20/08/2005
NEWS STORY
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New circuit, new challenge, however as the drivers get more and more familiar with Istanbul park and its unique challenge we can be pretty sure that World Championship hopefuls will be up at the top of the timesheets later today.
However, we believe it's pretty safe to say that you won't be seeing a red car on the first couple of rows, not unless McLaren or Renault have a list minute change of livery.
First out will be David Coulthard, first retirement in Hungary, followed by teammate Christian Klien. The Red Bull duo will be followed by Doornbos, Montoya and Villeneuve.
As we await the start of the session, the air temperature is 29 degrees C, while the track temperature is 41 degrees.
At 13:00 precisely, Coulthard leaves the Red Bull garage, game on.
At the first split the Scot posts 33.648, having run a very fast 'out' lap. At the second split it's 1:05.502 followed by a 1:29.764 at the line, that's 2s slower than he managed this morning.
Next out is DC's teammate, Christian Klien. At the first split the Austrian posts 33.447, he's already 0.2s up on the Scot. At the second split it's 1:04.638, he's 0.8s up on his teammate. At the line the former Jaguar driver posts 1:28.963, maintaining the 0.8s gap.
Robert Doornbos has looked quite good so far this weekend, he's next out. At the first split he posts 35.570, as he locks up into Turn 7. At the second split the Dutch driver posts 1:10.700, he's 6s off the pace. He's really struggling with the car and now we know why, his rear brakes appear to seize and there are flames coming from the back of the car.
All eyes on Juan Pablo Montoya who posts 32.704 at the first split. At the second split the Colombian posts 1:03.560, he's over a second up on Klien. At the line it's 1:27.352, provisional pole for the McLaren driver.
Last out before the break is Jacques Villeneuve. At the first split the Canadian posts 32.979, he's 0.275s down on Montoya. However he goes wide at Turn 8 and though he appears to have kept it under control he loses it and spins out. For reasons known only to himself a flag marshal is waving a green flag. Moments later this is changed to a red flag.
Next out will be Christijan Albers, once Villeneuve's car has been removed from the track.
The Dutchman leaves the Minardi garage, the session is underway again. Like his teammate, he is struggling, however, let's hope that his brakes are OK. At the first split it's 34.682, he's 1.9s down on Montoya. At the second split it's 1:07.015, followed by a 1:32.186 at the line, which puts him fourth.
Felipe Massa is on track in the second Sauber. At the first split the Brazilian posts 33.078, he's 0.374s down on Montoya. At the second split it's 1:04.296, he's 0.736s shy of the Colombian. At the line it's 1:28.419, which puts him second. It's worth noting that his first sector was around 0.1s slower than his teammate.
At the first split Tiago Monteiro posts 33.792, he's already 1.08s off the pace. At the second split it's 1:06.175, he's now 2.6s down. At the line the Portuguese driver posts 1:30.710 to go fifth.
Teammate Narain Karthikeyan is next out, however the Indian who has had two - yes two - engine changes this weekend - returns to the pits and for the third successive session fails to post a time. Indeed, the hapless Jordan driver is stranded at the pitlane entry.
Next out, surprisingly, is Fernando Alonso, who had a miserable weekend in Hungary. However, what can he do here in Turkey? At the first split the world Championship leader posts 32.582, he's 0.122s up on Montoya. He's pushing hard as he completes the second sector in 1:03.173, which puts him 0.3s clear. At the line it's 1:27.050, he takes provisional pole by 0.302, a great lap.
At the second break, it's: Alonso, Montoya, Massa, Klien, Coulthard, Monteiro, Albers, Doornbos, Villeneuve and Karthikeyan.
Next out is Rubens Barrichello in the Ferrari. At the first split it's 33.301, he's already 0.7s off the pace. The car is really struggling for grip, consequently he completes he second sector in 1:04.88, he's 1.7s down. At the line it's 1:29.369, which puts him fifth. Under the circumstances that's the best he could have hoped for.
Giancarlo Fisichella completes the first sector in 32.629, he's only 0.04s down on his teammate. At the second split it's 1:03.381, he's now 0.208s down. At the line it's 1:27.039, he takes pole! A great, great effort from Fisico who really needs a bit of good luck.
Next out is Takuma Sato, a man under intense pressure. At the first split he posts 32.839, he's 0.210s down. He gets it all wrong at Turn 8 and runs very wide, losing precious time. He crosses the line at 1:30.175, which puts him eighth, he'll be bitterly disappointed.
Mark Webber is on track in the WilliamsF1. At the first split the Australian posts 32.804, he's 0.175s down on Fisichella. It all goes wrong as he comes across Sato who is running very, very slowly. At the line the WilliamsF1 driver posts 1:27.944, which puts him fourth. "What was Sato doing for f*** sake?" he asks his crew.
Teammate Nick Heidfeld is next out. At the first split it's 32.838, followed by a 1:03.781 at the second. The German is pushing hard but can only manage 1:27.929, which puts him fourth. However, after Webber's problem with Sato, we might have expected more from Nick.
The Stewards announce that they are to investigate Sato.
At the final break it's: Fisichella, Alonso, Montoya, Heidfeld, Webber, Massa, Klien, Barrichello, Coulthard and Sato.
Jenson Button is next out, the Englishman looking impressive this weekend. At the first split the BAR driver posts 32.450, he's 0.179s up on Fisichella. At Turn 8 it starts to get out of shape, he controls it then loses it again and runs wide. Another mistake at Turn 9 means he is 2s down at the second split. At the line it's 1:30.063, which puts him tenth.
Jarno Trulli is on track in the Toyota. At the first split the Italian posts 32.717, he's down on Fisichella but it's marginal. At the second split it's 1:03.461, he's still in touch with pole. At the line it's 1:27.501, which is only good enough for fourth, he'll be disappointed with that final sector.
Teammate, Ralf Schumacher, is next out. The German completes the first sector in 32.739, he's 0.110s down. At the second split the Toyota driver posts 1:04.497 having gone wide at Turn 9. At the line it's 1:28.594, which puts him eighth.
All eyes on Michael Schumacher in the Ferrari. At the first split the German posts 32.88, he's 0.259s down. He's looking good but then loses it, big time, at Turn 9. The crowd cheers, but up until then it was an awesome lap, considering the equipment he has at his disposal.
Last out is Kimi Raikkonen, can he take pole? At the first split it's 32.440, he's 0.189s up on Fisichella. At the second split it's 1:02.972, he's now 0.409s up on the Renault, despite running a little wide at Turn 8. At the line it's 1:26.797, pole position for the Finn, and a well deserved round of applause from the McLaren crew.
Therefore, Kimi will start from pole position alongside Giancarlo Fisichella. World Championship leader Fernando Alonso starts from third, ahead of Montoya, Trulli, Heidfeld, Webber, Massa, Ralf and Klien.
Although we can expect a red-hot battle at the front tomorrow, we can also expect some fireworks at the back, with Michael and Button, not to mention Villeneuve, starting from the 'bad' end of the grid.
With a 26 point deficit to Alonso, this is exactly what Kimi, and indeed F1 needed, as the World Championship reaches a crucial stage.
Because it's a brand new circuit, we are still very much in the dark with regards strategy tomorrow. However, we can expect an all-out battle between McLaren and Renault, while WilliamsF1's objective is to get ahead of Toyota.
Then again, there is always the little matter of the weather, with local agencies predicting rain to fall during tomorrow's race.
Bring it on!