Spanish GP - Now it's Kimi's turn
Montmelo, 26th April
Another pole for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, the second of the season, this time from the cockpit of Kimi Raikkonen's F2008, with team-mate Felipe Massa starting right behind him in third spot.
The final part of qualifying was a really thrilling battle with the eventual top four drivers all separated by the smallest of margins. Splitting the two F2008s was the Renault of Fernando Alonso, much to the delight of the Spanish race fans. The Renault man's lap was exciting to watch, although there is plenty of speculation as to how much, or how little fuel he had on board. After the first three races of the season, the F1 experts have been asking if the biggest threat to the Scuderia retaining its World Champion status come the end of this year, comes not from traditional opposition, McLaren-Mercedes but from the other German car manufacturer and current points leaders BMW-Sauber. Today, that would indeed seem to be the case as fourth on the grid alongside Felipe will be Robert Kubica, while Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen make it an all-McLaren third row.
Before the weekend, Raikkonen was asked if the fact he only managed a handful of laps in the dry during his day of testing at this Catalunya circuit last week would be a disadvantage this weekend. He said he did not think so. In fact, it is possible that the opposite is true, a phenomenon predicted by some of the Ferrari technical staff. Because track conditions here can change so much and so quickly, a driver who has spent a good amount of time driving here in testing will mentally expect to find the same conditions when returning a week later for the race. Being faced with a different set of challenges can be a psychological stumbling block, whereas, Kimi, with no preconceived idea of what to expect just got on with dealing with the conditions as he found them.
For tomorrow's race, both Ferrari drivers start on the clean side of the track. As to the outcome and strategy, it is just possible that we will see some drivers, even among those in the top ten on the grid, opting for three refuelling and tyre change stops; something we have not yet seen this season.
The return to Europe has not only meant a return to trucks and motorhomes for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro. This race also marked the arrival of a new smart and modern design and décor for the team's reserved area in the exclusive Paddock Club above the pits. On Friday night a special dinner was held to officially open the new facility, attended by Team Principal Stefano Domenicali, World Champion Kimi Raikkonen and his team-mate, Felipe Massa. Also present was a group of around one hundred Spanish Ferrari owners and VIP guests. On the subject of VIPs, Michael Schumacher was attending his first race weekend of the season here in Barcelona and this afternoon, he staged a press conference in the Ferrari Media Hospitality unit to meet his old friends, or maybe adversaries from the media!
Another pole for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, the second of the season, this time from the cockpit of Kimi Raikkonen's F2008, with team-mate Felipe Massa starting right behind him in third spot.
The final part of qualifying was a really thrilling battle with the eventual top four drivers all separated by the smallest of margins. Splitting the two F2008s was the Renault of Fernando Alonso, much to the delight of the Spanish race fans. The Renault man's lap was exciting to watch, although there is plenty of speculation as to how much, or how little fuel he had on board. After the first three races of the season, the F1 experts have been asking if the biggest threat to the Scuderia retaining its World Champion status come the end of this year, comes not from traditional opposition, McLaren-Mercedes but from the other German car manufacturer and current points leaders BMW-Sauber. Today, that would indeed seem to be the case as fourth on the grid alongside Felipe will be Robert Kubica, while Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen make it an all-McLaren third row.
Before the weekend, Raikkonen was asked if the fact he only managed a handful of laps in the dry during his day of testing at this Catalunya circuit last week would be a disadvantage this weekend. He said he did not think so. In fact, it is possible that the opposite is true, a phenomenon predicted by some of the Ferrari technical staff. Because track conditions here can change so much and so quickly, a driver who has spent a good amount of time driving here in testing will mentally expect to find the same conditions when returning a week later for the race. Being faced with a different set of challenges can be a psychological stumbling block, whereas, Kimi, with no preconceived idea of what to expect just got on with dealing with the conditions as he found them.
For tomorrow's race, both Ferrari drivers start on the clean side of the track. As to the outcome and strategy, it is just possible that we will see some drivers, even among those in the top ten on the grid, opting for three refuelling and tyre change stops; something we have not yet seen this season.
The return to Europe has not only meant a return to trucks and motorhomes for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro. This race also marked the arrival of a new smart and modern design and décor for the team's reserved area in the exclusive Paddock Club above the pits. On Friday night a special dinner was held to officially open the new facility, attended by Team Principal Stefano Domenicali, World Champion Kimi Raikkonen and his team-mate, Felipe Massa. Also present was a group of around one hundred Spanish Ferrari owners and VIP guests. On the subject of VIPs, Michael Schumacher was attending his first race weekend of the season here in Barcelona and this afternoon, he staged a press conference in the Ferrari Media Hospitality unit to meet his old friends, or maybe adversaries from the media!
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