Bericht
Der Ferrari – Pilot Felipe Massa wird am Sonntag beim ersten Nachtrennen der Formel1 Geschichte vor Lewis Hamilton von der Pole starten. Startplatz Drei erkämpfte ich Kimi Räikkönen im Ferrari vor Robert Kubica im BMW – Sauber und Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren Mercedes). BMW – Sauber Pilot Nick Heidfeld qualifizierte sich zwar vor Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso), Timo Glock (Toyota) und Nico Rosberg (Williams), wurde jedoch von den Rennkommissaren drei Plätze nach hinten auf Position Neun versetzt. Die Strafe wurde ausgesprochen, weil Heidfeld beim Beenden seiner Runde Rubens Barrichello, der auf einer schnellen Runde war, bei der Boxeneinfahrt behinderte. Auch Barrichello wurde bestraft, weil er in letzter Sekunde dann seine Runde abbrach und überstürzt in die Box abbog. Wenn ein Fahrer in die Box möchte, muss er zuvor der weißen Linie folgen, da sonst die Einfahrt in die Boxengasse auf der Ideallinie liegt. Hinter dem Deutschen Quartett positionierte Kazuki Nakajima, erstmals im Finalen Qualifying, seinen Williams aus Startplatz 10. Elfter wurde Jarno Trulli im Toyota vor Jenson Button (Honda), Mark Webber und David Coulthard (beide Red Bull). Fernando Alonso traf es ganz bitter. Der Renault – Pilot, der in den letzten beiden Trainingssessions Bestzeit fuhr und sich berechtigte Chancen aus die Pole machte, musste seinen Boliden nach nur wenigen Metern im zweiten Qualifying mit einem technischen Defekt abstellen. Teamkollege Nelson Piquet scheiterte schon im ersten Qualifying, wie auch Sebastian Bourdais (Toro Rosso), Rubens Barrichello (Honda) und Adrian Sutil im Force India. Sutil’s Teamkollege Giancarlo Fisichella konnte nach seinem Unfall erst spät am Qualifying teilnehmen und rutschte dann auch noch erneut in die Streckenbegrenzung. Fisichella startet demnach con Startplatz 20.
[PIC1]
PRESSEBERICHTE
[PIC2]Felipe Massa, Ferrari (Poleposition ):
"I did a fantastic lap in a fantastic car and it was possibly my best qualifying of the season. Given my margin over the others, with hindsight it's easy to say maybe I could have run with slightly more fuel, but we firmly believe we have a very competitive strategy. At every corner, at every braking point I tried to get the most out of the car and I think I managed it. The harder tyres have seemed better since yesterday and that's why we went in that direction. The track is very difficult and requires total concentration lap after lap because there is no room for error: it's much harder here than in Monaco. I'm pleased to be the first driver to be on pole for this Grand Prix, taking place in such a special and unusual atmosphere: I hope I can do even better tomorrow."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Ferrari]
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes (Startplatz 2):
"After I ran wide in the second part of qualifying I decided to play it safe on the one remaining run and fortunately I moved up to Q3 and managed a place on the front row. At the last sector I was really fast, but I still have to improve in the first two sectors; particularly at turn five I lost a bit of time. We had a good set-up; however, the tyre decision was not easy today as I felt no big difference between the prime and the option tyre."
