Japan: Trulli sets up a Suzuka sizzler

Sato stars
By pitpass.com (10/10/2003)
October 10 2003

As ever the drivers will go out for today's qualifying session in World Championship order, therefore first out is Michael Schumacher followed by the only man that can prevent him taking a historic sixth title, Kimi Raikkonen.

It's dry but slightly muggy as Michael Schumacher sits in his car waiting for the session to get underway. At 14:00 the German flips down his visor and pulls out of his garage, the session is underway.

The Ferrari crosses the line and begins his hot lap, at the first split it's 30.7, followed by a 40.8 at the second. At the line it's 1:30.464 which is faster than anything we saw this morning. That said, he seemed to lose a little time in the second sector.

Kimi Raikkonen is on track, the Finn posting 31.1 at the first split, he's already 0.3s down on Schumacher. At the second split it's 40.6, he's quick in that sector but still down on the German. At the line it's 1:30.558, 0.094s down on his World Championship rival.

Juan Pablo Montoya is next out, the Colombian still keen to take runner-up spot. At the first split the WilliamsF1 star posts 31.2, he's half-a-second down on Schumacher already. At the second split the Colombian posts 40.8 followed by a 1:31.201 over the line, he's 0.7s off the pace. Not the best of laps from Juan Pablo indeed it was fairly untidy.

Team-mate Ralf Schumacher is next out, what can the German do? At the first split Ralf posts 30.9, he's 0.2s down on his brother. At the second split it's 40.4, quickest of the session in that sector but still marginally off Michael's pace. His final sector is also quick, but not quickest, but nonetheless the German goes quickest ahead of his brother with a 1:30.343.

Last out before the break is Rubens Barrichello. The F2003-GA looks good through the first sector, the Brazilian posting 30.7. He makes a small mistake in the second sector and consequently posts 40.7. At the line it's 1:30.758, he goes fourth. The Brazilian messed up twice under braking most noticeably at the final chicane.

At this point the stewards announce that Ralf Schumacher used the 'wrong' chicane, which means he'll almost certainly lose his time.

At the first break the order is Ralf ahead of Michael followed by Raikkonen, Barrichello and Montoya.

Next out is Fernando Alonso, the Renaults tipped to be the 'dark horses' this weekend. At the first split the Spaniard posts 30.8, he's not quickest but it's good. The Renault goes very wide at Spoon and consequently completed the second sector in 40.6. At the line it's 1:30.624 which is good enough for fourth, but surely Fernando will be disappointed.

David Coulthard is next out, can the Scot end his season on a high? At the first split it's 30.9, not bad. At the second split the McLaren veteran posts 40.6, he's 0.1s down on Ralf. At the line it's 1:30.482 to go third, a good lap. However will McLaren be happy that he's ahead of Raikkonen?

News come through that Ralf didn't make a mistake and therefore his time stands.

Jarno Trulli is on track, the Italian surely deserves a good result this weekend. At the first split it's 30.7, he's slightly up on Ralf. He goes a little wide in the second sector and posts 40.5, however his third sector is superb and as a result Jarno goes quickest with a 1:30.281. A very, very good lap.

Mark Webber is next out, the Australian usually produces a surprise, what can he do today? At the first split the Jaguar driver posts 31.3 followed by a 40.9s at the second. At the line it's 1:31.305 he goes ninth of nine, he'll surely be disappointed but in fact it wasn't a bad lap.

Last out before the second break is Heinz-Harald Frentzen who could well be saying adieu to F1 this weekend. At the first split the German posts 31.4, the slowest so far in this session. At the second split it's 41.2s, he's way off the pace. Over the line Heinz-Harald clocks 1:31.892, which isn't bad under the circumstances, the Sauber looked a real handful out there.

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

Sauber-bound Giancarlo Fisichella is next out, the Italian in his last outing for Jordan. At the first split the Italian posts 32s, the Jordan is all over the place. At the second split the Brazil GP winner clocks 41.7, he's 0.5s slower than Frentzen. At the line it's 1:33.313, he's 3.032s slower than Trulli.

Jenson Button is on track, the English youngster's track-time severely limited this morning following another Honda engine failure. At the first split it's 31.6, he's already slower than Frentzen. At the second split Jenson posts 41.4, he's made up time but the car still looks a handful. 1:32.374 over the line, the former Williams and Renault driver goes eleventh.

Cristiano da Matta is next out in the Toyota, the Brazilian is making his Japanese debut. At the first split Cristiano posts 32s, he's just about level with Fisichella. At the second split it's 41.2, he's made up timer but not nearly enough. At the line it's 1:32.258, he goes tenth splitting Frentzen and Button.

Nick Heidfeld is on track, the German yet to find a seat for 2004. At the first split it's 31.2 which isn't as bad as expected. At the second split it's 41.2 followed by a 1:31.783 at the line to go tenth. Not a bad lap as the German goes tenth. Oddly Nick didn't seem to have to work as hard as Heinz-Harald, clearly a set-up issue.

Lat out before the break is Olivier Panis, ca the Frenchman repeat his Indy performance? At the first split it's 31.4, better than his team-mate but still way off the pace. At the second split it's 41.1 followed by a 1:31.908 to go twelfth ahead of his team-mate.

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

Next out is Ralph Firman who is one of several drivers that needs to make a big impression this weekend as the available berths appear to be running out.

At the first split the Anglo-Irish driver, who has spent six years racing in Japan, posts 31.9 which is at least better than his team-mate. At the second split it's 41.7 followed by a 1:33.057, fifteenth but ahead of his team-mate.

Justin Wilson is next out, the Englishman desperate to retain his Jaguar berth for 2004. At the first split the Yorkshireman posts 31.8s, he's over a second down on Trulli. At the second split he posts 41.2, he's made up a little time. At the line it's 1:32.291, good enough for fourteenth but almost a second slower than his team-mate.

Jos Verstappen is on track in the Minardi, the Dutchman being linked with Jaguar at present. At the first split it's 32.7s followed by a 42.3 at the second. At the line it's 1:34.836, 4.555s off the pace, roughly what we expected.

Team-mate Nicolas Kiesa is next out. At the first split it's 33.3 followed by a 42.7s at the second. At the line it's 1:36.181, that's almost six seconds off the pace.

Last out is Takuma Sato who took an emotional fifth here last year. He's really pushing, the guy's clearly on a high. At the first split it's 31.5, he's quicker than Button. At the second split he posts 41.1, he's still quicker than his team-mate. At the line it's 1:31.832 he goes eleventh, a brilliant performance which is going to have his bosses at BAR, and particularly Honda, grinning from ear to ear.

Jarno Trulli finishes the session quickest ahead of Ralf Schumacher, Michael Schumacher, Coulthard, Raikkonen, Alonso, Barrichello, Montoya, Webber and Heidfeld. Sato is eleventh ahead of Frentzen, Panis, da Matta, Wilson, Button, Firman, Fisichella, Verstappen and Kiesa.

No major surprises then, though we might have expected to see Raikkonen quicker than Coulthard while Montoya will be deeply unhappy with eighth.

Michael Schumacher will be delighted with third while other than two mistakes under braking Barrichello looked good as Ferrari bids to win the Constructors' Championship for a fourth successive season.

The top seven are covered by 0.477s which bodes well for an electric qualifying session tomorrow, while Nick Heidfeld is the only non-Ferrari Bridgestone runner to make it into the top ten.

Finally Takuma Sato surely deserves a special mention for what was a truly excellent display, especially under the current circumstances.

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