Britian: First Qualifying sees MS top, BAR not.

JB at Silverstone
By pitpass.com (18/07/2003)
July 18 2003

Since this morning's free practice session there have been a few spots of rain but nothing serious, however the threat of remains, both today and for the remainder of the weekend. Another factor that's giving cause for concern is the high wind sweeping across the back end of the track.

First out today is reigning World Champion and current World Championship leader Michael Schumacher in the Ferrari.

At the first split the German posts 26.013 followed by 59.247 at the second. At the line the Ferrari registers 1:19.474 to set the benchmark. That's 0.6s quicker than the fastest time posted in this morning's session.

Next out is Kimi Raikkonen, the Finn was fourteenth in this morning's session. 26.462 at the first split, he's already almost half-a-second down on Schumacher. At the second split it's 1:00.572, he's lost a full second. Over the line at 1:21.065 over 1.5s down on the German, he'll be disappointed.

European and French GP winner Ralf Schumacher is next out, the German posting 26.146 at the first split, he's down on Michael but it's marginal. At the second split it's 59.472, he's lost a little bit more time. 1:19.788 at the line he goes second.

Monaco winner Juan Pablo Montoya takes to the track, what can the Colombian do? 26.118 at the first split, he's 0.105s down on Michael. The WilliamsF1 star pushes hard 59.403 at the second split. 1:19.749 over the line he just pips his team-mate for second.

Rubens Barrichello is the last driver out before the break. At the first split the Brazilian posts 26.026 a mere 0.013s slower than his team-mate. At the second split the Ferrari star posts 59.301 but loses it almost immediately afterwards at Brooklands and heads off into the gravel.

As Fernando Alonso comes out a few more spots of rain begin to fall.

At the first split the Spaniard posts 26.176, he's down on Schumacher by 0.16s. At the second split it's 59.656s he's lost more time but it's still very good considering the conditions. At the line it's 1:19.907, he goes fourth.

David Coulthard is next out, the Scot is keen to do something special this weekend. At the first split it's 26.285, 0.272s down on Schumacher. 59.597 at the second split followed by a 1:19.968 to go fifth.

Now it's the turn of the second Renault driver Jarno Trulli. 26.160 at the first split he's almost even-Stevens with his team-mate. At the second split it's 59.650 followed by a 1:19.963 to leapfrog Coulthard for fifth.

Jaguar star Mark Webber is next out, the Australian can usually produce something special, what can he do now? 26.503 at the first split he's 0.4s down on provisional pole-man Schumacher. 1:00.113 at the second split, he's almost a second off the pace. 1:20.171 over the line the Jaguar driver takes seventh. Interestingly Mark posted the quickest time of the day in the final sector.

Next out is Brazil GP winner Giancarlo Fisichella. 26.700 at the first split, he's already 0.687s down on Schumacher. At the second split 1:00.914 he's lost a heap of time in that sector. Over the line he registers 1:21.500 to go ninth.

At the second break the order is Schumacher ahead of Montoya, Ralf, Alonso, Trulli, Coulthard, Webber, Raikkonen, Fisichella and Barrichello.

Jenson Button is next out, the English youngster posting 26.352 at the first split followed by a 1:00.142 at the second, he's 0.8s down on Schumacher. 1:20.569 over the line to go eighth.

Sauber's Heinz-Harald Frentzen is next out, the German had a problematic morning. At the first split it's 26.704, he's 0.6s down on his countryman Schumacher. 1:00.741 at the second split, he's lost a lot of time in that sector. 1:21.363 he takes tenth.

Now it's the turn of 1997 world Champion Jacques Villeneuve, the Canadian needs a good result, hell, he needs to finish! 26.552 at the first split, he'd down on Schumacher by 0.539s. At the second split he registers 1:00.297, he's now a second down on the German. 1:21.084 over the line to go tenth, two places behind his team-mate.

Cristiano da Matta is next out, the Toyotas looked good this morning. 26.515 at the first split followed by 1:00.320 at the second, he's over a second down on Schumacher. 1:20.765 to go ninth ahead of Raikkonen.

Team-mate Olivier Panis is next out, the Frenchman looked good this morning. At the first split the Frenchman posts 26.118, he's 0.105s off Schumacher's time, very impressive. At the second split it's 59.599, a very impressive lap. At the line it's 1:19.959 to go fifth, a tremendous performance from the former BAR driver.

At the final break it's Michael Schumacher ahead of Montoya, Ralf, Alonso, Panis, Trulli, Coulthard, Webber, Button and da Matta.

Nick Heidfeld is next out, at the first split he posts 26.561 followed by 1:00.667 at the second, he's 1.4s off the pace. Over the line the German posts 1:21.211 to go thirteenth leap-frogging his team-mate.

Ralph Firman is next out, the Anglo-Irish driver posting 27.166 at the first split, he's already over a second down on Schumacher. He's really working hard but for nothing, at the second split it's 1:01.511. 1:22.335 he's slowest of the drivers that have posted a time, he'll be bitterly disappointed.

Antonio Pizzonia is on track, the Brazilian is pushing very hard. 26.442 at the first split followed by a 1:00.422 at the second. At the line it's 1:20.877 which is good enough for eleventh but almost a second slower than his team-mate.

Jos Verstappen takes to the track, two weeks ago he was the pace-setter. At the first split the Dutchman posts 27.190, he's 1.1s off the pace. At the second split it's 1:02.182, he's now almost 3s off the pace. 1:23.418 over the line.

A nightmare for Justin Wilson who appears to have broken down on his out lap, he'll be last out tomorrow after Barrichello.

Not a lot to say but certainly a good performance from Michael Schumacher, while Kimi Raikkonen will be bitterly disappointed to be so far down the running order.

The WilliamsF1s were good as were the Renaults but let's not forget Olivier Panis who gave it 101%.

Other than Schumacher and Button (ninth) it's Michelin that top dominate the top twelve positions.

That said there's still a long way to go.. and let's not forget the weather.


This article was written by pitpass.com and is used with permission.