By pitpass.com (01/08/2003)
August 1 2003

After a very disappointing performance from the Ferrari's this morning, when they finished eleventh and sixteenth, it's going to be interesting to see what they can do in this one-hour session. Were they sandbagging or are they really that much off the pace here. It's warm and sunny, the conditions are near perfect, certainly for the Michelin shod cars.

As is always the case on Fridays, first out is the World Championship leader and in Germany - as has been the case for the last couple of rounds - Michael Schumacher is first out.

At the first split the German posts 16.6 followed by a 35.6s in the second. The reigning World Champion is cheered on by his adoring fans and crosses the line at 1:15.456 to take provisional pole. That's quicker than anything we saw this morning.

Next out is Raikkonen, the Finn was also way off the pace this morning. At the first split the McLaren driver posts 16.4 , he's up on Schumacher. At the second split it's 35.2, he still quicker. 1:15.276 over the line, the Finn goes quickest by 0.180s.

Juan Pablo Montoya is next out - we've heard some juicy information about him this morning. At the first split the Colombian posts 16.3, he's even quicker than Raikkonen. 35.2 at the second split for the WilliamsF1 driver, he's lost ground. At the line it's an amazing 1:14.673 he goes quickest by 0.603 having made up a whole heap of time in the final sector.

Ralf Schumacher is next out, what can the German do? At the first split Ralf posts 16.3, he's down on his team-mate. He makes up time in the second sector - where Juan Pablo lost time - crossing the line at 1:14.427 to take provisional pole by 0.246s, an amazing lap. If he hadn't lost time in the first sector he'd have been even quicker.

Last out before the break is Rubens Barrichello. 16.2 at the first split, he's quickest of the lot thus far. He loses time in the second sector posting a relatively disappointing 35.5. Over the line it's 1:15.399, the Brazilian leapfrogs his team-mate to go fourth, things aren't looking good for the red cars this weekend.

At the first break the order is Ralf ahead of Montoya, Raikkonen, Barrichello and Michael. Clearly the Michelins have the edge.

Fernando Alonso is next out, the Spaniard was looking good this morning, as was his Italian team-mate. 16.3 at the first split, it's good but not good enough. 35.2 at the second split, the Spaniard isn't going to be springing any surprises. Over the line at 1:15.214 Fernando goes third almost 0.8s off the pace, we expected better.

This morning's pace-setter David Coulthard is next out, what can he do? The answer is 16.5s in the first sector and 35.5 in the second, not what we expected. Over the line the Scot posts 1:15.557 to go seventh out of seven, what's gone wrong?

Jarno Trulli takes to the track, the Italian was the quicker of the two Renaults this morning. 16.3 at the first split, he's already down on Ralf. At the second split he posts 35.3, he's continuing to lose time. Over the line at 1:15.004 he bumps his Spanish team-mate down to fourth.

Mark Webber exits the pitlane to begin his 'out' lap, the Australian was put under a little pressure by his new team-mate this morning. At the first split it's 16.3 followed by a 35.2 at the second. The Aussie crosses the line at 1:15.030 to go fourth splitting the two Renaults, he appeared to make up time in the final (Stadium) sector.

Last out before the break is Jenson Button, the English youngster looked good this morning. At the first split it's 16.5 which looks promising. At the second split the BAR driver posts 35.5, he's still on for a top five spot. At the line it's a very disappointing 1:15.574 which is only good enough for tenth.

At the second break it's still Ralf Schumacher ahead of Montoya, Trulli, Webber, Alonso, Raikkonen, Barrichello, Michael, Coulthard and Button.
Brazil GP winner Giancarlo Fisichella is next out, other than that win the Italian has had a dreadful season and he's clearly very unhappy. At the first split he posts 16.8s, he's already well off the pace. 36.2 at the second split is followed by a 1:17.111, he's a massive 2.684s off the pace.

Heinz-Harald Frentzen is next out, the German was fourteenth this morning. At the first split the Sauber driver posts 16.9, he's already slower than Fisichella. At the second split Heinz-Harald posts 35.5 he's made up a little time. At the line it's 1:15.968, he goes eleventh, 1.1s quicker than 'Fisi'.

It's a 16.8 at the first split for Cristiano da Matta, the Toyota driver will be disappointed. He makes up time in the second sector and as a result posts 35.8, crossing the line at 1:16.450 to go twelfth of eleven. Very poor.

Jacques Villeneuve is next out, if anyone needs to demonstrate what he's got, it's Jacques. It's a nightmare for the Canadian as he spins losing vital time. It's a nightmare lap and as a result the former champion returns to his garage having failed to post a time, he'll be livid.

16.5 at the first split for Olivier Panis followed by a 35.4 at the second. Over the line it's 1:15.471, the Frenchman goes ninth to slip in behind the two Ferraris.

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

Nick Heidfeld is next out, the German had a pretty awful time this morning. At the first split Nick posts 16.5, which is better than his team-mate Frentzen could manage. At the second split it's 35.7, he's lost a little time. Over the line at 1:15.985 he slots in neatly behind Heinz-Harald, who clearly isn't in the mood to retire just yet.

All eyes on Ralph Firman, can the Anglo-Irish driver outpace his team-mate? 16.7 at the first split, that's marginally better than Fisichella. At the second split it's 36.2, it's now evens-Stevens. Over the line at 1:17.044 Ralph is 2.617s off the pace but ahead of his far more experienced team-mate.

It's unlikely that Jos 'the boss' Verstappen will repeat his Friday qualifying performance from France, but who knows? At the first split it's 16.9 just a fraction slower than the Jordans. At the second split it's 36.2 and not looking too bad. The final sector is a disaster and as a result Jos goes seventeenth with a 1:17.702.

Now it's the turn of the Dutch driver's former team-mate, Justin Wilson. At the first split the Jaguar driver posts 16.5, which isn't too bad under the circumstances. At the second split the English youngster posts 35.3, which is very good. At the line it's 1:15.373 to see him go seventh, a bloody brilliant performance. He's 0.3s off his team-mate's time and ahead - we said ahead - of the Ferraris.

Finally it's the turn of F1 newcomer Nicolas Kiesa. Sadly the young Dane's big moment doesn't last very long, his Cosworth engine giving up after just a few yards, his first qualifying session is over before it has begun.

As a result Ralf Schumacher has provisional pole ahead of team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya, followed by Trulli, Webber, Alonso, Raikkonen, Wilson, Barrichello, Michael and Panis.

Of the top ten qualifiers the first seven are on French rubber, which unless the forecast thunderstorms appear on Sunday, means that WilliamsF1 and Renault have to be favourites.

The Jordans have been a major disappointment today as has Coulthard and the two BARs - especially after this morning's performances. However, the big shock has to be the Ferraris in eight and ninth, looks like the Italians will be burning the midnight oil tonight.


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