Practice
World champion
Fernando Alonso got his title defense off to a perfect start in the first
90 minute practice session for the Australian Grand Prix in heavy morning
rain being always near the top of the times whenever on track but it was
questionable whether or not he has the pace to challenge the two Ferrari's
come race day. In the second practice session Ferrari confirmed their
form with Felipe Massa (1m27.353s) being the fastest driver ahead of Kimi
Raikkonen (1m27.750s). McLaren Rookie Lewis Hamilton (1m27.829s)
was third fastest ahead of Giancarlo Fisichella (1m27.941s) and Nick Heidfeld
(1m27.970s). Completing the top ten 6th Alexander Wurz (1m27.981s).
7th Fernando Alonso (1m28.040s). 8th Kiko Rosberg (1m28.055s). 9th Robert
Kubuca (1m28.281s) and 10th David Coulthard (1m28.495s). Massa appeared
to be dominant in most of the second session with Raikkonen only joining
the Brazilian at the sharp end at almost the end of the practice 0.4s short
of Massa. Hamilton´s fastest lap also came at the end where
he had to fight off a determined Giancarlo Fisichella. |
|
Qualifying
(3rd
qualifying - black) - (2nd qualifying elimination's
- dark blue) - (1st
practice qualifying - light blue)
| 1 |
|
Kimi
Räikkönen |
|
Ferrari |
|
1:26.072 |
| 2 |
|
Fernando Alonso |
|
McLaren Mercedes |
|
1:26.493 |
| 3 |
|
Nick Heidfeld |
|
BMW |
|
1:26.556 |
| 4 |
|
Lewis Hamilton |
|
McLaren Mercedes |
|
1:26.755 |
| 5 |
|
Robert Kubica |
|
BMW |
|
1:27.347 |
| 6 |
|
Giancarlo
Fisichella |
|
Renault |
|
1:27.634 |
| 7 |
|
Mark Webber |
|
Red Bull Renault |
|
1:27.934 |
| 8 |
|
Jarno Trulli |
|
Toyota |
|
1:28.404 |
| 9 |
|
Ralf Schumacher |
|
Toyota |
|
1:28.692 |
| 10 |
|
Takuma Sato |
|
Super Aguri
Honda |
|
1:28.871 |
| 11 |
|
Anthony Davidson |
|
Super Aguri
Honda |
|
1:26.909 |
| 12 |
|
Nico Rosberg |
|
Williams Toyota |
|
1:26.914 |
| 13 |
|
Heikki Kovalainen |
|
Renault |
|
1:26.964 |
| 14 |
|
Jenson Button |
|
Honda |
|
1:27.264 |
| 15 |
|
Alexander
Wurz |
|
Williams Toyota |
|
1:27.393 |
| 16 |
|
Felipe Massa |
|
Ferrari |
|
1:26.712 |
| 17 |
|
Rubens Barrichello |
|
Honda |
|
1:27.679 |
| 18 |
|
Scott Speed |
|
Scuderia Toro
Rosso Ferrari |
|
1:28.305 |
| 19 |
|
David Coulthard |
|
Red Bull Renault |
|
1:28.579 |
| 20 |
|
Vitantonio
Liuzzi |
|
ScuderiaToroRosso
Ferrari |
|
1:29.267 |
| 21 |
|
Adrian Sutil |
|
Spyker Ferrari |
|
1:29.339 |
| 22 |
|
Christijan
Albers |
|
Spyker Ferrari |
|
1:31.932 |
* Engine Change
- drops 10 places on the grid |
| Felipe Massa
was only 16th after suffering gearbox problems and tomorrow will not be
able guard his team mate, and pole sitter Kimi Räikkönen´s
back, whereas Fernando Alonso on the front row has the luxury of Lewis
Hamilton in fourth place. “Today we spent time getting a good set-up
on car,” Raikkonen said. “For one lap it was still not ideal, not for me
at least, but the main thing is it was quick enough. We have a good race
package, so I am more confident for the race than for qualifying. This
can be quite a funny race, but we'll do our best and hope to win.”
