10/06/2006
NEWS STORY
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Although some of the times posted here earlier today, certainly in the case of Michael Schumacher, compare with last year's pole time, they are a couple of seconds shy of the times witnessed in testing earlier this year.
One of the key factors is the difference in temperature between when the cars tested here in late April, and now, the middle of 'flaming June'. The data gathered during the tests counts for nought, as witnessed not only by the difference in times, but also by the amount of offs, as drivers attempt to find a decent set-up, and the right amount of grip. Watching the drivers this weekend it has been surprising to see just how hard many of them are having to work in their cockpits. That said, one team that doesn't appear to be having the same problem is Ferrari, which hasn't run here since last year's Grand Prix. It would seems that April's test may have actually set many of the teams back when preparing for this weekend.
What we're saying is that today's qualifying session is going to be about 'trial and error', and don't be surprised to see some 'new' names make it through to the final phase of the session.
Anyway, ahead of today's session, the air temperature is 29 degrees, while the track temperature is 43 degrees.
When the lights go green, Nick Heidfeld, who finished second this morning, is first out, followed by Alonso, Ralf, Albers, Sato and Montagny. The fact that Alonso is going out so early is clear proof that this session is no 'piece of cake', nobody, even the World Champion, is confident with their set-up. The wind speed, which is up on this morning, isn't helping.
Albers posts the first time of the session, the Dutchman crossing the line at 1:24.372. Moments later Alonso goes quickest, posting a 1:23.511.
Raikkonen is on track as Coulthard goes quickest in the first sector, going on to take second place with a 23.892. Alonso fails to improve as Scott Speed goes quickest with a 1:23.202.
Trulli returns to the pits with smoke pouring out of his car, having failed to post a time. The Italian is pushed into his garage, his session appearing to be over before it has begun.
Both Ferraris are on track as Raikkonen goes fourth (23.825), behind Speed, Alonso and Klien.
Button goes second (23.247), as Montoya goes off into the gravel. The Colombia is able to continue as teammate Raikkonen also has an moment.
Barrichello goes quickest, but is quickly overhauled by the Ferrari duo, as Massa goes quickest ahead of Schumacher.
With five minutes remaining, Villeneuve, Rosberg, Webber, Fisichella and Trulli have yet to post a time. That said, Trulli will not be going out again today.
Alonso goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 1:21.018, as Webber goes eighth. Montoya takes fourth, ahead of Fisichella, Speed and Barrichello.
A 1:21.637 sees Villeneuve goes second, as Ralf, Heidfeld and Coulthard remain in the 'danger zone'.
Heidfeld goes fifth (21.670), which drops Klien in to the 'danger zone'. Another man who is not entirely safe is Jenson Button, indeed the Englishman appears to have missed the cut having been called into the weighbridge. Meanwhile, Webber also misses the cut when Monteiro improves to go thirteenth, the Australian appearing to pay the price for only doing one run.
Therefore, at the first hurdle we lose Webber, Albers, Button, Sato, Montagny and Trulli.
Alonso was quickest, ahead of Villeneuve, Massa, Raikkonen, Heidfeld, Michael, Montoya, Fisichella, Coulthard and Speed. Those just missing the drop included several other big names, Rosberg, Barrichello and Ralf.
The second phase of qualifying gets underway, and Ralf is first out, followed by Villeneuve, Rosberg and Heidfeld. Back in the pits Button looks absolutely stunned, unable to believe what has happened… and rightly so.
Ralf posts a 1:21.681 to set the benchmark, however, Villeneuve immediately goes quicker, the Canadian crossing the line at 1:20.672, the fastest lap of the weekend.
Heidfeld makes it an BMW 1-2, when he posts a 1:20.943, slipping in ahead of Coulthard, Ralf, Rosberg and Klien.
However, it's not long before status quo is restored, Alonso goes quickest with teammate Fisichella taking second. Moments later, Raikkonen service notice of his intent, splitting into second to separate the two Renaults.
Michael is on track, as are Massa, Montoya and Liuzzi.
The Colombian takes fifth with a 1:20.816, having gone quickest in the final sector. Michael takes fourth with a 1:20.659, the German immediately ease off, clearly sensing that he's done enough to get into the final phase.
Neither Speed nor Monteiro have posted time, as Coulthard goes tenth with a 1:21.442.
Rosberg and Ralf are in the drop zone with just over four minutes remaining, as are Liuzzi, Klien, Monteiro and Speed.
Montoya is on track, as are Barrichello, Heidfeld, Coulthard, Ralf, Rosberg, Klien, Speed and Monteiro.
The American goes fifteenth, but remains in the 'danger zone'. Elsewhere, Ralf goes tenth, dropping Coulthard into the 'danger zone'.
The Scot attempts to improve but fails, as Rosberg also fails to make the cut.
At the end of the second phase, we lose Monteiro, Speed, Klien, Liuzzi, Rosberg and Coulthard. On his way back into his garage the Scot is clearly very agitated, was he blocked?
Therefore, fighting it out for pole we have both Renaults, both McLarens, both Ferraris, a Toyota (Ralf), a Honda (Barrichello) and - for the first time this season - both BMWs.
The final phase gets underway, and at a time when Max Mosley is proposing a new 'green' future for F1, we sit back to watch fifteen minutes of environmentally unfriendly non-action.
It appears that Coulthard does indeed feel he was blocked, and has officially complained to Charlie Whiting, claiming that Montoya blocked him, saying that the Colombian's actions were "disgusting".
Send the blackguard to the back of the grid we say. The bounder!
7 minutes and 58 second remaining, and Villeneuve is the first to pit, next time around it's Michael, Alonso, Massa, Fisichella and Barrichello. A lap later, Kimi stops as does Heidfeld.
Villeneuve goes quickest in the first sector, and again the second, The Canadian finally crossing the line at 1:22.353. However, Michael is already on a very, very quick lap, as is Alonso.
Michael posts 1:20.815, while Alonso takes second with a 1:20.858. Raikkonen goes third ahead of Fisichella, Massa, Barrichello, Montoya, Villeneuve, Ralf and Heidfeld.
With just over two minutes remaining, Alonso and Michael both pit again, as do Fisichella, Massa and Barrichello. We have a real battle on our hands. Raikkonen is the last to leave the pits, just about exiting in time to get round and begin a flying lap.
Michael goes quickest in the first sector, but moments later Alonso beats him. At the second split Michael goes quickest, but again Alonso beats him. At the line Michael posts 1:20.659, but Alonso beats it, crossing the line at 1:20.253.
Ralf goes quickest in the final sector to take fourth, but is edged out by Mass and Fisichella, as Raikkonen steals second place from Michael, having gone quickest in the two final sectors.
Therefore, in a thrilling final phase - at least the last five minutes - Alonso finishes quickest, and therefore takes pole, ahead of Raikkonen, Michael, Massa, Fisichella, Barrichello, Ralf, Montoya, Heidfeld and Villeneuve.
An interesting grid, which sets up the prospect of a thrilling start. However, the big question tomorrow is fuel loads and of course how the tyres will hold up. The weather appears to be a forgone conclusion.
Much of the final phase was extremely tedious but the final couple of minutes was brilliant, who needs bloody football?
To check out our Silverstone qualifying gallery, click here