Webber upsets rivals in new-era Formula One’s first rain-affected qualifying session home favourite Barrichello buoys local fans. Mark Webber (Jaguar Racing/Michelin) sprang a surprise by setting the pace in the first qualifying session for this weekend’s Brazilian Grand Prix at Interlagos.

The Australian enjoyed slightly less wet conditions than some of his rivals as intermittent showers peppered the already-damp circuit. He pipped local favourite Rubens Barrichello (Ferrari) by just 0.138s to top a qualifying session for the first time in his F1 career.

Current points leader Kimi Räikkönen (West McLaren Mercedes/Michelin) was first car on the track and he made light of the treacherous conditions – despite having failed to complete any flying laps in the morning, when he remained in the pits after a spin. He set third fastest time, fractionally faster than team-mate David Coulthard. Defending world champion Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) spun on his out lap but managed not to stall and recovered to qualify fifth.

Olivier Panis (Panasonic Toyota Racing, sixth), despite problem with his traction control, was quickest of the remaining Michelin runners, ahead of Antonio Pizzonia (Jaguar, eighth), Fernando Alonso (Renault F1, ninth), Cristiano da Matta (Panasonic Toyota Racing, 11th) and Jarno Trulli (Renault F1, 12th). Pizzonia is preparing for his first grand prix at home – but says he feels less pressure than he did in the opening two races of the season, because he knows the track so well. Both Renault drivers were compromised because they were among a handful of drivers to be out on the track during a rain shower. Like Pizzonia, da Matta is looking forward to his first Brazilian GP: it is the first time he has raced at Interlagos since 1994.

BMW WilliamsF1 team-mates Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya will start tomorrow’s final qualifying session in fourth and eighth positions. "It’s very difficult to rate today’s times" said Ralf  "Qualifying was a weather lottery. Usually I don’t dislike driving in wet conditions but on my fast lap the track was extremely slippery after it had again started raining hard a few minutes before."

Qualifying was red-flagged for the first time this season after B•A•R-Honda driver Jenson Button spun off, mowed down two polystyrene marker boards and spread their remains all over the circuit.

Pierre Dupasquier, Michelin Motorsport Director, commented on various aspects of the day.

SWINGING IN THE RAIN
Australian Mark Webber made a little bit of history today by setting the pace on the rain-affected opening day of the Brazilian Grand Prix: it is the first time that either he or Jaguar have been fastest in an official Formula One qualifying session. His performance confirmed the competitiveness of the latest Michelin wet-weather tyres, which were fitted to eight of today’s fastest 12 cars. Michelin motorsport director Pierre Dupasquier said: “The weather was perhaps a little more favourable at the end of today’s session, but that shouldn’t detract from the job Mark and Jaguar did today. That was a fantastic lap in difficult conditions. It was good to see that several of our partner teams were very competitive – and I’m sure the Williams-BMWs will be among them tomorrow, after a couple of incidents compromised their pace today.”

NO SURPRISES…
Michelin worked hard to improve the performance of its wet-weather tyres during the winter months – but Pierre Dupasquier does not believe today’s result should come as a surprise. “Despite some comments … we believe we were competitive last season and today’s result underlines what we already knew.”

READY FOR ANYTHING
Michelin is fully prepared for whatever weather Brazil has in store during the next two days. Partner teams Jaguar and Renault evaluated both available dry tyres during the test session early this morning. Pierre Dupasquier says: “We have only two dry-weather compounds this weekend because our partner teams all agreed that they were the most suitable options following a series of recent test sessions. We ran both of them this morning, before the rain started, and they proved to be quick and durable on a rapidly evolving track.” Both dry tyres incorporate a new method of construction and one of the compounds is also being tried for the first time this weekend.

SHADES OF GREY
Pierre Dupasquier is anticipating a soggy race weekend in Brazil – but feels relaxed about Michelin’s prospects. “I really don’t mind what happens with the weather,” he says, “because from what I have seen so far I believe we will be competitive in any conditions. A wet race might be interesting – and from what I hear that might well be what we get. You can never tell in São Paulo, though. Things can change very dramatically in a matter of minutes.”