The fastest Practice session times were: in FP1, FA (1:16.265); in FP2, JB (1:15.746); and in FP3, NR (1:15.159).
Penalties so far:
- MS: 5 grid spots for his collision with BS in the Spanish race
- PM: 10 grid spots for hitting SP in FP3
Rain is not expected during Quali, despite yesterday’s forecasts; air temperature 23°C, track 39°C, wind 1.3m/s
Qualifying session 1
Green light; pit lane open; CP and JV first on track
CP 1:22.752 – on options but held up by PRo
PM 1:19.773 (primes)
FA 1:17.128 (primes)
SP clouts the wall just after the swimming pool – rear left wheel off his Sauber
Red flag so the marshals can recover his missing wheel
Replay shows he hit the wall with front left before the rear left
Everyone heading back to the pits to wait for the restart
Could it be SP’s car wasn’t fully repaired after being hit by PM in FP3 this morning?
Replay shows SP was trying to turn away from the wall but the wheels were still pointing straight ahead
15mins remain on the clock, ready for Q1 to restart
Queue waiting pit lane lights to turn green is headed by NR
MS 1:16.441
(LH P2)
(FA P2)
(PM P2)
NR 1:15.929
10mins left = half way through Q1; bottom 7 are NK, RG, CP, KR, TG, PRe, SP
Top 12 all on prime tyres
MS 1:15.873
KK kisses the wall – could that damage mean both Saubers are out? Looks like KK is continuing OK
(PRe P5 on options; PRo to P18)
(TG P18)
(RG P9; DR to P18)
(DR P16; VP to P18)
5mins left of Q1; bottom 7 are VP, TG, CP, PRo, KR, NK, SP
(KR P17; HK to P18)
NH 1:15.418 on options
(RG P2)
KR dives into the pits for new tyres – options
KR locks up into Tabac
(HK P17; KR to P18)
KR can’t improve on P18
1min left; bottom 7 are KR, VP, TG, CP, NK, PRo, SP
SV is on the super-soft options – he’s currently P16
(KR P5; HK back to P18)
Chequered flag; bottom 7 are HK, VP, TG, PRo, CP, NK, SP
(SV P4)
So the back of the grid will be: HK, VP, TG, PRo, CP, NK, SP* (*SP didn’t set a time)
TG complaining his flying lap was compromised by teammate CP
Qualifying 2
JV first on track, followed by PRe, BS
Looks like everyone’s on the super-soft options except PRe & RG
JV 1:16.885
(PRe almost 6secs off JV’s pace)
NR 1:15.022
(MS P2)
(LH P2)
(MW P2)
JV is pushing his front wing round – makes it back to the pits
Replay shows JV lost the tail braking for the swimming pool, missing the wall but damaging his nose on the kerb
JV is pushed into the Toro Rosso garage
Radio from SV complaining that his Red Bull is “jumping like a rabbit” 🙂
5mins left; bottom 7 are NH, KR, RG, PRe, JV, BS, DR
(NH P8; KK to P11)
(RG P10; SV to P11)
FM 1:14.911
(DR P14)
(SV P8; JB to P11)
1min left; bottom 7 are JB, RG, DR, KR, PRe, JV, BS
(RG P8; KK to P11)
Chequered flag; bottom 7 are: KK, JB, KR, PRe, DR, JV, BS
(BS P14)
(KR P10; NH to P11)
JB doesn’t improve on P13! 🙁
Middle of the grid: NH, KK, JB, BS, PRe, DR, JV
Qualifying 3
Battling over the top 10 grid spots are: FM, NR, PM, MW, MS, FA, LH, RG, SV, KR … but remember MS & PM both have penalties waiting for them
NR & PM head out of the pit lane
NR seems to have backed off
NR 1:18.852
PM 1:15.245
(LH P2)
(KR P3)
RG 1:14.639
(MS P2)
NR 1:14.572
(LH P3)
(MW P3)
5mins in to Q3 = half way; order is NR, RG, MW, LH, MS, PM, KR, SV, FA, FM
(KR P6)
(FM P8)
(FA P5)
MW 1:14.381
Chequered flag is out
(LH P3)
(FM P6)
MS 1:14.301
(SV didn’t set a lap time)
So the front of the grid would look like this: MS, MW, NR, LH, RG, FA, FM, KR, PM, SV … except MS will be dropped to P6 and PM to 19
Provisional grid: [MS*] MW, NR, LH, RG, FA, MS, FM, KR, [PM*] SV, NH, KK, JB, BS, PRe, DR, JV, HK, VP, PM, TG, PRo, CP, NK, SP* (*SP didn’t set a time).
Williams driver Pastor Maldonado has been handed a 10-place grid penalty at the Monaco Grand Prix.
The Venezuelan, who won the last race in Spain, was given the punishment for driving his car at Sergio Perez’s Sauber during final practice.
Maldonado appeared to deliberately veer towards the Mexican at the Portier corner and the two cars banged wheels.
He then crashed at Casino Square on his next lap, damaging the front of the car.
The Venezuelan will start 24th after taking a further five-place grid penalty for changing his gearbox.
[source: BBC]