11/03/2006
NEWS STORY
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A journey into the unknown now, as F1 tries out the latest incarnation of qualifying, a new format largely the brainchild of Bernie Ecclestone.
When Bernie first explained the format to Pitpass editor Chris Balfe in July 2005, it all seemed simple enough, a knock-out format which would see the fastest and most reliable start from the front of the grid. However, a number of subsequent tweaks, some made just days before the first race, mean that many are unclear as to whether or not its going to work.
Although many still hanker for the old 12-lap free for all, we have to accept that Bernie doesn't like it, and therefore it had to go. Whether this new format is the perfect solution, only time will tell, however, the fact is that we're stuck with it, at least for now.
Anyway, as the cars prepare to go out for the first 15-minute session, the air temperature is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 33 degrees. It is still very windy.
First out is Yuji Ide in the Super Aguri, almost a minute later he is followed by Jarno Trulli and David Coulthard. Monteiro, Liuzzi and Sato are also on track.
Ide has his moment of glory, he goes quickest with a time of, 1:40.270.
Moments later, we get the first 'sensible' time, when Liuzzi crosses the line at 1:34.439, Speed slots in right behind him (34.865). Ralf goes third, ahead of Albers, Monteiro and Klien.
Surprisingly, Barrichello can only manage third (35.548), behind the two Toro Rossos. Furthermore, most drivers only seem to be opting for one hot lap then returning to the pits.
That doesn't apply to Barrichello, who improves to second with a 1:34.615.
Raikkonen, Webber, Montoya, Massa and Rosberg leave the pits, with under seven minutes remaining. Michael Schumacher and Villeneuve are also on track.
Raikkonen goes quickest in the first sector, as Heidfeld goes quickest in the second.
However, the Finn loses it at Turn 10, bounces off the kerb and loses his right-rear wheel, an absolute disaster for the 2005 runner-up, his session is over. He slowly makes his way back to the pits. At this stage it looks like a tyre failure rather than suspension.
Meanwhile, Heidfeld goes quickest as the session is red-flagged.
Therefore, with 4.34 of this session remaining, only ten drivers have posted times, with most of the big names still not on the timesheets. Indeed, Alonso and Fisichella haven't even made an appearance.
At 14:19 the lights go green, and at the end of the pitlane it's a multi-million pound traffic jam.
Moments later, there are 18 cars on track!.
Massa leads the field, the only driver with clear air ahead. He's followed by the Hondas and Jarno Trulli.
Only time for one flying lap, as they cross the line.
Massa locks up at Turn 8, as Button closes in.
With absolutely perfect timing, the timing screens go blank.
Massa goes quickest, but moments later his time is eclipsed by Button, by almost a second.
Once the smoke has cleared, figuratively speaking, Alonso is quickest, ahead of Button Fisichella, Rosberg, Montoya, Michael, Heidfeld, Webber, Massa, Coulthard, Villeneuve, Barrichello. Trulli, Speed, Klien and Liuzzi.
However, the six drivers to who fill the back three rows of the grid are, Raikkonen, Sato, Ide, Monteiro, Albers and Ralf Schumacher.
At 14.30, the second fifteen minute session gets underway, with the Toro Rossos first out, followed by Button, Coulthard and Klien.
Button goes quickest in the first sector, though Liuzzi will be the first to post a time.
Sure enough, the Italian takes top spot, only to be demoted by Button moments later, who posts 1:32.603.
Klien go quickest, as Liuzzi reclaims second and Coulthard goes fourth, ahead of Barrichello, Speed, Heidfeld and Villeneuve.
Jacques Villeneuve takes second as his teammate begins a hot lap. The German nudges out his teammate with a 1:32.613.
The WilliamsF1s and Ferraris are now on track.
Montoya goes quickest in the first sector, as Villeneuve re-takes second spot. Although Montoya loses ground in the second sector, he is quickest in the final section, crossing the line at 1:31.487 to go quickest.
A 1:32.025 sees Michael Schumacher go second quickest, only to be leap-frogged by teammate, Massa, with a 1:32.014.
Finally the Renaults leave the pits, allowing themselves just one hot lap apiece.
Bad news for Rosberg, who spins. However, he's able to continue.
Webber goes fifth, ahead of Barrichello.
Trulli is in the 'drop zone', along with Coulthard, the Toro Rossos and the Renaults.
Button and Klien are on track, with just over a minute remaining.
Alonso goes quickest, as Fisichella goes third, ahead of Massa, Michael, Button and Klien.
Those that miss the cut, and therefore fill positions 11 to 16 on the grid, are, Villeneuve, Rosberg, Coulthard, Trulli, Liuzzi and Speed.
Therefore, the ten who will battle it out for pole are: Alonso, Fisichella, Montoya, Michael, Massa, Webber, Button, Barrichello, Heidfeld and Klien.
The final twenty-minute session is for pole, and unlike in the fist two sessions, there are fuel restrictions - in other words drivers will need to run with the fuel load with which they intend starting the race.
The lights go green, and virtually everyone is on track.
At this point, Bernie's dream, or rather the 'tweaked' version, begin to fall apart. The ten cars lap the Bahrain track, burning off fuel, simply cruising round in order to lighten the load in time for that final run.
Anyone who ever said that Grands Prix are processional should be watching this. The times are - on average - 3-4 seconds slower than in the two previous sessions.
It's all totally legal, as the pit-wall tacticians do their job, exploiting the rules to the absolute limit.
Massa goes 'quickest', posting a 1:34.908, ahead of Barrichello, Michael, Alonso, Fisichella and Webber.
After eight minutes, Alonso gets the call, he has burned off enough fuel.
As we watch the ten cruise around the desert, the relative excitement of the first two sessions is almost forgotten.
One has to ask what environmentalists would make of this.
With 8 minutes remaining, Michael Schumacher, on fresh tyres, goes quickest in the first sector. He crosses the line at 1:31.595. Moments later, Button takes second with a 1:32.129.
Barrichello goes third, ahead of Fisichella, Webber, Massa, Alonso, Klien, Montoya and Heidfeld.
A 1:32.014 sees Massa go quickest, with just over five minutes remaining the pace is hotting up.
With four minutes remaining, Michael Schumacher leaves the pits, a new set of boots on, the German clearly means business. The Honda and Renault drivers also prepare for the final assault.
Schumacher begins a hot lap, using every inch of the track. He's quickest in the first sector, but loses a little ground in the second. At the line it's 1:31.431, as he takes provisional pole by 0.093. Elsewhere, Montoya improves to fourth (32.164).
Massa improves but remains second, as Button reaffirms his third place.
Michael returns to the pits, confident that pole is secured, but Button has other ideas. The Englishman is pushing hard, but it's an impossible dream. He crosses the line having failed to improve, as Ferrari celebrates an all-red front row for tomorrow's Grand Prix.
Alonso is fourth quickest, ahead of Montoya, Barrichello, Webber, Klien, Fisichella and Heidfeld.
The first two sessions were pretty good, but in all honesty the third was something of a farce. Recently, Max Mosley has warned that the sport will have to adapt to 'green issues', and that means engines running on alternative fuel. Then there is his on-going quest to reduce costs.
Bearing that in mind, how much good is really done by ten driver lapping a race circuit merely to burn off fuel.
That said, it was a good session, and its certainly to see that on the current evidence, we have a race on our hands, with Ferrari very much back in the hunt.
The Honda's look good, but no doubt Pat Symonds has a tactical trick up his sleeve, while McLaren certainly has a point to prove.
Good performances from Webber, Heidfeld and Klien also.