Paul Henman formula1 Belgian Grand Prix – Qualifying

Belgian Grand Prix – Qualifying

Fastest in practice yesterday were JT (1:49.675) in the rain, then LH (1:47.201); this morning it was NH (1:45.388).

Weather for Qualifying: air temperature 15°C; track 26°C; wind 3.2m/s; humidity 57%

Qualifying Session 1 (Q1):
The Ferraris are first on track
Pit-car for NR says no rain for next 30mins
GF 1:48.386
JA 1:48.361
LB 1:48.128
KR 1:47.862
RG 1:47.506
NR 1:47.237
5mins gone; 15mins left in Q1
TG 1:46.394
TG 1:46.023
JT 1:45.974
8mins gone – no times for LH, SV or RK
SB 1:45.951
RB ran off track at the top of the hill coming out of Eau Rouge
AS 1:45.746
NH 1:45.566
10mins gone; 10mins left
TG loses the car under braking but recovers
(RB P2)
(LH P4, behind AS)
5mins left; bottom 5 are RG, NR, KN, JA, LB
(KR P2, up from P15)
JT 1:45.331
3mins left; bottom 5 are RG, NR, KN, JA, LB
Pit-car tells LB to find 0.5s to make it to Q2
(NR P9, relegating MW)
(MW P2, relegating FA)
GF 1:45.102
(LH can’t improve on P11)
Chequered flag out
LB has beached the Ferrari in the gravel
(JA to P15)
(FA to P11)
(RK to P11, pushing LH to P15)
Yellow flags still out for LB, so will the stewards investigate anyone who improved their time by passing the hazard?
Bottom of the grid: P16=SB, 17=JA, 18=KN, 19=RG, 20=LB
It’s surprising to see who’s just above those spots: P12=HK, 13=FA, 14=JB, 15=LH – that’s some big names who only just made it through to Q2!

Qualifying Session 2 (Q2):
RK is first out of the pit lane
In the first minute of Q2 there are 11 cars on track – just HK, FA and NR stay in the pits
Looks like everyone’s using the soft tyre compound
RK 1:45.496
(JB P2)
KR 1:45.188
JT 1:44.865
5mins gone; 10mins left of Q2; NR still in the pits
JT 1:44.766
(MW P2)
Halfway through Q2 – still no sign of NR
NR heads out on the medium compound tyres
5mins left; bottom 5 are AS, FA, HK, NH, NR
Everyone on track for 2 flying laps
(NR P15 on his first timed lap)
3mins left; bottom 5 unchanged
(TG P2)
GF 1:44.667
(LH only P10)
Chequered flag
(JB P13)
(RB P3)
JT 1:44.503
(RK P2)
(HK P14)
(LH P12)
Wow, there are some big name not through to Q3!
Bottom 5 are: P11=AS, 12=LH, 13=FA, 14=JB, 15=HK

Qualifying Session 3 (Q3):
Battling for the top 10 grid spots are: JT, RK, SV, GF, NH, RB, TG, MW, KR & NR
KR, NH on track first
It’s a long (~2min) out lap so they’ll only manage a few laps each – maybe 2 laps, quick stop and 1 or 2 laps
KR 1:47.218
5mins left; only KR has set a time
Even those on a quick lap are pitting to change to the medium compound (prime) tyre
3mins left; just KR and NH with a recorded time but they’re all on track
NH 1:46.895
RK 1:46.650
JT 1:46.511
(RB P3)
GF 1:46.308
Chequered flag for Q3
(KR P3)
(NH P2)
(RK P4)
(JT P2)
(RB P4)
OK, what’s going on? Force India on pole!
P1=GF, 2=JT, 3=NH, 4=RB, 5=RK, 6=KR, 7=TG, 8=SV, 9=MW, 10=NR

Hard to believe, but the provisional grid is: GF, JT, NH, RB, RK, KR, TG, SV, MW, NR, AS, LH, FA, JB, HK, SB, JA, KN, RG, LB.

Should be an interesting race tomorrow. 🙂

2 thoughts on “Belgian Grand Prix – Qualifying”

  1. The BBC published the fuel-adjusted grid:
    1 Trulli (lap 12)
    2 Vettel +0.156 secs (lap 15)
    3 Heidfeld +0.157secs (lap 12)
    4 Fisichella +0.211 (lap 10)
    5 Kimi Raikkonen +0.290 (lap 12)
    6 Mark Webber +0.341 (lap 13)
    7 Robert Kubica +0.454 (lap 10)
    8 Nico Rosberg +0.495 (lap 16)
    9 Rubens Barrichello +0.538 (lap nine)
    10 Timo Glock +0.562 (lap 10)

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