04/08/2007
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's all-important qualifying session, the air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 39 degrees. It remains bright and sunny, though there's a strong wind, particularly on certain parts of the track.
The lights go green and surprisingly, Heidfeld is one of the first out, along with Liuzzi, Sutil, Yamamoto and Sato.
Sutil posts the first time (24.479), but this is soon beaten by Liuzzi and Sato. Meanwhile, Heidfeld has returned to the pits.
Trulli and Wurz are both on hot laps. The Austrian goes quickest (21.603), but is almost instantly beaten by Trulli, who crosses the line at 21.442. As Schumacher goes quickest (21.183), Vettel goes off, but is able to continue. The Toro Rosso is clearly a real handful.
Another driver struggling with his car is Mark Webber, as Kovalainen goes quickest with a 21.096.
As Webber goes fourth, Hamilton goes quickest in the first sector. The Englishman maintains the pace in the second sector, finally crossing the line at 19.570, the fastest lap of the weekend, thus far, and quicker than last year's pole winning time.
As Alonso, Mass and Raikkonen head down the pitlane, Heidfeld goes second with a 20.751.
Alonso and Massa are both on the soft compound, which means they clearly favour the harder compound.
The Brazilian goes second, ahead of Alonso, while Raikkonen slips into fifth, behind Heidfeld.
With just over three minutes remaining, Button is still in the danger zone, with teammate Barrichello just outside, and far from safe. Coulthard and Fisichella are two other drivers that need to improve.
While the top five sit it out, the other seventeen drivers make a final bid to get through to the next phase.
Yamamoto loses time behind Fisichella, the Japanese driver consequently out at the first hurdle. Though it is unlikely the Spyker driver would have made the cut, the Italian's actions certainly didn't help. All a bit unnecessary really.
Davidson goes seventh and Webber eighth, while Button can only manage sixteenth. Kovalainen goes second as Sato gets all out of shape, losing the tail of the Super Aguri.
At the first hurdle we lose both Hondas, just twelve months after Jenson Button's famous (maiden) victory, along with the Spykers, Sato and Vettel.
Hamilton was quickest, ahead of Kovalainen, Kubica, Massa, Alonso, Raikkonen, Schumacher, Trulli, Rosberg and Heidfeld.
The second phase gets underway, and Wurz and Liuzzi are first out. Followed, a minute later, by Davidson.
Wurz, on the softer compound, posts the first time, the Austrian crossing the line at 20.865. Meanwhile, his teammate leaves the pits on the harder compound.
As Liuzzi goes second, Trulli and Davidson are both on hot laps. The Englishman goes third, but is subsequently demoted when the Italian goes quickest (19.951).
Hamilton, on the softs, goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 19.301, as Raikkonen goes third, ahead of Rosberg and Webber.
Massa's first run sees the Brazilian go eleventh. As Alonso and the BMWs begin their first flying lap of the phase, Massa heads back to the pits.
As Alonso goes second (19.661), Massa grinds to a halt at the end of the pitlane. With just over four minutes remaining, and the Brazilian still in the danger zone, Ferrari is facing a major problem.
As the car is pushed back to the Ferrari garage, the clock is ticking. Kubica, Kovalainen and Wurz are the other 'big names' in the danger zone. Along with Davidson and Liuzzi.
Massa is back on track (soft) as Kubica follows (hard). Hamilton, Alonso, Trulli and Raikkonen opt not to go out again.
It's a scrappy lap for Massa, to put it mildly, he's clearly struggling for grip, as Davidson sets a personal best in the first sector. The Brazilian can only manage fourteenth, which means he's out at the second hurdle, as is Kovalainen, and indeed Davidson.
While Heidfeld goes sixth, a last ditch effort sees Kubica scrape into the top ten, much to the dismay of David Coulthard.
We lose Liuzzi, Davidson, Massa, Wurz, Kovalainen and Coulthard.
Quickest was Hamilton, ahead of Alonso, Trulli, Raikkonen, Rosberg, Heidfeld, Webber, Schumacher, Fisichella and Kubica.
Hamilton heads the queue as the remaining ten drivers wait for the lights to go green and the start of the final shoot-out. Behind the Englishman is his teammate, followed by Raikkonen. The Spaniard is one of the few drivers on the softer option tyre.
As Hamilton heads off into the distance, Raikkonen closes right up on Alonso, hassling the Spaniard as though it were the final laps of a race. It's called mind games.
Trulli is the first to pit, with just under nine minutes remaining. Moment later, his teammate pits. Next time around, Raikkonen stops, as does Alonso.
The Spaniard remains in his slot for what seems like a lifetime. When he is finally given the all-clear there's a problem with the tyre warmer on his front-right… adding to the World Champion's frustration.
Back on track, Schumacher goes quickest in the first sector. Trulli goes quickest (21.796), while Schumacher can only manage third.
Raikkonen (softs) is quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 20.930 to go quickest. However, Heidfeld and Alonso are on hot laps.
Rosberg goes second, only to be demoted when Heidfeld goes quickest, crossing the line at 20.922.
Alonso goes quickest (20.133), but Hamilton is on a scorcher. Sure enough, the Englishman posts 19.781 to take provisional pole.
With just under three minutes remaining, the final round of pit stops begins.
Another monumentally long stop for Alonso. In fact, the crew release him but the Spaniard holds station, while his teammate is waiting behind him. Gamesmanship? Surely not.
Raikkonen is on a hot lap, as are Rosberg and Trulli. The Finn improves to third as the chequered flag comes out, much to the chagrin of Hamilton, who does not have time for a final lap.
Heidfeld goes quickest in the final sector, retaking third from Raikkonen. However, Alonso, is on a very hot lap, finally crossing the line at 19.674 to take pole position.
In the pitlane Ron Dennis is furious, absolutely furious. Though his driver has taken pole position, it looks to have been the result of a deliberate attempt to derail his teammate. Asked to comment, Ron replies; "we'll talk about it later". He says it in that tone of voice your dad used to use before you got your arse whipped.
Well folks, as if F1 hasn't got enough in-fighting, we now appear to have internal team battles going on at McLaren. That said, best to end the speculation until the team gives its views… probably in the form of a fifteen page missive.
As far as qualifying is concerned, Alonso takes pole position ahead of Lewis Hamilton, with Nick Heidfeld third ahead of Raikkonen. Nico Rosberg starts fifth, ahead of Schumacher, Kubica, Fisichella, Trulli and Webber.
Never mind the race tomorrow, it looks as though its going to be another late night for the press officers, especially the girls at McLaren.
To check out our Hungary qualifying gallery, click here