UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Massa masters Magny-Cours

Alonso in trouble

Qualifying for the French Grand prix got under way in dry but relatively cool conditions, and the promised Ferrari-Mclaren fight manifested immediately as Lewis Hamilton and Kimi Raikkonen promptly went head to head in the opening segment.

It was the Englishman who came out on top, just pipping the Finn in the Ferrari as both men put in stunning laps in the late 1:14’s, while further down the field we lost – as is the norm – both Spykers, both Super Aguri’s, plus Alex Wurz’s Williams and the Toro Rosso of Tonio Liuzzi. Credit, therefore, to Scot Speed for putting his Ferrari-engined machine firmly in the second session.

The second segment saw Hamilton again put in an early quick lap, this one in the 14.7 range, and both Ferrari’s came at him hard, Raikkonen initially then Massa, trying just a bit too hard, pipping the Finn.

Within the first few minutes we had lost David Coulthard, a shame as the Red Bull had been running well all weekend, with a transmission problem, leaving the Red Bull mantle firmly on Mark Webbers shoulders. Unfortunately for the popular Australian the pace simply wasn’t there, hence no Red Bull car would make it through to the final shoot out (Scott Speed having failed, also, to make it any further.)

Over at BMW Robert Kubica continued to perform to his usual high standard, putting the F1.07 in-between Raikkonen and Alonso in fourth position, while Nick Heidfeld – perhaps still suffering from the earlier reported back problem – put in a last gasp run to settle into sixth place.

In addition to Webber, Coulthard and Speed we lost Ralf Schumacher – who, to his credit, had performed better this weekend than he has all season – plus both Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button in the Hondas.

Into the final qualifying session, then, with two cars each from Mclaren, Ferrari, Renault, and BMW, plus Nico Rosberg in the Williams, and Jarno Trulli’s Toyota.

Although the ‘fuel burn’ period is farcical, it does give me the opportunity to write two thirds of the report without missing anything, hence hastening my departure to the local public house, so thank you Bernie and Max for that. I would, however, be prepared to wait a further few minutes if it were eradicated, as it quite clearly should be.

As the cars pour out on to the track I would not like to hazard a guess as to who may take pole, as it could go anywhere.

One man quickly missing from the train was Fernando Alonso, who completed one lap and was promptly pushed back into the garage. The Spaniard stayed in the car as mechanics swarmed around him, and radio communications indicated an unspecified engine problem. One front runner removed from the equation.

Trulli made the first move, diving in for tyres with eight minutes to go, with Raikkonen following shortly after, and Hamilton too. Thus began a battle between two Ferrari’s, and a lone Mclaren-Mercedes.

Trulli set a benchmark lap, but behind him Hamilton, Raikkonen and Massa were on practically identical laps. Raikkonen set a 1:15.4, Hamilton immediately beat that with a 15.1, and Massa promptly took the time down to a 1;15.0. Great stuff on track, and beyond them the BMW pair headed the field.

With three minutes to go we waited for the final runs; Hamilton took on soft tyres and headed out, Raikkonen, Massa and Kubica too.

Raikkonen broke the timing beam first, some seven seconds ahead of Hamilton. The Finn did not look to be attacking too hard, but Hamilton did; the Mclaren missed pole by mere hundredths of a second, with Massa ahead and Raikkonen behind.

Behind the front three Kubica slammed in a final second lap to take the remaining second row slot, with the Renaults of Fisichella and Kovalainen splitting the two BMW’s.

Trulli and Rosberg bring up the rear, with the absent Alonso taking a provisional tenth position – tenth, that is, if he does not require an engine change. Should that be the case he will start no higher than 20th.

Strategy at Magny Cours can be very varied, and there has to be a suspicion that Raikkonen is the heaviest of the front three runners. If these three can keep up the pace they have shown today this should be a battle royal tomorrow, with the added bonus of Alonso coming from down the order.

Written: Sat, 30 Jun 2007 13:11:26