28/05/2005
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of the (sole) qualifying session for the 2005 European Grand Prix, the air temperature is 30 degrees C, while the track temperature is 47 degrees.
It's worth noting that the temperatures are the highest we've witnessed since Bahrain.
Although McLaren and, to a slightly lesser extent, Renault dominated this morning's free practice sessions, it's going to be interesting to see what happens in the next hour.
Because the cars will be running with their race fuel load, it's not worth placing too much stock on this morning's times, for in this session its all going to be about fuel strategy.
Renault believes that the new qualifying format will work against it, while Jean Todt is confident that the 'revised' format will suit Ferrari.
First out today is Takuma Sato, who will be followed by BAR teammate Jenson Button. Then we'll see Monaco retiree Narain Karthikeyan, who will be followed by David Coulthard and Patrick Friesacher. Last out will be Monaco victor, Kimi Raikkonen.
When the lights go green, Sato leaves his garage, game on.
At the first split the Japanese star posts 30.433, followed by a 1:08.700, as he wide at Turn 11. At the line the BAR star posts 1:32.926, that 'off' costing him dear.
Teammate Jenson button is next out, what can he do? At the first split the Englishman posts 30.336, he's up on Sato, but it's marginal. At the second split it's 1:08.728, he's down on Sato, who had gone off! At the line it's 1:32.594, as he grabs back some time and thereby takes provisional pole.
Karthikeyan is on track in the Jordan, the Silverstone going through a really poor patch. At the first split it's 31.524, followed by a 1:11.788 at the second, he's 3s off the pace already. At the line the Indian posts 1:36.192, 3.5s off the pace.
David Coulthard is next in the Red Bull, the Scot being innocent victim in Monaco. At the first split the veteran racer posts 30.596, he's 0.260s down. At the second split the former McLaren driver posts 1:09.050, he's still only 0.3s off the pace. At the line it's 1:32.553, provisional pole, which puts the BAR times in perspective.
At the first split Friesacher posts 31.337, as ever he's working away at the wheel of the Minardi. At the second split it's 1:11.591, he's 2.5s off the pace but ahead of Karthikeyan. At the line the Austrian posts 1:35.954, which puts him fourth.
Next out is Tonio Liuzzi, who is making his last appearance before Christian Klien takes over the Red Bull in Montreal. The Italian really needs a good result this weekend.
At the first split the reigning F3000 champion posts 30.319, he's up on his teammate by 0.2s. At the second split it's 1:08.597, as he maintains his pace. He's a little too enthusiastic at the chicane and as a result it's 1:32.642 at the line, which puts him third.
Christijan albers in on track in the second Minardi. At the first split it's 31.334, he's up on his teammate. At the second split it's 1:11.741, he's just 2.6s off the pace. At the line the Dutch driver posts 1:36.239 as he loses a whole heap of time.
Tiago Monteiro is on track, can he uphold Jordan's honour. At the first split it's 31.198, he's 0.4s up on his teammate. At the second split the Portuguese driver posts 1:10.753, he's only 1.7s down on Coulthard. At the line it's 1:35.047, which puts him fifth, a good lap.
Melbourne winner, Giancarlo Fisichella is next out. At the first split the Italian posts 30.270, he's 0.326s up on Coulthard. At the second split the Renault driver posts 1:08.270, he's 0.779s up on the Scot. At the line it's 1:31.566, provisional pole.
Last out before the second break is Villeneuve. At the first split the former champion posts 30.594, he's 0.32s down on Fisichella. At the second split it's 1:09.338, he's now 1s off the pace. At the line the Canadian posts 1:32.891, following a poor final sector, which puts him fifth.
At the second break it's: Fisichella, Coulthard, Button, Liuzzi, Villeneuve, Sato, Monteiro, Friesacher, Karthikeyan and Albers.
Jarno Trulli is next out, in the Toyota, he's had a couple of front row starts this year. At the first split the Italian posts 29.793, he's 0.47s up on Fisichella. At the second split it's 1:07.533, he's now 0.7s to the good. At the line it's 1:30.700, he takes provisional pole by 0.866.
Felipe Massa posts 30.312 at the first split, the Brazilian still smarting from his teammate's error in Monaco. At the second split it's 1;08.579, he's over a second off the pace. At the line it's 1:32.205, to put him third, a very, very strong final sector.
