24/07/2004
NEWS STORY
Ahead of pre-qualifying, the air temperature is 23 degrees, while the track temperature is 35 degrees.
First out, for the tenth time this season, is Ferrari's Michael Schumacher. Ross Brawn has said that he doesn't believe the German will be on pole for his home race, which suggests that once again, the Englishman is looking ahead to his race strategy.
It's also worth noting that Despite his electrifying pace in the second free practice session, Jenson Button will lose ten grid positions as a result of yesterday's engine change.
At 13:00, Michael Schumacher noses the scarlet F2004 out of its garage. The session begins.
At the first split the German posts 16.3, going on to complete the second sector in 35s. At the line it's 1:14.042, as the six-time World Champion sets the benchmark.
As the McLaren revival continues, Kimi Raikkonen begins his flying lap, the Finn completing the first sector in 16.1, he's already up on the German. At the second split it's 34.8, as he takes even more time from the Ferrari star. At the line it's 1:13.842, a superb lap from the 2003 runner-up.
Rubens Barrichello is next out, the Brazilian has yet to win a race this season. At the first split the Ferrari driver posts 16.4, slightly slower than his McLaren rival. At the second split it's 34.8, followed by a 1:14.111 at the line. He goes third.
Jenson Button is next out, the Englishman clearly frustrated at his grid penalty. At the first split it's 16.2, he's down on Raikkonen, but it's marginal. At the second split it's 34.6, he goes quicker than the Finn. At the line it's 1:13.535, quickest so far, and a stark reminder of what might have been.
Juan Pablo Montoya was on pole here last year, could today mark the beginning of the revival? At the first split the Colombian posts 16.2, again, it's marginal. At the second split it's 34.4, he's quicker than Button. He crosses the line at 1:13.391, as Michelin proves its utter superiority. A brilliant lap.
Silverstone hero, Giancarlo Fisichella is next out. At the first split, the Italian posts 16.2, followed by a 34.8s at the second. At the line the Sauber driver - who looks set to re-join Renault - posts 1:13.914, which puts him ahead of the Ferraris.
David Coulthard takes to the track in the second McLaren, the Scot outpaced his teammate this morning. At the first split it's 16s, he's quickest so far. He loses a little ground in the second sector, but not much. At the line it's 1:13.640, he's goes ahead of his teammate. A great performance from the Scottish veteran.
Mark Webber completes the first sector in 16.6, the Jaguar clearly lacking pace. At the second split it's 35s, followed by a 1:15.093 at the line. He goes eighth, of eight.
Felipe Massa is next out, the Brazilian posting 16.3 at the first split. At the second split it's 34.7, as the Sauber driver goes on to complete the lap in 1:13.899, which puts him ahead of his teammate, and the Ferraris.
Renault's Fernando Alonso is next out, what can he do? At the first split it's 16.2, he's off the pace, but only slightly. At the second split it's 34.4, he's still in touch with Montoya. At the line it's 1:13.582, he goes third behind the Colombian and Button. A good lap.
Takuma Sato didn't go out in the second session this morning, having crashed in the first. He's next out. At the first split the Japanese driver posts 16.5, he's already 0.3s down on his teammate. The gap is the same at the second split, which he completes in 34.9s. At the line it's 1:14.465, which puts him tenth. He'll be disappointed with that.
Cristiano da Matta is next out, Toyota expects great things this weekend. At the first split it's 16.8, which is slowest so far. He's still off the pace at the second split, posting 35.3. At the line it's 1:15.119, which puts him twelfth.
Christian Klien is on track in the second Jaguar, the Austrian youngster has been looking good this weekend. At the first split it's 16.5, which is around Sato's time. At the second split it's 35.1, as he loses a little ground. At the line it's 1:15.090, which puts him ahead of his teammate and da Matta.
Nick Heidfeld is next to run. At the first split the Jordan driver posts 16.9, which is slower than da Matta. At the second split it's 35.7, followed by a 1:16.538 at the line. He fourteenth, of fourteen.
Minardi's Gianmaria Bruni is next out. At the first split the Italian posts 17s, he's only slightly slower than Heidfeld. He's loses time in the second sector, posting 36.2 at the split. At the line it's 1:17.283, 0.7s off Heidfeld's time.