[Quelle: www.mclaren.com]
Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari (Startplatz 3):
"All things considered, this is a good result. Of course, you always hope to be in front of everyone but third place is not so bad. In Q1 and Q2, the car worked very well on the soft tyres but in Q3, on the harder ones, it was not so good anymore. Today, it was difficult to choose the best type of tyre for the decisive session because the performance difference over the first lap was not so great. I probably suffered a bit because of the time lost this morning with a technical problem which ended my free practice session ahead of time. The track is very demanding with many places where you really feel the bumps and you have to maintain concentration all the time. Tomorrow I will do my best for myself and for the team."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Ferrari]
[PIC3]
Robert Kubica, BMW - Sauber (Startplatz 4):
"Mein Qualifying war ziemlich gut. Ich bin zufrieden mit Platz vier, jedoch nicht mit meiner letzten Runde. Ich hatte wenig Grip. Im letzten Stint von Q3 hatte ich nahezu keine Haftung im ersten Sektor. Ich verlor dort ziemlich viel Zeit, denn ich hatte Felipe Massa auf seiner Outlap vor mir. Vielleicht war das der Grund, dass die Reifen nicht richtig auf Temperatur kamen. Wie dem auch sei, das Rennen wird eine komplett andere Geschichte. Es wird ziemlich anstrengend werden, denn die Strecke ist sehr wellig und anspruchsvoll. Der Reifenabbau wird ein entscheidender Faktor sein."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung BMW - Sauber]
Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren Mercedes (Startplatz 5):
"The balance of my car was excellent especially in Q1 and Q2. Obviously the option tyre didn’t work as well as the prime today. In Q3 on my last run I touched the wall slightly three corners from the finish which cost me some time. It’s so close and competitive nowadays that even a minor mistake can cost me a few places on the grid, despite having a well balanced and quick car. The aim now is to score as many points as possible for the team. With our speed and fine handling we should be in a good position in the race."
[Quelle: www.mclaren.com]
Nick Heidfeld, BMW - Sauber (Startplatz 6):
"Ich bin recht zufrieden, meine Runde war gut. Wir haben seit den ersten Trainings am Freitag einiges umgebaut, und das meiste davon war richtig. Das Auto ist besser geworden, und ich habe mich langsam an den Kurs hier herangetastet und auch gesteigert. Morgen ist ein guter Start extrem wichtig. Überholen ist hier unheimlich schwierig, weil die Strecke sehr eng ist und neben der Ideallinie dreckig und noch welliger. Das könnte einer der härtesten Grand Prix des Jahres werden."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung BMW - Sauber]
Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Toro Rosso (Startplatz 7):
"It was a very good qualifying for us. In Q2, we were in a comfortable position and only needed to do one run and then in Q3 I think we achieved the maximum we could do today. After experiencing some difficulties yesterday, I did not expect P7, but we did a very good job overnight and we seem to have found the right way forward. I am sure it will be a long and difficult race tomorrow and very hot. We are starting from a points position so we will be trying to bring some home."
[Quelle: Scuderia Toro Rosso]
[PIC4]
Timo Glock, Toyota (Startplatz 8):
"I did everything I could today and I am happy with eighth place. My lap in Q2 was very good and it was a pleasant surprise to be so competitive because we have had a few difficulties earlier in the weekend. We have improved the stability of the car quite a bit because it was not ideally suited to the bumpy surface, so it was very satisfying to qualifying in the top 10. It is a real challenge to get a perfect lap in qualifying here because the grip levels change from corner to corner and the weather conditions are extreme - it is very hot in the cockpit. I expect overtaking will be very difficult here so we are in a good position for the race. I am pleased with this result."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Toyota]
Nico Rosberg, Williams - Toyota (Startplatz 9):
"I am generally quite happy as it was quite a good qualifying for me, even though after progressing to Q2, I did hope for a little more than 9th place. Nevertheless, it’s good for the team to have both cars in the top ten and it will help us get into a position to score points. Even though we might not see too much overtaking, whatever happens tomorrow, I think it’s going to be an exciting race – the start through turn one, the battle during the pit-stops and the visual spectacle of all the cars racing through the night is going to be stunning."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Williams]
Kazuki Nakajima, Williams - Toyota (Startplatz 10):
"It was a great qualifying session for me today. Over the course of the season, I have missed out on Q3 many times by a very small margin, so it was great to make it into the top ten. After the first two sessions, qualifying with extra fuel for the first time was difficult, let alone the usual issues with traffic and just having one chance to get it right. The team gave me a very good car and we have been very competitive here in all the sessions, so we just need to make a good start tomorrow and maintain our competitiveness to the end."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Williams]
