Webber only manages 10th in European qualifying


Mark in tenth

By Andrew Hooper
May 6 2006

WilliamsF1's Mark Webber could only manage tenth in qualifying for the 2006 European Grand Prix. Nico Rosberg was in twelfth having failed to make the cut for the final session in qualifying. Both driver are now facing ten place grid penalties for engine changes.

 
European GP Qualifying
 

The first fifteen minute session of qualifying would get underway and it would be Ralf Schumacher who would be fastest followed by Albers and Monteiro, Speed, Trulli, and Klien. But Liuzzi would move ahead of the Toyota driver, 1m:32.621. With eight minutes of the session remaining both of the Honda's and McLaren's had come out for their runs.

Kimi's first lap would see him go fastest with a time of 1m:31.263. Barrichello was now in second but his team-mate Button would move ahead of him with a time of 1m:31.725. Every driver was now out on the circuit, but only eleven drivers had set a time with just over five minutes left in the session. Montoya was now in third, 1m:31.774. But Rubens would move into second with a 1m:31.671 but was quickly beaten by Button on his next lap, 1m:31.420. Kimi would move ahead of the two Honda's with a 1m:31.263 but at the front it was now Michael Schumacher, 1m:31.235.

WebberAlonso was next to take the top spot with a 1m:31.138. Mark was down in eighth with a 1m:31.712 while Nico was in thirteenth. Both of the WilliamsdF1 drivers are looking at a ten place grid penalty for their engine changes. Heidfeld would move into fifth with a 1m:31.457. There would be a quick spin from Montagny on his out lap but he was able to continue. This would see the red flags come out but they would quickly be removed allowing the session to continue. This appeared to be an error on the part of the race stewards.

The slowest six were Montagny, Villeneuve, Sato, Klien, Monteiro and Speed. Neither Montagny or Villeneuve were able to set a time. This must have been a very dig disappointment for Jacques who was fourth fastest in the earlier practice session.
 
The start of the second session of qualifying was delayed due to a time keeping problem. There would be a new set of times displayed which had Villeneuve listed as seventh fastest. The revised list of six drivers not making was Montagny, Sato, Monteiro, Speed, Albers and Klien. Somewhat of a mess. Both of the Renault's were now recorded as having finished fastest. With Mark and Nico finishing the first session in eighth and thirteenth it would be interesting to see if the WilliamsF1 team would send them out again given their ten place grid penalty.

The session would finally get under way with Liuzzi first driver out. He would be joined by both BMW Sauber's and the Toyota's Of Ralf Schumacher and Trulli. Ralf would spin his car at Turn four on his out lap but was able to continue. Liuzzi would set the first time of the session with a 1m:31.728. He was quickly beaten by both Villeneuve and Heidfeld. Jacques was fastest with a time of 1m:31.275. Trulli was now in third with a 1m:31.437. Coulthard and Fisichella would come out, joined by Raikkonen. Coulthard would move into second with a 1m:31.354.

Michael Schumacher and Massa were now on the track, joined by Button and Barrichello. Kimi was now fastest with a time of 1m:30.203. Ralf was now in third ahead of Coulthard. Kimi was joined by Montoya who moved into second, 1m:30.944. But Juan Pablo was passed by the Ferrari of Massa, 1m:30.732. The second Ferrari of Michael Schumacher would move to the top of the times with a
1m:30.013. Nico was now out joined by Alonso. Mark would also come out.

Barrichello would take third spot with a 1m:30.469. Button was down in sixth with just under five minutes remaining in the session. Nico's first lap would see him move into sixth with a 1m:31.194. Mark would move into sixth, 1m:30.892, while Nico dropped to eighth. Alonso's first lap would see him in third, 1m:30.336. Fisichella was in sixteenth but would improve to be in tenth, 1m:31.197. Nico was in ninth and Mark seventh.

But Nico would drop to eleventh as Ralf went tenth fastest and Button moved into eighth. Mark was now tenth after Villeneuve moved into ninth. With the end of the session Nico would be dropped and Mark only just scrapped into the top ten. Nico would be joined by Ralf Schumacher, Fisichella, Coulthard, Heidfeld and Liuzzi. This was the second time that Fisichella had failed to make it into the top ten. Fisichella would take his frustrations out in the BMW Sauber garage when he was seen yelling at the BMW team members complaining Villeneuve blocked him on a quick lap.
 
The final session of qualifying would get under way with all the drivers taking to the track and we would again see the process of burning off fuel by the drivers to allow them to shed weight from their cars prior to setting a quick time. Despite his penalty Mark was out on the circuit. Even if he went fastest the best he could hope for would be eleventh on the grid.

Michael was fastest with a time of 1m:32.530 followed by Massa, Alonso, Raikkonen, Button, Trulli, Barrichello, Mark, Montoya, and Villeneuve. The drivers would continue to circulate around the circuit while Michael started to pick up his pace. With twelve minutes remaining we had yet to see any drivers make a stop for fresher tyres. Michael was over a second faster than second placed
Massa. Button would be the first to pit.

Michael would make his stop joined by Massa and Alonso. The second Honda of Barrichello was next in joined by Villeneuve. Button was on a quick lap, fastest in the first and second sectors. He would finish his lap with a time of 1m:31.715 to move into the top spot. This was despite running wide at Turn three on his lap. Michael and Alonso were also pushing hard. Alonso would move ahead of Button with a time of 1m:30.454 while Michael was in second followed by Massa. Kimi would pit. Button was in fourth with Barrichello fifth. Mark was in ninth and would pit for his tyres with just three minutes remaining.

Both the Ferrari's would pit again joined by both of the Honda's and Alonso. Villeneuve would pit and come out for his final run. Alonso was on a very quick lap been fastest in the first sector. Kimi was also on a quick lap. Kimi would move into fourth with a time of 1m:30.933. Alonso would seta stunning time of 1m:29.819 with Michael in second with a 1m:30.028. Mark was down in tenth with a time of 1m:33.405. Rubens would move ahead of Kimi to now be in fourth. Button was in sixth as the session came to an end.

So with the end of the session Alonso would take pole from the Ferrari's of Michael Schumacher and Massa. Fourth was Barrichello followed by Raikkonen, Button, Trulli, Villeneuve, Montoya and Webber. So Mark would start from twentieth grid position and Nico would start last. Unless their race performances are significantly better than their times indicate the European Grand Prix is going to be a very difficult race for the WilliamsF1 team.
 

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