All eyes on Rubens Barrichello, Ferrari and Bridgestone. At the first split the Brazilian posts 30.182, he's already 0.389s off the pace. The F2005 doesn't look good, and at the second split it's 1:07.883, he's still 0.3s down. At the line the Ferrari star posts 1:31.249 to take second, thanks to a strong second sector.
Teammate Michael Schumacher is next out, what can he do? At the first split the German posts 29.896, he's 0.103s down on Trulli. At the second split the seven-time champion posts 1:08.107, he's now 0.57s off the pace. He's giving it 100%, but the car and tyres cannot respond. At the line it's 1:31.585, which puts him fourth.
Last out before the final break is Ralf. At the first split the Toyota driver posts 29.924, he's 0.131s down on his teammate. At the second split it's 1:07.950, he's now 0.417s down on Trulli. At the line it's 1:31.392, which puts him third.
At the final break, it's: Trulli, Barrichello, Ralf, Fisichella, Michael, Massa, Coulthard, Button, Liuzzi and Villeneuve.
Next out is Juan Pablo Montoya, who looked good this morning. At the first split the Colombian posts 30.019, he's already 0.226s down on Trulli. At the second split the McLaren driver posts 1:07.727, he's still down on the Italian but it's marginal. At the line it's 1:30.890 to go second, a strong lap from the former williamsF1 driver.
World Championship leader Fernando Alonso is next out. At the first split the Spaniard posts 29.987, he's 0.19s down on his former teammate. At the second split the Renault star posts 1:07.892, he's now 0.35s down on the Toyota. At the line it's 1:31.056, which puts him third, splitting Montoya and Barrichello.
Mark Webber is next out in WilliamsF1. At the first split the Australian posts 29.767, he's 0.026s up on Trulli. At the second split the Monaco podium man posts 1:07.156, he stretches the gap to 0.3s. At the line it's 1:30.368, provisional pole for the former Jaguar driver.
Next out is teammate Nick Heidfeld, can he outpace his teammate? At the first split the German posts 29.737, he's 0.030s up on Webber. At the second split it's 1:07.037, he's now 0.11s up on the Australian. At the line it's 1:30.081 which puts him on (provisional) pole for his home GP.
All eyes on Monaco winner Kimi Raikkonen, can he take his third successive pole? At the first split it's 29.860, he's 0.123s down on Heidfeld. At the second split it's 1:07.275, he's 0.23s down on the German. At the line it's 1:30.197, which puts his Mercedes powered McLaren alongside the pole winning BMW powered WilliamsF1 of Nick Heidfeld.
At the ninety-first attempt 'Quick Nick' Heidfeld takes pole position, just one week after his best ever race finish. It was a great lap and BMW will be absolutely delighted to have one of its cars on pole for one of its two home races.
As ever, the big question is fuel strategy, and all honesty several cars that we might have expected to see on pole - Montoya and Alonso, in particular - appeared very heavy.
The Ferrari revival didn't happen, though much of that will probably be due to the totally unpredicted climate, nonetheless we're sure that the Italian team has a surprise in store tomorrow, Michael too looked heavy.
We know that the WilliamsF1's are not that great at getting off the line, so we can expect a good fight at the start, with Raikkonen, Trulli, Montoya and Alonso all keen to lead into the first corner.
Other than Heidfeld, the other big surprise was Trulli, who looked very good, however the big question mark concerns fuel and what sort of strategy the teams have opted for.
As for disappointments, naturally BAR will be unhappy, but under the circumstances this has to be what they expected. First off there is the fact that its drivers were first out, then there was the question mark over the Honda's reliability. Ignoring some of the hyperbole in the media this week, regarding Jenson targeting a podium, it wouldn't come as a surprise to see both drivers in the points tomorrow.
The top six are covered by less than a second, which is interesting if we're right about some of the drivers running with heavy fuel loads, there is also strange disparity between certain teammates, which tends to suggest that some teams are running both drivers on different strategies.
The good news is that it's Saturday and we now know who is on pole for tomorrow's race, which means we can sit back and savour the prospect, pop out for a chat with man down the pub, and enjoy a decent lie-in ahead of tomorrow's action. Sanity returns to F1.
Now, let's just hope that the race lives up to expectations.