Janro Trulli, Toyota (Startplatz 11):
"That was a difficult and frustrating qualifying session for me. I didn't get the grip or the feel from the car that I wanted and that is why I didn't make it to Q3. We have been struggling a bit all weekend on this track and we are not helped by the bumps, but it is still disappointing not to qualify in the top 10. I did my best but the lap time just wasn't there. I will push as hard as possible tomorrow and we will see what we can do."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Toyota]
Jenson Button, Honda (Startplatz 12):
"Ich bin mit unserer heutigen Leistung beim Qualifying zufrieden. Wir haben uns gegenüber den letzten Rennen deutlich verbessern können“, sagte Jenson. „In meiner letzten Runde hatte ich Probleme im ersten Abschnitt, da der Wagen zu stark untersteuerte und die Haftung sehr schlecht war. Aber ich war trotzdem schnell genug, um ins 2. Qualifying zu gelangen. Wir haben uns zu Beginn des Wochenendes recht schnell an die Strecke gewöhnt. Das war eine gute Grundlage für das heutige Qualifying und unsere Vorbereitungen auf das morgige Rennen."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Honda]
Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing (Startplatz 13):
"Obviously that was disappointing. It was difficult to find a rhythm today and neither of my flying laps in Q2 worked out. I was up on the last lap, but a bit of traffic cost me vital time in the last sector. It was a tricky session for us today."
[Quelle: Red Bull Racing]
David Coulthard, Red Bull Racing (Startplatz 14):
"I had to make it up a little bit in qualifying today, as I missed out on track time this morning. On a track like this you really need miles to get your hand in. On my flying lap I was over the top on some corners, but I think I did pretty well on others. It’s not good to start the race tomorrow in the middle of the pack. The main factors for this track are getting the right tyre and getting your eye in, so you turn at the right point."
[Quelle: Red Bull Racing]
Fernando Alonso, Renault (Startplatz 15):
"It’s a really big disappointment because we had a real chance to do something special today, perhaps not pole position but to at least qualify in the top four. Our weekend was going really well and we had big hopes for this evening. I know that starting in the middle of the pack will make for a difficult race and I will need a miracle with the strategy to be able to make progress on this street circuit where it looks difficult to overtake."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Renault]
Nelson Piquet jr., Renault (Startplatz 16):
"I’m disappointed with my session. The car was working well and I was happy with the balance at the end of the final free practice session earlier this evening, but in qualifying we could not repeat that. The race tomorrow will be tricky, but once again I will do all I can to fight back through the field."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Renault]
[PIC5]
Sebastien Bourdais, Scuderia Toro Rosso (Startplatz 17):
"I don’t know what happened in this session. Every time I braked, the car went sideways. It was pulling to the left and alternately locking one of the rear wheels. The car behaved completely differently to FP3 but we have not changed anything. My first run was messy and my second run was just weird and there was no way I felt I could attack as I had no stability or grip, with the car running asymmetrically. I also came up behind Sutil in the chicane. Just a bad qualifying.
On top of all this has come the very sad news that Paul Newman has died. He was a great man and he will be dearly missed, but he has no doubt gone to a better place"
[Quelle: Scuderia Toro Rosso]
Rubens Barrichello, Honda (Startplatz 18):
"Leider habe ich beim heutigen Qualifying keine Bestleistung erzielen können, da ich wegen des Verkehrs keine bessere Startposition bekommen konnte“, bestätigte Rubens. „Auf meiner zweiten Fahrt steckte ich hinter Heidfeld fest und kam nicht richtig voran. Bei meiner letzten Fahrt geriet Alonso vor mir ins Schleudern und die gelbe Flagge war draußen, so dass ich mich im letzten Abschnitt nicht mehr verbessern konnte. Das ist wirklich schade, da ich mich noch hätte verbessern können."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Honda]
Adrian Sutil, Force India (Startplatz 19):
"I think this is probably one of our worst qualifying performances so far this year. We don't
really know where the problem is, but it just seemed the grip was not there and the balance
wasn't right. It might be an issue with the tyres as we just can't bring them to a real peak. We
just have to try our best and find the problems. The race tomorrow will be tough but I am
happy with the pace of our long runs so I think we are stronger under race conditions."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Force India]
Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India (Startplatz 20):
"Unfortunately today wasn't my day! I had an accident over the kerbs in turn 10 in practice -
the kerbs in that corner are very dangerous as I launched over them and went into the
barriers. The mechanics did a fantastic, fantastic job to get the car repaired and out for
qualifying in the last five minutes. Unfortunately then I had a puncture and then another crash
as the steering wasn't right because of the puncture. I'm really disappointed, not for myself as
I think it would have been a tough qualifying anyway, but for the team as they worked so hard.