Having played second fiddle to Rookie Lewis Hamilton, Alonso said he was
still building his confidence in the car, and added: “I think at end we
are there and to start where we are is fantastic news for the team. They
have made a huge step forward since last year and we need say thanks to
team. I really hope it will be a close race tomorrow, and it can be very
interesting; we have been very competitive all weekend.” Speedy Nick
Heidfeld in the BMW Sauber demoted Lewis another place, but fourth on the
grid is a great achievement for the new boy on the block. Against
expectations, came the Toyotas of Jarno Trulli and Ralf Schumacher were
up in the top ten and Takuma Sato was all smiles making the top ten in
his Super Aguri., and to prove that it was no fluke Anthony Davidson was
one place down, sixth row on the grid, a row ahead of Sato´s old
team, Jenson Button only managing a fourteenth place. |
Race
| 1 |
|
Kimi Räikkönen |
|
Ferrari |
|
+ 1:25:28.805 secs |
|
| 2 |
|
Fernando Alonso |
|
McLaren Mercedes |
|
+ 7.242 secs |
| 3 |
|
Lewis Hamilton |
|
McLaren Mercedes |
|
+ 18.595 secs |
| 4 |
|
Nick Heidfeld |
|
BMW |
|
+ 38.763 secs |
| 5 |
|
Giancarlo
Fisichella |
|
Renault |
|
+ 1:06.469 secs |
| 6 |
|
Felipe Massa |
|
Ferrari |
|
+ 1:06.805 secs |
| 7 |
|
Nico Rosberg |
|
Williams Toyota |
|
+ 1 lap |
| 8 |
|
Ralf Schumacher |
|
Toyota |
|
+ 1 lap |
| 9 |
|
Jarno Trulli |
|
Toyota |
|
+ 1 lap |
| 10 |
|
Heikki Kovalainen |
|
Renault |
|
+ 1 lap |
| 11 |
|
Rubens Barrichello |
|
Honda |
|
+ 1 lap |
| 12 |
|
Takuma Sato |
|
Super Aguri
Honda |
|
+ 1 lap |
| 13 |
|
Mark Webber |
|
Red Bull Renault |
|
+ 1 lap |
| 14 |
|
Vitantonio
Liuzzi |
|
ScuderiaToroRosso
Ferrari |
|
+ 1 lap |
| 15 |
|
Jenson Button |
|
Honda |
|
+ 1 lap |
| 16 |
|
Anthony Davidson |
|
Super Aguri
Honda |
|
+ 2 laps |
| 17 |
|
Adrian Sutil |
|
Spyker Ferrari |
|
+ 2 laps |
Two debutants
starred today, Kimi Räikkönen becoming
the first Ferrari driver since Nigel Mansell in 1989 to win on his debut
and Lewis Hamilton being the first rookie to make it onto the podium on
his F1 debut since Jacques Villeneuve in 1996. Kimi´s only
problems being problems were one minor off when he lost concentration on
lap 46, and the lack of a radio throughout the race. “The weekend has been
very good, but today the race was not that easy. Maybe it looked like it
but I didn’t have the radio as it stopped working before the start, so
it was quite complicated. But we had our plan so I knew what had to do
even if it was not the ideal situation.” he reported. He had dominated
from lights to flagbut the star of the race was Britain’s Lewis Hamilton,
who electrified the paddock with a remarkable performance, serving notice
of his intent this year by racing his double world champion team-mate Fernando
Alonso for second place all afternoon until was delayed by traffic and
had a slower final pit stop, but it was a close-run thing. Alonso
had been bogged down at the start and was passed by Heidfeld on the drag
to the first corner. Hamilton zoomed around Robert Kubica’s fast-starting
BMW d promptly passed his champion team-mate – around the outside and only
made ne mistake running wide at turn 12 putting the left handside rubber
on the grass. Heidfeld’s challenge faded as the race went on and
BMW’s fuel strategy working against him, but he comfortably beat Giancarlo
Fisichella for fourth and confirming that the Hinwil-based squad has made
progress over the winter.
|
|
|
|
|