26/08/2006
NEWS STORY
 |
Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 34 degrees C, while the track temperature is 50 degrees. It remains warm and sunny.
Thankfully, after the shenanigans of Hungary, there are no silly penalties, other than for Christijan Albers, who for the third successive Grand Prix has had to change his engine, and Ralf Schumacher who has had to change the Toyota powerplant in his car also.
The lights go green and the first phase of the session is underway. First out is Monteiro, followed by Alonso and Yamamoto. Trulli is also eager to get to work, as his teammate.
Monteiro posts the benchmark time, the Portuguese driver crossing the line at 30.255. However, Alonso has already gone quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 29.087.
Trulli and Klien are both on fast laps, the Italian going quickest at 29.826. David Coulthard goes third, ahead of Speed and Albers, but is quickly demoted as his Red Bull teammate goes second (28.982).
Michael Schumacher leaves the pits as Button goes fifth, ahead of Speed and Albers. The German goes quickest in the first sector, as Mark Webber goes third (29.069). Schumacher crosses the line at 27.385, as Raikkonen goes second with a 28.236.
With just over five minutes remaining, Massa, de la Rosa, Fisichella and Kubica have yet to post a time.
Nick Heidfeld goes second with a 28.200, as Ralf looks in danger of losing out at the first hurdle.
Massa goes quickest in the first sector, and again in the second. The Brazilian crosses the line at 27.306, to take top spot, giving Ferrari 1-2.
De la Rosa goes fifth with under three minutes remaining, as Kubica and Ralf remain rooted in the 'danger zone'.
Ralf posts 27.668, to go third, but this is bad news for Barrichello and Rosberg. That said, a 28.411 sees the Brazilian go tenth.
A brave last ditch effort from Liuzzi, but it's not good enough, he misses the cut along with Sato, Yamamoto, Monteiro, Speed and Coulthard.
Quickest was Massa, ahead of Michael, Ralf, Alonso, Fisichella, Heidfeld, Kubica, Button, Raikkonen and Klien.
Ahead of the second phase, Albers, who forfeits ten grid spots, asks his crew if he has made it through to the next phase of the session. "Stay in the car mate," he's told, "you're sixteenth, you're through!"
The lights go green for the second phase, and the track temperature has dropped by 3 degrees.
First out is Kubica, followed by Trulli, Rosberg, Heidfeld and Albers.
The Polish driver sets the benchmark, crossing the line at 27.861, but Heidfeld is already on a very hot lap. The German goes quickest, giving BMW a 1-2, but Ralf Schumacher looks set to change the order. Indeed he does, the Toyota driver goes quickest with a 27.062.
Webber goes third, ahead of Kubica, Trulli, Klien and Rosberg. However, all eyes are on Alonso, who goes quickest in the first sector. He loses a little pace in the second sector, but makes it up in the third, going quickest with a 26.917.
However, it's time for Michael Schumacher to have his say, and the German is exceedingly quick in the first sector. The Ferrari driver crosses the line at 1:25.850, an absolutely stunning lap, the quickest so far this weekend.
Raikkonen goes fourth with a 27.0202, ahead of Heidfeld and Button.
As Fisichella leaves the pits, Massa begins his flying lap. The Brazilian goes third (27.059), as Barrichello, Trulli, Rosberg, Klien and Fisichella remain in danger.
Button is seventh, but goes out again, knowing that he's remains far from safe.
Fisichella is struggling, and with 80 second remaining manages to post a 27.346, which puts him seventh. But is it enough?
Less than a minute and de la Rosa, Rosberg and Barrichello need to improve or face the chop. The action is fast and frantic, as Klien goes tenth, but he's still not safe.
Button goes second (26.872), but his teammate has missed the cut, as have Rosberg, Trulli and de la Rosa. Albers and Klien also miss the cut.
Michael is quickest, ahead of Button, Alonso, Massa, Ralf, Raikkonen, Heidfeld, Fisichella, Kubica and Webber.
The 'fuel burn' phase gets underway, and first out is Jenson Button, followed by Kubica, Michael, Ralf and Fisichella.
Round and round and round they go….
With just over eight minutes remaining, Alonso and Fisichella are first to pit, followed by Raikkonen. Game on!
Next time around it is Button and Michael that stop, followed by Heidfeld and Kubica.
Alonso goes quickest, but is quickly demoted by his teammate, who posts 27.878. However, Massa is already on a fast lap. Indeed, the German goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 27.307, to go quickest. Meanwhile, having gone wide (Turn 1), for the second time in this phase, Michael pits.
Button is fourth, ahead of Heidfeld, Raikkonen and Kubica. Meanwhile, Fisichella complains of a loss of 'grunt'. His engineers ask him where he feels he's missing out, "everywhere" is the immediate response.
Ninety-four second remaining and Michael posts a personal best in the firs sector. He goes quickest in the second, finally crossing the line at 27.284, to go quickest.
Despite having provisional pole, it was a scrappy lap from the Ferrari driver, particularly in the first sector.
Alonso goes quickest in the first sector, but Massa goes quickest in the second. The Brazilian takes top spot with a 26.907, as Alonso can only manage 27.321, which puts him third.
Fisichella takes fourth, ahead of Ralf, Heidfeld, Button, Raikkonen, Kubica and Webber, however the Toyota driver forfeits ten grid spots.
Tomorrow, Felipe Massa will start from pole position for the first time in his 66 race Formula One career, the Brazilian having looked good for much of the weekend, indeed, much of the season, steadily improving.
A scrappy lap from Michael, however at least the German starts ahead of Alonso, which sets the title fight up nicely.
One of this season's better qualifying sessions.
To check out our Istanbul qualifying gallery, click here