By Huw Alban
August 5 2006

Midland F1 Racing recovered superbly today to qualifying one car in the top 16. Despite being held up on his first quick lap, Tiago Monteiro kept his head and will start tomorrows race 16th.

12:06 into the first 15 minute qualifying session Tiago Monteiro took the track, followed by Christijan Albers at the 9:31 mark.

Tiago's first lap starts well, but the TV coverage here in the UK showed him being badly held up by a Torro Rosso in the final corner and on the start/finish straight. It is unsurprising then that has first attempt is a disappointing 1.24.729.

Christijan fairs better with an encouraging 1.23.444.

Both men are out in the final few minutes in order to try and better their positions. Albers is 20th and Monteiro plumb last.

Fantastic! Monteiro 14th! Albers puts in a disappointing 3rd sector and can only manage a 1.23.146. In the final seconds David Coulthard improves his position to 10th, which pushes Monteiro down to 15th - who cares, we're in the top 16!

OK, a quick reality check - we're in the top 16!!!

I have to be honest I was not expecting us to achieve this today, but Tiago has done the business. It'll be interesting to read Christijan's comments later about his laps.

Tiago takes to the track with 3:22 to go of the second 15 minute session. ITV noted that he was on scrubbed tyres and not a new set. The principal commentary discussion today centered around the tyres graining in the cool conditions today. Apparently putting a heat cycle into the tyres actually helps to prevent graining, and graining is not good with regard to maintaining a competitive pace.

The popular Portuguese driver puts in a creditable lap, a 1.23.767 cementing his 16th place ahead of a Torro Rosso, a Williams, both Super Aguris and his team mate. It all hinges on the M16 start procedure tomorrow.

Full timesheet from the qualifying sessions for the Hungarian Grand Prix:

1 Kimi Räikkönen McLaren-Mercedes
2 Felipe Massa Ferrari
3 Rubens Barrichello Honda
4 Jenson Button Honda
5 Pedro de la Rosa McLaren-Mercedes
6 Mark Webber Williams-Cosworth
7 Ralf Schumacher Toyota
8 Giancarlo Fisichella Renault
9 Jarno Trulli Toyota
10 Robert Kubica Sauber-BMW
11 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-BMW
12 Michael Schumacher Ferrari
13 David Coulthard RBR-Ferrari
14 Christian Klien RBR-Ferrari
15 Fernando Alonso Renault
16 Tiago Monteiro MF1-Toyota
17 Vitantonio Liuzzi STR-Cosworth
18 Nico Rosberg Williams-Cosworth
19 Scott Speed STR-Cosworth
20 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda
21 Christijan Albers MF1-Toyota
22 Sakon Yamamoto Super Aguri-Honda 1:24.016

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