We will look to have a better day tomorrow."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Force India]
[PIC6]
[PIC1]
[PIC2]Felipe Massa, Ferrari (Poleposition ):
"I did a fantastic lap in a fantastic car and it was possibly my best qualifying of the season. Given my margin over the others, with hindsight it's easy to say maybe I could have run with slightly more fuel, but we firmly believe we have a very competitive strategy. At every corner, at every braking point I tried to get the most out of the car and I think I managed it. The harder tyres have seemed better since yesterday and that's why we went in that direction. The track is very difficult and requires total concentration lap after lap because there is no room for error: it's much harder here than in Monaco. I'm pleased to be the first driver to be on pole for this Grand Prix, taking place in such a special and unusual atmosphere: I hope I can do even better tomorrow."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Ferrari]
Lewis Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes (Startplatz 2):
"After I ran wide in the second part of qualifying I decided to play it safe on the one remaining run and fortunately I moved up to Q3 and managed a place on the front row. At the last sector I was really fast, but I still have to improve in the first two sectors; particularly at turn five I lost a bit of time. We had a good set-up; however, the tyre decision was not easy today as I felt no big difference between the prime and the option tyre."
[Quelle: www.mclaren.com]
Kimi Räikkönen, Ferrari (Startplatz 3):
"All things considered, this is a good result. Of course, you always hope to be in front of everyone but third place is not so bad. In Q1 and Q2, the car worked very well on the soft tyres but in Q3, on the harder ones, it was not so good anymore. Today, it was difficult to choose the best type of tyre for the decisive session because the performance difference over the first lap was not so great. I probably suffered a bit because of the time lost this morning with a technical problem which ended my free practice session ahead of time. The track is very demanding with many places where you really feel the bumps and you have to maintain concentration all the time. Tomorrow I will do my best for myself and for the team."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Ferrari]
[PIC3]
Robert Kubica, BMW - Sauber (Startplatz 4):
"Mein Qualifying war ziemlich gut. Ich bin zufrieden mit Platz vier, jedoch nicht mit meiner letzten Runde. Ich hatte wenig Grip. Im letzten Stint von Q3 hatte ich nahezu keine Haftung im ersten Sektor. Ich verlor dort ziemlich viel Zeit, denn ich hatte Felipe Massa auf seiner Outlap vor mir. Vielleicht war das der Grund, dass die Reifen nicht richtig auf Temperatur kamen. Wie dem auch sei, das Rennen wird eine komplett andere Geschichte. Es wird ziemlich anstrengend werden, denn die Strecke ist sehr wellig und anspruchsvoll. Der Reifenabbau wird ein entscheidender Faktor sein."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung BMW - Sauber]
Heikki Kovalainen, McLaren Mercedes (Startplatz 5):
"The balance of my car was excellent especially in Q1 and Q2. Obviously the option tyre didn’t work as well as the prime today. In Q3 on my last run I touched the wall slightly three corners from the finish which cost me some time. It’s so close and competitive nowadays that even a minor mistake can cost me a few places on the grid, despite having a well balanced and quick car. The aim now is to score as many points as possible for the team. With our speed and fine handling we should be in a good position in the race."
