By pitpass.com (20/03/2004)
March 20 2004

Today's qualifying format will follow the format we saw in Melbourne. Despite the widespread criticism, no changes have been made, though it's anticipated that Bernie Ecclestone will order a number of changes before Bahrain. In the first part of the session, the drivers will go out in the order in which they finished in Melbourne, in other words Michael Schumacher goes out first followed by teammate Barrichello, Alonso, Ralf and Montoya. Last out of course is McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen.

Air temperature is now 36 degrees, while the track temperature is 49 degrees.

At 14:00 precisely, six-time world Champion Michael Schumacher heads off down the pitlane, the session is on.

At the first split the German posts 24.1, as teammate Rubens Barrichello heads off down the pitlane. At the second split it's 31.0, followed by a 1:33.865 over the line. This is slower than his best this morning but still pretty impressive.

Barrichello completes the first sector in 24.3, he's already 0.2s down on Michael. At the second split it's 31.6, he's now 0.5s down. 1:34.132 for the Brazilian, he made up a lot of time in the final sector to finish 0.267 down on his teammate.

Fernando Alonso, who took pole here last year, completes the first sector in 24.2, he's down on Michael, but only just. At the second split it's 30.8, fastest so far. Over the line the Spaniard posts 1:33.193 to go quickest by 0.672, a superb lap from the youngster.

Ralf Schumacher is next out, the two WilliamsF1s have looked good this weekend, consistently fastest through the speed-traps. At the first split the German posts 24.5s, followed by a 31.6 at the second. At the line it's 1:34.777, he's fourth, having lost time in the final sector. He's 1.5s off Alonso's pace.

Teammate Juan Pablo Montoya is next out. At the first split the Colombian posts 24.5, which he follows up with a 31.7 at the second, he's lost a heap of time in that sector. At the line it's 1:34.941, which is only good enough for fifth.

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

Next out is Jenson Button who has had a quiet weekend thus far. Track temperature is now up to 52 degrees. The Englishman completes the first sector in 24.6s, he's already 0.4s down having lost time a turn 2. At the second split it's 31.3, followed by a 1:34.528, which puts the BAR ahead of the two williamsF1 drivers.

Jarno Trulli is on track, the Italian under pressure to perform if he is to stay with Renault for 2005. It's 24.2s at the first split, he's only slightly off his teammate's pace. At the second split it's 31.2s, he's lost time. Over the line it's 1:33.264, he goes second by 0.071s, a strong lap from the Italian, especially in the final sector.

David Coulthard is another driver under pressure, and already looking for a seat for 2005. At the first split the Scot posts 24.3s, only slightly off the pace. At the second split it's 31.5s as he loses a heap of time. At the line it's 1:34.321, the McLaren driver goes fifth behind the Renaults and Ferraris.

It's Takuma Sato's turn, what can the Japanese driver do? At the first split the BAR driver posts 24.4, which is faster than both the WilliamsF1s. At the second split it's 31.6 as he loses a little time. At the line it's 1:34.971, he's ninth out of nine, he'll be disappointed.

Last out before the second break is Sauber's Giancarlo Fisichella. At the first split the Italian posts 24.5 followed by a 31.7 at the second. He runs a little wide at the final corner, but still manages a 1:34.877, which puts him between the two WilliamsF1s.

At the second break it's Alonso ahead of Trulli, Schumacher, Barrichello, Coulthard, Button, Ralf, Fisichella, Montoya and Sato.

Jaguar's Christian Klien is next to go. At the first split the Austrian posts 24.7, he's slowest of the lot in that sector. At the second split it's 31.5, he's made up some time. Over the line the Jaguar driver posts 1:35.618, to go eleventh behind Sato.

Cristiano da Matta is on track, which is a rarity this weekend, he's spent much of it in the gravel traps. It's 24.8s at the first split, even slower than Klien. At the second split the Brazilian posts 31.7, it's not a good lap. 1:35.684, he's slowest of the twelve runners thus far, 2.491s off Alonso's time.

Teammate Olivier Panis is next out. At the first split the Frenchman posts 24.7, again the Toyota is way off the pace. At the second split it's 31.6, he's made up a little time. At the line it's 1:335.247, which puts him eleventh ahead of Klien and da Matta.

Pantano is next out but it's a no-show, the mechanics are still working on the car. The EJ14 has a gearbox problem which means that the Italian may have to use the T-car in the next session, but that would mean changing the engine, and there simply isn't time. That said, there's confusion over the rules, as it's thought that if you don't post a time in the first session you don't go out in the second.

Felipe Massa is next out, the Brazilian has been quite impressive this weekend. It's a typically brave performance, the Brazilian posting 24.3 at the first split. The youngster wrestles the car, posting 31.5 at the second split. At the line it's 1:34.132, eleventh behind Sato. The Sauber C23 looks a real handful.

At the third break the order is virtually unchanged: Alonso, Trulli, Schumacher, Barrichello, Coulthard, Button, Ralf, Fisichella, Montoya and Sato.

Nick Heidfeld goes out as the Jordan mechanics continue to work on his teammate's car. At the first split the German posts 24.8, slightly down on da Matta, who is currently propping up the timesheets. At the second split it's 32s, followed by a 1:36.769, that's 3.576s down on Alonso and even 1.1s down on da Matta.

Gianmaria Bruni is next out in the Minardi. At the first split the Italian posts 25.1 followed by a 33.1 at the second. At the line it's 1:38.729, 5.5s off the pace.

It's Mark Webber's turn to strut his stuff, can the Australian do something special, he usually does. At the first split the Jaguar driver posts 24.3, which is definitely promising. At the second split it's 31.2, this is shaping up to be something special. It's an attacking lap and the Aussie is rewarded with an impressive 1:34.016 to go fourth ahead of Barrichello. A superb lap.

Zsolt Baumgartner is lat out before Kimi Raikkonen. At the first split the Hungarian posts 25.2, 0.1s slower than teammate Bruni. At the second split it's 33.9 followed by a 1:39.805 over the line.

As Raikkonen begins his lap, the Jordan mechanics are still working on Pantano's car, unsure whether he can go out or not.

At the first split the Finn posts 24.1, he's quicker than Alonso. He's pushing hard as he attempts to make up for the misery of Melbourne. At the second split it's 30.9, he's still marginally up on the Renault driver. At the line it's 1:33.452, putting him ahead of Schumacher but behind the two Renaults and 0.259s off the pace. He lost all that time in the final sector.

So, as the teams prepare for the second session it's Alonso ahead of Trulli, Raikkonen, Schumacher, Webber, Barrichello, Coulthard, Button, Ralf and Fisichella.

This means that Alonso will be last out in this session, while the stewards announce that Pantano will be first out, contrary to popular opinion.