15/07/2006
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 34 degrees C, and the track temperature is 54 degrees. It remains bright, hot and sunny.
The big news, following this morning's free practice session, is that Cosworth has finally opted to change the powerplant in Nico Rosberg's WilliamsF1, which means the German forfeits ten grid spots. On the other hand he does get to run the new Cosworth 6 Series engine, which is also being used by teammate Mark Webber.
The lights go green, the first phase is underway, however, nobody seems to eager to get to work. After a minute an engine fires into life… seconds later, Nick Heidfeld is heading down the pitlane. He is followed by Michael, Ralf, Trulli, Webber, Rosberg, Monteiro and Albers.
Michael Schumacher heads back to the pits, as there is concern following his fire during free practice this morning.
Back on track, fellow-German, Nick Heidfeld, posts 1:18.019, while Webber posts 19.341.
As Ralf goes second (19.045), Trulli is on a quick lap, having gone quickest in the first two sectors. The Italian takes the top spot (17.092), displacing Albers, who momentarily headed the timesheets in the Midland.
Klien goes second (17.1285), ahead of Speed, while Monteiro goes fifth. That said, it's all change as Coulthard bangs in a 17.034 to go quickest, the Scot being the first driver - as in free practice this morning - to run with new tyres.
Liuzzi goes fourth, ahead of Raikkonen, while Michael waits resolutely in his garage. Along the pitlane, both Renault drivers wait and watch.
Massa is on track, going quickest in the first sector. He's quickest in the second sector also, eventually crossing the line at 1:16.277, to go quickest… that's the quickest lap we've seen this weekend.
With four minutes remaining, Michael goes quickest in the first and sectors, finally crossing the line at 1:15.865. An outstanding lap.
Raikkonen goes third and Alonso fourth, with Webber, Ralf, Rosberg and Button still in the danger zone.
Webber posts 16.531 to go fifth, while Button can only manage 17.495, which is only god enough for fifteenth, which is only just outside the danger zone.
Ralf goes second, while Rosberg goes seventh. Button tries to improve but fails, his tyres are shot.
Trulli is quickest, ahead of Michael and Ralf, as Barrichello just about scrapes out of the danger zone with seconds remaining.
At the end of the first phase we lose Sato, Montagny and Monteiro, as expected, however, we also lose Button, Villeneuve and Liuzzi. Villeneuve having been pace-setter this morning. The Canadian clearly had a problem as he only completed 3 laps.
Quickest was Trulli, ahead of Michael, Ralf, Raikkonen, Massa, Alonso, Coulthard, Webber, Rosberg and de la Rosa.
The second phase gets underway, and first out (again) is Nick Heidfeld, followed by Webber, Rosberg and Speed.
As Ralf and Klien head down the pitlane, Heidfeld goes quickest with a 1:16.394. Momentarily, Speed hold second, but he is quickly displaced by Webber, who crosses the line at 1:16.407.
Kimi leaves the pits as Rosberg goes third, ahead of Speed, Ralf, Coulthard and Klien. However, Ralf is on a very hot lap, going quickest in the first two sectors. He crosses the line at 1:15.625, the Toyota looking very good here at Magny Cours.
Kimi Raikkonen goes quickest in the first sector, as Trulli goes second, slotting in behind Ralf. Kimi takes second with a 15.742, though he was only quickest in the first sector.
Moments later, Alonso goes second (15.706), and Fisichella fifth, as Michael finally leaves the pits. The German and his Brazilian teammate are the only drivers on track, with just over five minutes remaining.
Felipe goes quickest in the first sector, crossing the line at 1:15.679 to go second. Moments later Michael begins his first flying lap of this session, going quickest in the first sector. He's quickest again in the second sector, crossing the line at 1:15.111 to take the top spot.
Coulthard, Rosberg and Barrichello are all in the danger zone along with Albers, Speed and Klien. Albers hasn't made an appearance in this session… but now, with just over two minutes remaining, he heads down the pitlane.
Coulthard and Rosberg both go out on fresh rubber, even though the German will take a ten-spot grid penalty. The WilliamsF1 drivers goes ninth, which drops Heidfeld into the danger zone.
Coulthard bangs in a 1:15.974, which puts him tenth, putting Webber in danger. That was a superb lap from the Scot.
Webber tries to improve but fails, while Barrichello and Heidfeld also fail at the second hurdle.
Michael is quickest, ahead of Ralf, Massa, Alonso, Raikkonen, Trulli, Fisichella, de la Rosa, Rosberg and Coulthard.
We lose Albers, Speed, Barrichello, Klien, Heidfeld and Webber, a dreadful day for Honda and BMW, with WilliamsF1 also looking none too healthy.
As the third phase gets underway, Michael and Alonso are side by side. The lights go green and Fernando gets the drop on his German rival. However, at Adelaide Michael gets past the Renault, much to the chagrin of its driver. The race is on… indeed this is more exciting than some of the Grands Prix this year.
The 'fuel burn' stage gets underway, but Alonso and Michael continue their own little game, passing and re=passing one another.
With just under eight minutes remaining, Kimi is first to pit, followed shortly afterwards by his McLaren teammate. The 'race' leaders are next to stop, followed by Fisichella and Massa.
Raikkonen and de la Rosa are both on hot laps, however, whereas the Spaniard goes quickest (16.632), a mistake by the Finn means he can only manage 16.704.
Michael is quickest in the first two sectors, he's just behind Alonso on track. The Spaniard goes quickest, but is almost instantly dropped to second by his German rival, who crosses the line at 15.770. Moments later, Massa makes it a Ferrari 1-2, as he posts a 1:16.013.
Two and a half minutes remaining and the front runners make their final stops.
Michael goes quickest in the first sector, as Kimi improves to fourth. Elsewhere, both Toyotas are looking good, particularly Trulli.
The chequered flag is out but Alonso and Michael are on hot laps, as is Trulli. Alonso grabs second, but Massa is still on a hot lap, indeed the Ferrari star crosses the line at 1:15.510 to give Ferrari a 1-2 at Renault's home track.
Alonso finishes third quickest, ahead of the ever-improving Jarno Trulli. Ralf Schumacher is fifth, ahead of Raikkonen, Fisichella, de la Rosa, Rosberg and Coulthard.
We saw from the shenanigans during the final phase of the session that Michael and Fernando are definitely 'up for it', while the addition of Massa, Trulli, Ralf, Raikkonen and Fisichella to the mix indicates that we could be in for a decent race tomorrow.
Although Ferrari will be absolutely delighted with its front row, especially in light of this morning's problems, one cannot help but wonder what is happening at Honda. When Nick Fry promised a double points finish this weekend we took it with a pinch of salt, however, the fact is that the Japanese team is going backwards… and one only had to see Jenson Button following his elimination to realise that even his patience is wearing thin.
We wondered if Indianapolis was a blip for Ferrari, and clearly it wasn't, for both Michael and Massa are very competitive here. This of course means we could see the German take another couple of points away from the championship leader, thereby keeping the title fight alive… which is good news for all of us.
Today's 'trailer' has been pretty good, lets hope the race lives up to expectations.
To check out our Magny Cours Qualifying gallery, click here