2008 British Grand Prix qualifying: First pole for Kovalainen as Hamilton stumbles
McLaren found themselves staring at an open goal in qualifying at Silverstone but it was Heikki Kovalainen who took pole position as Lewis Hamilton slumped to fourth after a mistake.
Joining Kovalainen on the front row is not a Ferrari but a Red Bull – Mark Webber driving an excellent lap to take second. Kimi Raikkonen shares the second row with Hamilton.
Part one
With rain threatening to fall all the drivers were out on the track within seconds of qualifying starting. Lewis Hamilton quickly took to the top of the times with a string of quick laps on hard tyres – before Kovalainen pipped him, also on harder tyres.
The battle for the bottom five quickly developed between the Toro Rossos, Force Indias, Hondas and Williams. Sebastian Vettel lifted himself well clear with an excellent lap of 1’20.318, enough to put him third behind the two McLarens. Bourdais only managed to get within a second of it.
A sprinkling of rain fell towards the end of the session and teams were divided on whether it was worth returning to the track. But Bourdais proved it was going out and setting the fastest time of all in the middle sector, lifting him to within 0.2s of Vettel’s time.
That left the Hondas and Force Indias in the bottom five, Giancarlo Fisichella spinning at Broklands on his last effort. Also eliminated was Nico Rosberg, Williams not sending the German driver out for a final lap due to a suspension problem, leaving him 18th.
Drivers eliminated in part one
16. Rubens Barrichello 1’21.512
17. Jenson Button 1’21.631
18. Nico Rosberg 1’21.668
19. Adrian Sutil 1’21.786
20. Giancarlo Fisichella 1’21.885
Part two
After the frenzy of the first session drivers took their time coming out for the seconds, four minutes passing before Fernando Alonso took to the track.
It was a McLaren one-two in the session once again but this time Hamilton was quicker. The surprise of the session was the performance of Ferrari, with Kimi Raikkonen ending the session sixth and Felipe Massa eighth.
Mark Webber valuted his Red Bull up to third in the dying stages ahead the the BMWs, with Nick Heidfeld right on team mate Robert Kubica’s pace.
Bout Coulthard was 0.4s down on his team mate and missed out on the top three by 0.06s. In the sister Toro Rosso team Vettel – rumoued to replace Coulthard next year – set a time 0.066s quicker than the British driver and made it in, while Bourdais was claimed by the drop zone. Also knocked out were Kazuki Nakajima and the Toyotas.
Drivers eliminated in part two
11. David Coulthard 1’20.174
12. Timo Glock 1’20.274
13. Sebastien Bourdais 1’20.531
14. Jarno Trulli 1’20.601
15. Kazuki Nakajima 1’21.112
Part three
With the weather looking more settled it was several minutes before the cars headed out for the final part of qualifying.
Lewis Hamilton looked set to displace Kimi Raikkonen for pole position but after being fastest in the firs two sectors he ran wide at Priory onto the gravel, losing time. He then seemed to compound that mistake by not coming straight into the pits – doing a slow extra lap and wasting some precious fuel.
On his final attempt he was fastest in the first sector – as he has often been this weekend – but lost time in the middle part of his lap with an over-steering moment at Abbey.
His 1’21.835 put him second behind Raikkonen begin with, but he was demoted first by Mark Webber and then by Heikki Kovalainen. Kovalainen’s 1’21.049 put him half a second clear of Webber.
Further back there were more surprises. Felipe Massa could only manage a 1’23.305 for ninth and couldn’t do another lap because of a problem with his rear wheel during his pit stop. Robert Kubica also had problems and didn’t set a time at all, leaving him tenth.
Top ten in part three
1. Heikki Kovalainen 1’21.049
2. Mark Webber 1’21.554
3. Kimi Raikkonen 1’21.706
4. Lewis Hamilton 1’21.835
5. Nick Heidfeld 1’21.873
6. Fernando Alonso 1’22.029
7. Nelson Piquet 1’22.491
8. Sebastian Vettel 1’23.251
9. Felipe Massa 1’23.303
10. Robert Kubica – no time
andy suridge said on 5th July 2008, 19:01
It was his first season-correct me if im wrong but he was only 20 on his first gp?
age considered he did well-due respects but ralf was quite good then.
button served apprentiship at benneton renault mostly back of grid but also did really well at bar.
