BGP: Under the Saturday sun at Silverstone

By Huw Alban
June 10 2006

What a weekend! On Friday MF1O gets a peak into the private world of the Grand Prix Formula One paddock, and on Saturday we get to see Tiago Monteiro break into the second qualifying session for the first time this season.

Saturday, and the big problem for me today was how on earth was I going to be able to top or even match what happened yesterday. Friday in the paddock was a one off - I knew that at the time, which was why I resolved to make the most of the experience - but I have to admit that whilst I type this now stood on the gravel banking on the exit of Club corner, I do have a yearning to know what was going on in a certain garage on the other side of the circuit.

Today, spectator wise, it was substantially busier than Friday. Yesterday I simply breezed into the car park and straight into a space. Today I had to queue for quite some time, but it is still an awful lot better than a few years ago before the roads were improved. Anyway, today I resolved to try and give you a performance comparison based on what I could see, rather than on pure lap time (I'll leave that to Phil).

 Midland F1 were quickly out on track at the start of the third free practice session and their installation laps passed without incident. I had a clear view of the Vale hairpin, and noted immediately that both the Super Aguri drivers had to take two bites at the corner. The same was also true for Torro Rosso and BMW Sauber. The M16 however took the corner smoothly and in one movement.

Braking for the Vale hairpin is always a challenge, and whether it was because of the heat or the stiff breeze everyone seemed to struggle not to lock up at some point just here. Tiago Monteiro only had one minor incident, but Felipe Massa had a huge 4 wheel lockup late in the third free practice session - very spectacular to watch with tonnes of tyre smoke.

Christijan seemed to disappear for the rest of the session, and Silverstone Radio mentioned that he had had a problem with his drive shaft. I texted our usual source in the team garage as to whether it was a drive shaft failure and was told, "Something like that," in reply. I checked whether he would be OK for qualifying and got the thumbs up from the garage.

Club corner is a wide almost 180 degree right hand corner that sweeps around in a gentle arc. The cars tend to drift out towards the edge of the track all the way around this corner. Those that struggle with rear grip, fight the car all the way rather than drift gently and despite being on a long run of laps at the start of the session Tiago's car looked on rails throughout the corner setting himself up nicely for the Farm Straight. In addition to all of this the popular Portuguese driver also looked fast and looked committed. Those of you that have been to a Grand Prix or an F1 test will know what I mean when I say that. For those of you that haven't it's just a gut feel you get watching the car go through a series of corners lap after lap. That about sums it up for the third and final free practice session, although I will say that Tiago's efforts were superb today and I was completely alone in waving my cap in the air at his 13th fastest lap time.

The start of qualifying was mayhem; so many cars so close together making so much noise, I have to admit I didn't have a clue what was going on. The TV coverage scores in a big way here in my opinion.

I'd moved to the banking just down from Stowe corner and had a relatively clear view of most of the Hangar Straight, Stowe corner, the run down to the Vale hairpin, and the Vale corner itself. In the distance I could also see the Farm Straight, but most of the Abbey chicane was obscured by high armco and fencing. Most importantly I had a clear view of a TV screen so that I could attempt to keep a handle on what was going on.

It wasn't easy though. The screens weren't particularly large and hence the graphics showing times and positions very indistinct. Silverstone Radio was completely drowned out by the engine noise and next to useless as well, so it wasn't until right at the end of the first 15 minute session that I had a clear picture on what had happened.

I found that the easiest thing to do was to zoom in on the TV screen at various points during the session to keep an eye on the times and was very pleased to see Tiago consistently in the top 16. Both cars looked sound and fast and I couldn't see any major dramas with either of them at Stowe corner or the run down to Vale during any of their laps.

I have to admit that the last 3 minutes were a nail biter for me. Imagine, if you will, me a lone Midland F1 supporter in a sea of Ferrari, Honda, and Renault team wear. I wanted to witness MF1 make it into the top 16! I kept watching the TV screen through my 500mm camera lens, and watched the seconds disappear.

0:00 and I took off my cap and punched the air in delight. Everyone else around me looked kind of bewildered, but I knew why I was happy. Tiago Monteiro was 13th and well clear of the 17th place cut at the end of the first 15 minute qualifying session. Fantastic!

"Yes!" was the text message I sent to the garage and " :))))!!!! " was the reply. For the second session the team had already decided to only do one lap on fresh tyres and low fuel, so it was quite amusing to hear Silverstone Radio speculating as to why Tiago Monteiro wasn't going out. Saving tyres seemed to be the popular reason with the commentators. It was no surprise to see Tiago only able to post a 16th fastest time as lap times were tumbling all the time. I didn't care though - my team had made it into the top 16 and I was there to see it for real. I gave Tiago and huge jumping wave as he went past me on his slowing own lap. Nice one - grand effort - made my British GP weekend so far.

I didn't stay for the last 20 minute session instead electing to make the most of everyone else being engrossed and made my way back to the car park without having to fight the crowds. Tomorrow I will be in the Farm Enclosure, seat D215 to be precise, to watch the Grand Prix proper and I'll try again to bring you some of the Silverstone atmosphere later in the day.

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