[Quelle: www.mclaren.com]
Nick Heidfeld, BMW - Sauber (Startplatz 6):
"Ich bin recht zufrieden, meine Runde war gut. Wir haben seit den ersten Trainings am Freitag einiges umgebaut, und das meiste davon war richtig. Das Auto ist besser geworden, und ich habe mich langsam an den Kurs hier herangetastet und auch gesteigert. Morgen ist ein guter Start extrem wichtig. Überholen ist hier unheimlich schwierig, weil die Strecke sehr eng ist und neben der Ideallinie dreckig und noch welliger. Das könnte einer der härtesten Grand Prix des Jahres werden."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung BMW - Sauber]
Sebastian Vettel, Scuderia Toro Rosso (Startplatz 7):
"It was a very good qualifying for us. In Q2, we were in a comfortable position and only needed to do one run and then in Q3 I think we achieved the maximum we could do today. After experiencing some difficulties yesterday, I did not expect P7, but we did a very good job overnight and we seem to have found the right way forward. I am sure it will be a long and difficult race tomorrow and very hot. We are starting from a points position so we will be trying to bring some home."
[Quelle: Scuderia Toro Rosso]
[PIC4]
Timo Glock, Toyota (Startplatz 8):
"I did everything I could today and I am happy with eighth place. My lap in Q2 was very good and it was a pleasant surprise to be so competitive because we have had a few difficulties earlier in the weekend. We have improved the stability of the car quite a bit because it was not ideally suited to the bumpy surface, so it was very satisfying to qualifying in the top 10. It is a real challenge to get a perfect lap in qualifying here because the grip levels change from corner to corner and the weather conditions are extreme - it is very hot in the cockpit. I expect overtaking will be very difficult here so we are in a good position for the race. I am pleased with this result."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Toyota]
Nico Rosberg, Williams - Toyota (Startplatz 9):
"I am generally quite happy as it was quite a good qualifying for me, even though after progressing to Q2, I did hope for a little more than 9th place. Nevertheless, it’s good for the team to have both cars in the top ten and it will help us get into a position to score points. Even though we might not see too much overtaking, whatever happens tomorrow, I think it’s going to be an exciting race – the start through turn one, the battle during the pit-stops and the visual spectacle of all the cars racing through the night is going to be stunning."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Williams]
Kazuki Nakajima, Williams - Toyota (Startplatz 10):
"It was a great qualifying session for me today. Over the course of the season, I have missed out on Q3 many times by a very small margin, so it was great to make it into the top ten. After the first two sessions, qualifying with extra fuel for the first time was difficult, let alone the usual issues with traffic and just having one chance to get it right. The team gave me a very good car and we have been very competitive here in all the sessions, so we just need to make a good start tomorrow and maintain our competitiveness to the end."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Williams]
Janro Trulli, Toyota (Startplatz 11):
"That was a difficult and frustrating qualifying session for me. I didn't get the grip or the feel from the car that I wanted and that is why I didn't make it to Q3. We have been struggling a bit all weekend on this track and we are not helped by the bumps, but it is still disappointing not to qualify in the top 10. I did my best but the lap time just wasn't there. I will push as hard as possible tomorrow and we will see what we can do."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Toyota]
Jenson Button, Honda (Startplatz 12):
"Ich bin mit unserer heutigen Leistung beim Qualifying zufrieden. Wir haben uns gegenüber den letzten Rennen deutlich verbessern können“, sagte Jenson. „In meiner letzten Runde hatte ich Probleme im ersten Abschnitt, da der Wagen zu stark untersteuerte und die Haftung sehr schlecht war. Aber ich war trotzdem schnell genug, um ins 2. Qualifying zu gelangen. Wir haben uns zu Beginn des Wochenendes recht schnell an die Strecke gewöhnt. Das war eine gute Grundlage für das heutige Qualifying und unsere Vorbereitungen auf das morgige Rennen."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Honda]
Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing (Startplatz 13):
"Obviously that was disappointing. It was difficult to find a rhythm today and neither of my flying laps in Q2 worked out. I was up on the last lap, but a bit of traffic cost me vital time in the last sector. It was a tricky session for us today."
