Hungary: A Trulli impressive show

Inseparable
By pitpass.com (22/08/2003)
August 22 2003

Weather conditions are perfect for this afternoon's qualifying session, especially if you happen to be running on Michelins. As ever the cars will go out in World Championship order which means Michael Schumacher will be first on track followed by Montoya, Raikkonen and Ralf Schumacher.

At 14:00 precisely Michael heads out of the Ferrari garage to begin his out lap, qualifying for the 2003 Hungarian GP is underway.

At the first split the German posts 29.4, which compares well with this morning's times, followed by a 30.0 in the second sector. At the line the reigning world champion posts 1:23.430 to set the benchmark. However it's over half-a-second slower than he went this morning.

At the first split Montoya posts 29.5, he's down on the German, followed by a 30.1 in the second sector. Over the line the German GP winner registers 1:23.305 to go quickest, having set a blistering pace in the final sector.

Kimi Raikkonen is next out, this afternoon the Finn has to face the German GP race stewards. At the first split Kimi posts 29.4, that's the quickest so far. At the second split it's 30.1 followed by a 24.0 in the final sector to register a 1:23.695, which is only good enough for third.

Ralf Schumacher is next up, what can the German do? 29.2 at the first split for Ralf, he's quickest so far. At the second split the WilliamsF1 star posts 29.6 another best time. Over the line it's 1:22.413 as Ralf goes quickest by 0.892s, a pretty amazing lap with no mistakes.

Last out before the break is Rubens Barrichello. At the first split the Brazilian posts 29.4 followed by a 29.6 at the second split, that the best time we've seen in that sector. At the line the Ferrari driver posts 1:22.892 to go second, splitting the two WilliamsF1s.

At the first break it's Ralf ahead of Barrichello, Montoya, Michael and Raikkonen.

Fernando Alonso is next out at the first split the Spaniard posts 29.5 followed by a 29.9 at the second. His third sector is the quickest we've seen today giving him a time of 1:22.953, good enough for third.

With his new contract tucked into his pocket, David Coulthard is next out, the Scot needs to give a good performance this weekend. 29.3 at the first split, a good clean sector. At the second split the Scot posts 29.9, it's still looking good. Over the line the McLaren star registers 1:22.786 to go second, a great lap from the thirty-two-year-old.

Jarno Trulli is next out, the Italian looked very impressive in this morning's free practice. 29.2 at the first split, thus far he could be on a top three position. At the second split it's 29.9, he's lost a little time but not much. A brilliant final sector sees the Renault star go quickest with a 1:22.358, but we're still not sure how. Jarno is not the first driver to make up lost time in the final sector today.

Jenson Button is next up, the English youngster's having a pretty good season. He posts a 30.0 at the first split, that the slowest we've seen so far in qualifying. Jenson's second sector is also disappointing, 30.4. At the line it's 1:24.313, 1.955 off Trulli's pace and 0.6s slower than the next slowest man Kimi Raikkonen. Mind you, Jenson is the first of the non-Ferrari Bridgestone runners that we've seen in this session so his time might not be too bad.

Jaguar's Mark Webber is on track the Australian posting 29.5 at the first split. At the second split the Jaguar star posts 29.5, that's the quickest we've seen in that sector today. A 23.5 in the final sector gives the Aussie 1:22.625 which is good enough for third.

At the second break it's Trulli ahead of Ralf, Webber, Coulthard, Barrichello, Alonso, Montoya, Michael, Raikkonen and Button.

Next out is Giancarlo Fisichella who other than his Brazil GP win is having a lousy season and an especially miserable visit to Hungary. At the first split the Italian posts 30.2 followed by a 30.3 at the second. At the line the Jordan driver posts 1:24.725 to go eleventh 0.4s slower than Jenson Button.

Toyota's Cristiano da Matta takes to the track the Brazilian posting an impressive 29.6 at the first split. He loses ground in the second sector posting a disappointing 30.3 however his final sector is even worse when he spins at Turn 13.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen takes to the track in the Sauber, the German was twelfth quickest this morning. 29.2 at the first split for Heinz-Harald, this is impressive. The second sector isn't quite as good, the Sauber star posting a 30.3. At the line it's 1:23.660 which sees him go ninth, slotting in right behind Michael Schumacher.

This morning's pace setter' is next out, Olivier Panis in the Toyota. 29.2 in the first sector, not bad but not brilliant either. At the second split it's 30.0 as the Frenchman continues on what looks like a nice, tidy lap. At the line it's 1:22.986 to see Olivier go seventh, a mere 0.628s off the pace.

Last out before the final break is Jacques Villeneuve, this is another driver that needs a result this weekend. His first sector is pretty poor 29.8, can he make up for it in the two remaining sectors? 30.3 in sector two is followed by 24.1 in the third, the Canadian goes thirteenth with a 1:24.333.

At the final break it's Trulli ahead of Ralf, Webber, Coulthard, Barrichello, Alonso, Panis, Montoya, Michael, Frentzen, Raikkonen, Button, Villeneuve, Fisichella and da Matta.

Nick Heidfeld is on track in the Sauber, the German is one of several drivers who has yet to secure a seat for 2004. Any hopes of a McLaren drive disappeared a couple of hours ago.

At the first split the German posts 30.0 followed by a 29.7s at the second. At the line the former F3000 champion posts a 23.7 to go tenth, which all things considered was pretty impressive.

Ralph Firman takes to the track in the second Jordan, can he outpace his far more experienced team-mate? His time at the first split is 30.4, not very good, followed by a 30.7 at the second. At the line the Anglo-Irish driver registers 1:25.223, half-a-second slower than his team-mate.

Jos the Boss Verstappen is next out in the Minardi. At the first split the Dutchman posts 30.8 followed by a 30.9 in the second. At the line it's 1:26.052 which at least sees him go quicker than da Matta, albeit 3.6s off Trulli's pace.

Jos' former team-mate Justin Wilson is next out, the Englishman is keen to make up for his Hockenheim disappointment. 30.5 in the first sector followed by a 30.1 in the second, Justin completes the lap in 1:24.343 to go fifteenth, over 1.6s slower than his team-mate. No doubt those patient people at Jaguar Racing will be preparing his P45 as he completes his 'in' lap.

Nicolas Kiesa is last out, the Dane didn't take part in free practice this morning. At the first split it's 30.7 followed by a 32.0 at the second. At the line it's 1:27.023 which is good enough for nineteenth.

In all honesty no major surprises in this Friday qualifying session with Michelin team once again dominating proceedings. Trulli did well as did Webber, Barrichello and Panis. While Michael Schumacher and Raikkonen will need to up their game tomorrow.

The Hungaroring is known for the fact that due to lack of use it is notoriously dusty, and certainly the track appeared to improve as the session progressed.

The WilliamsF1s have to be favourites this weekend with both Ralf and Juan Pablo looking very impressive. However David Coulthard appears to have been fired up by his new contract while Webber and the two Renault drivers could also produce something special.

The Hungaroring track is often compared with Monaco - not in terms of glamour or money - but that it a tight twisty track that in most cases makes passing almost impossible. Therefore as in Monaco a good qualifying position is essential. We'll have a much better idea of Sunday's most likely result this time tomorrow.


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