All a learning curve- my point to hamilton.
Sri said on 5th July 2008, 19:03
@Internet
No disrespect dude, you sure are taking things personally. For once, please check last years news, where Lewis admitted publicly to using Alonso’s set-ups. I’d also like to bring to your attention the fact that Lewis’ driving is harder on tyres, as corroborated by Bridgestone top-man himself. Don’t remember his name. It will be purely logical for him to have a compromise somewhere in between (surprise surprise) Kovi’s setup and his own.
I do not mind having a discussion, but please let your facts be correct. Also, there have been times when Rubens used Michael’s set-ups and he was faster than Michael in the race-quali. It could be the same, but then again who knows. That is, Lewis is using Kovi’s inputs to setup the car and you know what, it is not that rare in F1(to see a teammate copy another).
Teams have vast set-up information from past several years. They have a seven post rig(McLaren does) and what do you think they use it for? They use last years set-ups with modifications made during the year/model change accounted for and do a shakedown. A full race distance at that.
andy suridge said on 5th July 2008, 19:06
Not taking anything personally-just healthy debate.
Anyway lets hope for a nice rainy race and a force india or honda winning!!!
ha ha
Internet said on 5th July 2008, 19:06
So Button coming behind his team mate is him doing well and makes him better than the overrated Hamilton who equalled a 2x WDC in the same car?
Just because Button served apprenticeships at the back of the grid does not make him a better driver. At the moment I can’t think of any other driver on the grid that is worse than Button. Button beat Sato but that’s nothing to shout about and he’s not on the grid anymore.
So tell me andy, why do you rate Button so high and why do you think Hamilton is over rated?
andy suridge said on 5th July 2008, 19:09
Oh and thank god the beeb has made f1 come home next year-no more ads and THE CHAIN!!
Internet said on 5th July 2008, 19:10
@Sri: I don’t see why you think I am taking personally. I am just providing facts that contradict the claim of him not being able to setup cars. If that’s taking it personally, then you’re doing the same, even more so.
andy suridge said on 5th July 2008, 19:12
Before he even sets up cars he needs to set his bain up!!
andy suridge said on 5th July 2008, 19:12
sorry brain
Snoopy said on 5th July 2008, 19:13
I had that terrible dream few nights ago that Hamilton hit Kimi again. And now…starting behind Kimi and a lot of pressure and overtrying and want win in Silverston. OH MY. I am sure i will have more nightmares before tomorrow race will be over. Hopefully Kimi stay calm what ever happens and do not let Lewis push him out from track.
Lewis said about week ago ” i will hit them hard” well he did not mean hit Kimi again but that sounds sooo bad at the moment lol. I am sure Kimi is thinking:” oh no, not again”
I am crossing my fingers and toes, and turn my tv off and just follow race from your live blog Keith.
Sri said on 5th July 2008, 19:15
@Internet
Pray can you tell me, how would you intend to contradict what he himself admitted to last year, in public?
Anyhoo, no offence meant, none was taken. I guess i was referring to the fact that we shouldn’t let personal preferences creep in between facts. Well mate, here’s the thing, we are all humans, we will act like it(i admit, i did it when i was younger…). The thing is will we learn and evolve? Most of us do it subconsciously, but i’ll save that for psychology blog… and am off for that right now…
Sri said on 5th July 2008, 19:18
@Snoopy
i was on my way out.. but it just caught my eye… hilarious… good one…
Internet said on 5th July 2008, 19:22
@Sri: What I was saying is that just because he used Alonso’s setup doesn’t mean he can’t setup on his own. All drivers need different setups so he used Alonso’s setup as a base and modified them to his liking.
This year he has two wins and two pole. Not exactly a record of driver who can’t setup his car.
Anyway, it amazes me how every thread turns into a Hamilton argument.
andy suridge said on 5th July 2008, 19:31
There wouldnt be any arguments if hamilton finished off his TRAINING in gp2 out of the way.
no one person is bigger than any sport.
hamilton thinks HE IS
Internet said on 5th July 2008, 19:37
@andy: You do realise Hamilton won the 2006 GP2 season? Where and when exactly did Hamilton claim that he is bigger than the sport?
andy suridge said on 5th July 2008, 19:41
He has not claimed that- but his attitude to everyone else leads us mere mortals to believe he thinks the way he acts this could be pointed at him.