05/08/2006
NEWS STORY
 |
In case you're not aware - and if you aren't there's no excuse, Pitpass was amongst the first to report it - World Championship leader Fernando Alonso has been given a 2s penalty in each phase of today's qualifying session. In other words, in the first phase he must post a time 2s quicker than the sixteenth driver in order to escape elimination at the first hurdle. Then, should he be successful, he must post a time 2s faster than the tenth driver in second phase… and so on.
To further complicate matters, or to add a little more spice to what is usually a soporific race weekend, Michael Schumacher has been summoned by the stewards after overtaking three cars under a red flag in this morning's session. The championship will go down to the wire, no matter what it takes!
Finally, after a promising race in Germany, it was business as usual for Jenson Button this morning, the Englishman suffering an engine failure which means he will forfeit ten grid places.
Due to the unseasonably cool temperatures, the main concern is tyres, with many drivers complaining of graining. To add the fun, the 'experts' are still predicting rain for tomorrow.
Just minutes before the session gets underway, it is announced that Michael Schumacher is also to get a 2s penalty. Now we're not saying that the German doesn't deserve a penalty, but 2s, like Alonso, at a track where overtaking is nigh impossible - unless your name is Mansell. The whole thing stinks, by hook or by crook the powers that be will ensure we get a race, and a down to the wire title fight.
Farcical. Anyone who though Turk Thrust was in the mind of Mike Lawrence should think again… the Formula One Script Unit is at work.
Anyway, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 33 degrees.
First out is Ralf, followed by Webber, Rosberg and Barrichello. Ralf sets the benchmark, crossing the line at 24.231, Webber goes second and Rosberg third.
Hold the front page, Sakon Yamamoto goes quickest, the Super Aguri driver posting 1:24.016, could he qualify ahead of Michael and Alonso?
As Barrichello goes quickest (23.251), Alonso heads down the pitlane.
Coulthard goes quickest in the first sector, and again in the second. As the Scot crosses the line to go quickest (22.152), his teammate goes quickest in the second sector. It's a Red Bull 1-2 as Klien goes quickest with a 1:22.147.
All eyes on Alonso who goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 1:20.420, which, with the penalty, puts him fifth.
Kimi Raikkonen is on track, and quickest in the first sector, as teammate de la Rosa goes second. The Finn is quickest in the second sector, crossing the line at 1:20.080, to go quickest.
With just over five minutes remaining, Michael Schumacher heads down the pitlane.
Jenson Button goes fourth, ahead of Klien, Coulthard and Liuzzi, as Massa begins his flying lap. The Brazilian goes quickest in the first sector, and again in the second. As the Ferrari driver goes quickest, crossing the line at 19.742, Michael goes quickest in the second sector. The German takes top spot with a 1:19.440.
Under two minutes and Webber is in the danger zone, however, a 21.335 sees him climb to safety.
Button takes fifth, ahead of Kubica, as Alonso starts his final flying lap, the Spaniard still in danger, with his penalty he's eighteenth.
He's pushing hard, but fails to beat Michael's time in the first sector. He maintains the pace in the second sector, but it looks like a lost cause. He crosses the line at 1:19.792, fourteenth, one place behind Michael, he's safe. Phew. On his slowing down lap the Spaniard is told of Michael (similar) penalty.
The big casualty in the first phase is Rosberg, who is eliminated along with Liuzzi, Speed, Sato, Albers and Yamamoto.
Top ten, on the road, were: Michael, Massa, Raikkonen, Button, Kubica, Ralf, Barrichello, Coulthard, de la Rosa and Webber. Monteiro gets through to the second phase.
Robert Kubica is first out for the second phase, as Ferrari fits a set of new tyres to Michael's 248 F1.
Ralf, Trulli, Webber and Heidfeld leave the pits as Kubica posts the benchmark, crossing the line at 1:20.712, an excellent lap from the Pole.
As Michael leaves the pits, Trulli goes quickest with a 20.656. However, moments later, Heidfeld goes quickest, the BMW driver posting 20.623, elsewhere, Webber goes wide and consequently can only manage fifth.
Michael goes quickest in the first sector, the German on a very, very fast lap. By the second split he's already a second up on Heidfeld. At the line it's 1:19.462, which puts him ninth.
The Renault are running together, Fisichella going second (20.614) and Alonso ninth (22.228).
Rubens Barrichello goes quickest in the second sector, finally crossing the line at 19.783 to go second, bumping down his teammate who had just posted 19.943.
Massa is on track, but Michael is still in the danger zone, his time only good enough for fourteenth, with the penalty.
Kimi goes second (19.704), as Massa begins his first flying lap. The Brazilian finds enough time in the final sector to go second, crossing the line at 19.504.
Just under three minutes remaining and Michael heads down the pitlane, once again on new tyres. He, along with Alonso, Webber, Coulthard and Klien are stil in the danger zone.
Michael goes quickest in the second sector, crossing the line at 18.775, it's a staggering lap, but it's not good enough.
Alonso posts 19.364 to go second, but like Michael its not enough. We lose the German and the Spaniard, along with Monteiro, Klien, Coulthard and Heidfeld.
The ten drivers who make it into the final phase are Massa, Raikkonen, Barrichello, Button, de la Rosa. Webber, Fisichella, Trulli, Ralf and Kubica, who out-qualifies his teammate at the first attempt.
The fuel burning phase gets underway.
On the pit wall Flavio Briatore looks might weary, if ever he needed Giancarlo Fisichella to pull his finger out, this is the time. With Button forfeiting ten places, pole position would appear to be between Raikkonen and Massa, though the Renault should be more than capable.
Fisi posts 22.752, which delights his crew, however, there's a long way to go.
With 7:38 on the clock, Fisichella, Massa, Raikkonen, Barrichello, Button and de la Rosa all pit, much earlier than we're used to.
Massa goes quickest in the second sector, as Fisichella goes quickest in the first. Despite a heavy lock-up, the Brazilian goes quickest (19.886). de la Rosa goes second but is quickly demoted by Rubens Barrichello. Button is fifth, though the Honda driver forfeits ten spots, and in reality will start behind Michael Schumacher.
Just under three minutes remaining and the drivers make their final stops.
Kubica goes eighth (22.049), ahead of the two Toyotas, as Massa locks up yet again. On the pitwall, Michael watches, seemingly pleased with his protégé's progress.
Despite the lock-up the Brazilian goes quickest in the second sector, but fails to improve on his previous best.
Button takes second, but all eyes are on Raikkonen as the Finn goes quickest, crossing the line at 1:15.599. Barrichello takes third, ahead of his teammate, while de la Rosa takes fifth ahead of Webber.
Therefore for the second successive race, Kimi starts from pole position. Massa will start second, ahead of Barrichello, de la Rosa, Webber, Ralf, Fisichella, Trulli, Kubica, Heidfeld, Michael, Coulthard and Button.
A great performance from Kimi, while Massa will be kicking himself for a wasted opportunity. Mixed fortunes for Honda, with Rubens starting from third and Button penalized for this morning's engine failure.
Strong performances from de la Rosa and Webber, with Ralf Schumacher also looking good.
One fails to see how Giancarlo could only manage eighth, but that's Giancarlo.
A great debut from Robert Kubica, who not only out-qualifies his highly experienced teammate, but makes it into the final phase, albeit finishing tenth of ten. A great performance.
Overall however, there something quite not right about this, the 2s penalty for both drivers seems too much of a coincidence, in short, it stinks.
To check out our Hungary qualifying gallery, click here