Giorgio Pantano is next out, the Italian having a difficult weekend. At the first split it's 16.5, which puts him almost half-a-second ahead of his teammate. At the second split it's 35.6, he's lost a little time. At the line it's 1:16.167, he beats Heidfeld by around 0.4s.
Jarno Trulli takes to the track in the Renault, he really needs a good result this weekend. At the first split it's 16.3, he's only slightly off the pace. At the second split it's 34.6, he's still in touch with the pace-setters. At the line it's 1:13.737, which puts him fifth, splitting the McLarens.
Zsolt Baumgartner goes eighteenth with a 1:17.515. The Hungarian is followed by Olivier Panis, surely he can improve on da Matta's time. At the first split the Frenchman posts 16.3, followed by a 34.8s at the second. At the line, the oldest driver in F1 posts 1:13.641, which puts him fifth. A superb performance.
Last out is Antonio Pizzonia. At the first split the Brazilian posts 16.2, he's only marginally off his teammate's pace. At the second split it's 34.5, as he continues to push hard. At the line the WilliamsF1 driver posts 1:13.422, to put him second, giving WilliamsF1 a provisional 1-2.
At the end of the session, the order is: Montoya ahead of Pizzonia, who is followed by Button, Alonso, Coulthard, Panis, Trulli, Raikkonen, Massa and Fisichella. Schumacher is eleventh ahead of Barrichello, Sato, Klien, Webber, da Matta, Pantano, Heidfeld, Bruni and Baumgartner.
For the main qualifying session, the air temperature has risen to 26 degrees C, while the track temperature has risen to 41 degrees.
At 14:00 on the dot, Zsolt Baumgartner pulls out of the Minardi garage. At the first split the Hungarian posts 17.197, followed by a 53.764 at the second. The rear end is wobbly through the stadium, nonetheless he posts 1:18.400 at the line.
Teammate Gianmaria Bruni is next out. At the first split the Italian posts 17.292, he's down on Baumgartner. At the second split it's 53.722, he's up on the Hungarian. At the line it's 1:18.055, quicker by 0.345s.
16.912 at the first split for Nick Heidfeld, who is pushing the Jordan, but to little avail. At the second split the German posts 52.530, he's 1.1s up on Bruni. He uses all the track, and then some, crossing the line at 1:16.310 to take provisional pole.
His Jordan teammate Giorgio Pantano is next out. The Italian posts 16.695 at the first split, he's up on the German. At the second split it's 52.283, he's now 0.247s up on Heidfeld. At the line it's 1:16.192, a good lap from the Italian.
Last out before the break is da Matta. At the first split it's 16.723, he's down on Pantano. At the second split it's 52.106, as he finds some extra pace. It's an uninspiring lap, even though the Brazilian goes quickest with a 1:15.454.
At the first break, it's da Matta ahead of Pantano, Heidfeld, Bruni and Baumgartner.
Mark Webber begins his out lap, the Australian having a difficult weekend. At the first split it's 16.605, he's quickest. At the second split the Jaguar driver posts 51.553, he's half-a-second up on da Matta. At the line it's 1:14.802, he takes provisional pole. Not a bad lap, under the circumstances.
His teammate Christian Klien is next out. The Austrian getting all crossed up at turn 2. At the first split it's 16.721, followed by a 51.679 at the second. He's 0.126s down on Webber. At the line it's 1:15.011, he misses out by 0.209s.
Takuma Sato is on track in the BAR. The Japanese diver completes the first sector in 16.603, he's up on Webber by 0.002s. At the second split it's 51.389, as he outpaces Webber by around 0.2s. At the line it's 1:14.286, provisional pole for the BAR driver. Thing is, will it be good enough for a top ten spot.
Rubens Barrichello posts 16.366 at the first split, followed by a 51.156 at the second. He's quickest by 0.233s. At the line the Brazilian posts 1:14.278, taking pole by a mere 0.009s.
