Australian GP - Qualifying

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Saturday, 26 March 2011 08:20

Petrov is out first in the Lotus for the first qualifying session and the atmosphere is at a fever pitch. It is cold, windy and overcast but it is sure to heat up on track over the next 60 minutes.

D'Ambrosio is also out as Petrov comes around to complete the first timed lap. It is looking as if you need to be under 1:30s to prevent the 107% rule knocking you out of the race. The Russian sets a 1:29.463. Liuzzi is also out, holding up Timo Glock behind him. Perhaps the only person who could hold Glock.

Heidfeld has joined his team mate at the top of the times, but the big guns are only just now coming out. Speak of the devil, Vettel has come out and set a 1:26.657 right off the bat, while Hamilton is just 0.646s behind him.

Webber is continuing Red Bulls trend, jumping into second, 0.050s off of Vettel. Both HRT cars are out and recording lap times. Well done to them, Liuzzi manages a 1:35.721 which is out of the 107% but still, a long way from where they were yesterday. Which was sitting in the garages.

Hamilton is on a flyer, with the fastest first and second sector times before knocking Vettel off of the top, the German soon returns the favour. Seven minutes left and Schumacher is using his KERS and DRS (drag reduction system) to his advantage, going fifth with a 1:25.962.

Four minutes left and the drivers in the drop zone are both HRT, Virgin, Lotus plus di Resta. Kobayashi screams into third fastest. Bits of Liuzzi's car are flying off in every which direction. Ferrari are both on soft tyres, most of the other top teams opting for the hard tyres bar Schumacher. Massa is languishing a little too close to the drop zone, as is Heidfeld who are now both driving for their qualifying lives.

Heidfeld doesn't make it while his team mate Petrov sits in third. Joining him on the sidelines is both Virgin, Lotus GP and HRT drivers. The good news for Virgin and Lotus GP is that they made the 107%, HRT did not despite only ending up 2s behind the times set by Virgin.

Qualifying 2

Alonso and Massa are both out again on a new set of soft tyres, with Barrichello now stuck in the gravel at turn three, bringing out the yellow flags.

The Toro Rosso twins have set the first laps of the second session while their big brothers at Red Bull have gone straight back into the pits with their soft tyres on. Hamilton is on a flyer with hard tyres, setting a 1:25.522 to go quickest.

Halfway through the second qualifying session Vettel and Webber are back out. Vettel goes fastest with a 1:24.090. Webber can't quite match the time, 0.568 slower. Rosberg almost kisses the wall, struggling to come to terms with the DRS.
Sutil spins on the front straight but manages not to hit anything, again caused by the unfamiliarity with the rear wing. Hamilton splits the Red Bulls in the final minute of the second qualifying session.

In the drop zone is Schumacher, Alguersuari, Perez, di Resta, Maldonado, Sutil and Barrichello. Schumacher scrapes in by the skin of his teeth to get one final lap in to prevent being kicked out. He doesn't make it, Buemi does.

Qualifying 3

Hamilton is first out on soft tyres. Vettel, Button, Webber and Rosberg follow as Vettel starts flying straight away. He has a minor lock up but still manages a 1:23.529, almost one full second quicker than the McLaren's. Webber shoots into second but still 0.8 away from his team mate.

Buemi sets a time only good enough for sixth as Webber is in the garage for another set of tyres. Massa has spun through turn one bringing the yellow flags out once more.

Alonso has gone fifth quickest as Vettel tries to show himself up by setting an even faster time for pole, but can't do it. Hamilton takes second from Webber as the session comes to an end, with Button taking position four on the grid for tomorrow’s race.

It is Vettel from Hamilton, Webber, Button, Alonso, Petrov, Rosberg, Massa, Kobayashi and Buemi. By Jacki Warnock

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