, first of all you were on the harder tyre compared with your team-mate and also those rather strange delays before you went out for both runs. Was that your decision? Or the team holding you back?
Fernando Alonso: The team held me back in this. We try to keep a little bit of space, the Ferrari is two spaces in front of us and the prime tyre was for us the best tyre, so we used the option for Q1 and Q2 and then for Q3 we had the prime tyres. It seems like the option is not working very well this weekend, so even for qualifying it is struggling a little bit to complete the lap, at least in my case, so you know, I choose the prime tyre for the afternoon.

And also a bit of a delay given that the seconds count down with the front right tyre warmer at the beginning of your first run.
FA: Yes, I think the blanket of the tyre had a problem and it stayed inside the wheel, between the wheel and the car and you know, a little bit delayed there. The mechanics pushed very hard at the blanket and I don't know if it breaks or whatever, but the car was fine.

The MP4-22 looks very good at the Hungaroring. Quick on the corners obviously but also good in terms of top speed.
FA: Yes, absolutely. I think we have been very competitive all weekend. From the first session to now in qualifying the car has performed really well here. The last couple of Grands Prix we didn't have the opportunity to beat the Ferraris in dry conditions, in normal conditions, and here I think we have a chance. So I think we can make it tomorrow if we have a good race, I think the performance is there.

Lewis, a frustrating qualifying session I would suggest. You seemed to be very quick throughout the afternoon. Tell us about those seconds when you were stacked up behind Fernando there.
Lewis Hamilton: Not really much to say, you saw what happened. I think I've been very quick today which is good. We have made improvements over the weekend, the team has done a fantastic job as always to get the car cooled down, so we were first out into Q3 and yeah, we had very good pace.

And you preferred the softer of the two tyres?
LH: I did yes, just obviously from testing yesterday and this morning. We obviously went in Q1 with the harder tyre and on Q2 with the softer and that was the preferred choice. We believe that that was the best option for us.

And were you aware of the reason, what was holding Fernando up there in front of you?
LH: Er, no. I think you should ask the team that.

Lewis, obviously an all-McLaren front row, it is going to be an interesting race tomorrow, you have had a trouble-free qualifying, how do you see your first Hungarian Grand Prix?
LH: Well, it is just good to get through, good to get here and be back on top and to get through qualifying. The team have had a hard weekend at the last race and obviously they are extremely motivated for this week. The team back at the factory have worked really hard to improve the car and as you can see the results are showing, so going into tomorrow's race I feel very optimistic and I think we have got a great strategy.

And just to finish, you didn't get in a second quick lap. By how much time did you miss getting in a second quick lap?
LH: I would think by the same amount of time that I was held up in the pit stop.

Nick, congratulations to you, your third position in qualifying of the season. Yet another underlining of the speed of the BMW Sauber team. It doesn't look to have been a particularly easy weekend for you so far though.
Nick Heidfeld: No, the weekend hasn't been easy, I think for similar reasons as for other teams. I didn't know what tyres to choose, in the end I decided to stay on the prime. Initially, it was planned to stay on the option and actually that was all because it was hard to make the tyres last for a lap.

And how do you see the race tomorrow in terms of what is obviously quite an interesting tyre situation?
NH: Well, our plan at the beginning of the season was to get onto the podium, we managed that once this year and I think this weekend here is another good chance. Obviously, we are the third strongest team meaning that both the Ferrari cars are still behind. It is going to be difficult with Kimi behind but I guess that the Ferraris are not as strong as lately, so I hope that I can for sure stay ahead of Felipe.

Fernando, returning to you finally. Obviously a big mixture in terms of tyre choice and tyre performance. How much of a factor is that going to be in race strategy and how the race turns out?
FA: It will be, I think, the same for everybody. There are no secrets this weekend, I think the option tyre is a little bit marginal, a little bit optimistic. I think everybody will try to use the right strategy depending on when you put this soft tyre in the race. It is the same for everybody. I think tomorrow will be very interesting to see what everybody is doing.

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