Michael Schumacher is last out before the second break. At the first split the German posts 16.347, he's quickest, but only by 0.019s. At the second split it's 50.805, he's now 0.351s quicker. At the line it's 1:13.305, an absolutely stunning lap, just when he needed it.
Therefore, at the second break, it's Schumacher, ahead of Barrichello, Sato, Webber, Klien, da Matta, Pantano, Heidfeld, Bruni and Baumgartner.
Next out is Giancarlo Fisichella in the Sauber. At the first split the Italian posts 16.5, followed by a 51.957 at the second. At the line the (apparently) in-demand driver posts 1:15.395, which puts him sixth. The team looks delighted, another strategic victory?
Teammate Felipe Massa is next, the Brazilian completing the first sector in 16.677. At the second split it's 52.175, as he really fights the car. At the line it's 1:15.616, which puts him eighth, behind da Matta.
Silverstone sensation Kimi Raikkonen is next. At the first split the McLaren driver posts 16.163, he's 0.185s up on Schumacher. At the second split the Finn posts 50.867, he's now down on the Ferrari driver. At the line it's 1:13.690, he misses out by 0.384s.
Jarno Trulli is on track in the Renault. The Italian completes the first sector in 16.297, he's quickest, but it's marginal. At the second split it's 51.151, he's now down by 0.346s. At the line it's 1:14.134, which puts him third.
Last out before the break is Olivier Panis. At the first split the Frenchman posts 16.364, he's 0.016s down on Schumacher. At the second split the Toyota driver posts 51.365, he's now 0.560s down on the German. At the line it's 1:14.368, which puts him sixth, 1.1s faster than his teammate.
At the final break, it's Schumacher ahead of Raikkonen, Trulli, Barrichello, Sato, Panis, Webber, Klien, Fisichella and da Matta.
David Coulthard is next out, the Scot has been impressive this weekend. At the first split the McLaren driver posts 16.113, he's 0.235s up on Schumacher. At the second split he posts 50.278, he's still up on the Ferrari driver. At the line it's 1:13.821, he goes third, having lost a lot of time in the final sector. No home pole for Mercedes.
Fernando Alonso takes to the track in the Renault. At the first split the Spaniard posts 16.335, followed by a 50.756 at the second. He's 0.049s up on Schumacher. At the line it's 1:13.874, which is good enough for fourth.
Jenson Button is next out. At the first split the English youngster posts 16.152, he's almost 0.2s up on Schumacher. At the second split it's 50.865, as he loses ground to the Ferrari. At the line it's 1:13.673, which puts him second - but let's not forget that penalty of ten grid spots.
Jungle Boy Pizzonia is next. At the first split the Brazilian posts 16.438, he's 0.090s down on the World Champion. At the second split it's 51.375, he's now half-a-second off the pace. At the line it's 1:14.556, which puts him tenth. A surprisingly poor lap from Antonio.
All eyes on Juan Pablo Montoya, can he repeat his 2003 form? At the first split it's 16.167, he's 0.181s up on Schumacher. At the second split he posts 50.749, he's still up on the German, but it's so close. At the line it's 1:13.667, which puts him alongside, but not ahead of, his arch-rival, Michael Schumacher.
The top four are covered by just 0.384, with the top nine covered by less than a second.
When one considers Schumacher's form in the first session, it's hard to see where he found the time in the second, but find it he did. Whereas many of his rivals were quicker in the first two sectors, it was in the final stadium sector that the German pulled out all the stops.
Michael takes the sixty-first pole of his career, and another step towards his eighty-first win and his seventh title.
A great performance from Juan Pablo Montoya, and indeed Jenson Button, whose hard work nets him thirteenth on the grid.
The McLarens and the Renaults line up two-by-two, ahead of Barrichello, Sato and Panis.
As ever, strategy will be the key tomorrow, however once again Schumacher knows just how to find that extra something. Would you bet against him making another trip to the top of the podium tomorrow?
Final order: Schumacher ahead of Montoya, Button, Raikkonen, Coulthard, Alonso, Trulli, Barrichello, Sato and Panis.
Pizzonia is a disappointing eleventh, ahead of Webber, Klien, Fisichella, da Matta, Massa, Pantano, Heidfeld, Bruni and Baumgartner.