[Quelle: Red Bull Racing]
David Coulthard, Red Bull Racing (Startplatz 14):
"I had to make it up a little bit in qualifying today, as I missed out on track time this morning. On a track like this you really need miles to get your hand in. On my flying lap I was over the top on some corners, but I think I did pretty well on others. It’s not good to start the race tomorrow in the middle of the pack. The main factors for this track are getting the right tyre and getting your eye in, so you turn at the right point."
[Quelle: Red Bull Racing]
Fernando Alonso, Renault (Startplatz 15):
"It’s a really big disappointment because we had a real chance to do something special today, perhaps not pole position but to at least qualify in the top four. Our weekend was going really well and we had big hopes for this evening. I know that starting in the middle of the pack will make for a difficult race and I will need a miracle with the strategy to be able to make progress on this street circuit where it looks difficult to overtake."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Renault]
Nelson Piquet jr., Renault (Startplatz 16):
"I’m disappointed with my session. The car was working well and I was happy with the balance at the end of the final free practice session earlier this evening, but in qualifying we could not repeat that. The race tomorrow will be tricky, but once again I will do all I can to fight back through the field."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Renault]
[PIC5]
Sebastien Bourdais, Scuderia Toro Rosso (Startplatz 17):
"I don’t know what happened in this session. Every time I braked, the car went sideways. It was pulling to the left and alternately locking one of the rear wheels. The car behaved completely differently to FP3 but we have not changed anything. My first run was messy and my second run was just weird and there was no way I felt I could attack as I had no stability or grip, with the car running asymmetrically. I also came up behind Sutil in the chicane. Just a bad qualifying.
On top of all this has come the very sad news that Paul Newman has died. He was a great man and he will be dearly missed, but he has no doubt gone to a better place"
[Quelle: Scuderia Toro Rosso]
Rubens Barrichello, Honda (Startplatz 18):
"Leider habe ich beim heutigen Qualifying keine Bestleistung erzielen können, da ich wegen des Verkehrs keine bessere Startposition bekommen konnte“, bestätigte Rubens. „Auf meiner zweiten Fahrt steckte ich hinter Heidfeld fest und kam nicht richtig voran. Bei meiner letzten Fahrt geriet Alonso vor mir ins Schleudern und die gelbe Flagge war draußen, so dass ich mich im letzten Abschnitt nicht mehr verbessern konnte. Das ist wirklich schade, da ich mich noch hätte verbessern können."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Honda]
Adrian Sutil, Force India (Startplatz 19):
"I think this is probably one of our worst qualifying performances so far this year. We don't
really know where the problem is, but it just seemed the grip was not there and the balance
wasn't right. It might be an issue with the tyres as we just can't bring them to a real peak. We
just have to try our best and find the problems. The race tomorrow will be tough but I am
happy with the pace of our long runs so I think we are stronger under race conditions."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Force India]
Giancarlo Fisichella, Force India (Startplatz 20):
"Unfortunately today wasn't my day! I had an accident over the kerbs in turn 10 in practice -
the kerbs in that corner are very dangerous as I launched over them and went into the
barriers. The mechanics did a fantastic, fantastic job to get the car repaired and out for
qualifying in the last five minutes. Unfortunately then I had a puncture and then another crash
as the steering wasn't right because of the puncture. I'm really disappointed, not for myself as
I think it would have been a tough qualifying anyway, but for the team as they worked so hard.
We will look to have a better day tomorrow."
[Quelle: Presseabteilung Force India]
[PIC6]
Fernando Alonso 
Lewis Hamilton 
Felipe Massa 
Nico Rosberg 
Robert Kubica 
Mark Alan Webber 
Sebastien Bourdais 
Kazuki Nakajima 
Heikki Kovalainen 
Jarno Trulli 
