formula 1 racing

Team-by-team - Qualifying at Silverstone
07-11-2004

McLAREN-MERCEDES - In the 'B spec' MP4-19, Kimi Raikkonen scored his third career pole. ''Now [the car] is showing it's real potential,'' said the Finn.

''We've had a disappointing season but this is reward for everyone's effort.''

David Coulthard is just seventh and he blamed Northamptonshire wind. ''This is a high-speed circuit,'' said the Scot, ''and you need a good qualifying.''

FERRARI - Rubens Barrichello (2nd) is the fastest of the leading scarlet team but grand prix commentators wondered what he did at Vale in pre-qualifying.

''I ran wide deliberately,'' the Brazilian admitted.

''I don't see what's wrong with that. I wanted a slower time. You have to be selfish and think of your strategy. I agree the format needs to be better.''

World champion Michael Schumacher (4th) also chose not to look good in pre-qualifying in an attempt to try to beat the rain expected for the second run.

''My position is not ideal,'' said the German, ''but let's wait for the race.''

Ross Brawn said Rubens and Michael tried to hide their intentions in the first session ''but the other teams did the same thing,'' the tech director smiled.

BAR-HONDA - In front of adoring fans, Jenson Button wanted pole but had to settle for third. ''It's not too bad,'' he told reporters after the session.

''Now I'm just wondering what all the strategies are.''

After pre-race tests here at Silverstone, though, BAR were expecting a faster car for the British GP. ''My target now is a podium,'' said the Englishman.

Japan's Takuma Sato is eighth and technical director Geoff Willis predicts a 'high chance of rain' for Sunday's race at the old World War II airfield.

RENAULT - Jarno Trulli qualified fifth but Spanish team-mate Fernando Alonso - just a tenth behind in qualifying - loses ten positions due to an engine change.

His V10 blew-up in morning practice.

''It was windy,'' said Trulli, ''but it was the same for everyone.''

Alonso pushed hard in the wind ''because I knew I was going to lose the grid positions. I took a lot of risks. I don't know what I can do from down here.''

Renault engine manager Denis Chevrier said initial analysis suggests Fernando's failure was an ''isolated incident rather than a cause for general concern.''

BMW-WILLIAMS - Juan Pablo Montoya (8th) watched Marc Gene drive the FW26, ''so I was expecting a very nervous car. I decided to drive a bit more careful.''

Ralf Schumacher's sub (13th) didn't have a ''good lap at all. My car was so difficult to drive. I could barely keep it on the track with all of the wind.''

Technical director Sam Michael put his hand up as one of the teams playing tactical games in pre-qualifying. ''We took it easy,'' said the Australian.

''However the rain didn't come.

''Our pace in qualifying is not strong enough.''

JAGUAR - The green cars also adopted a 'go slow' policy before final qualifying. ''The car's feeling good,'' said Mark Webber, who qualified tenth for the race.

Christian Klien's fifteenth, however, is 'not great,' according to him.

''I pushed too hard and it cost me time.''

SAUBER - Giancarlo Fisichella, knowing he would be demoted ten-places on the Silverstone grid, elected to keep his C23 in the pits, 'saving tyres and fuel.'

Young Brazilian team-mate Felipe Massa, meanwhile, is absolutely furious with Olivier Panis. ''I walked up to him and said 'I can't understand you.

'You must have seen me coming up behind you.' ''

Massa said the Frenchman's Toyota was 'in the way,' and ''braked on my line. Without him I could have been ninth. I'm really angry. It's just not fair.''

Peter Sauber called Panis' behaviour 'incomprehensible.'

TOYOTA - 'Oops. Sorry.' Olivier Panis had his twelfth-place qualifying time snatched-away for ruining the fast run of next-man-on-track Felipe Massa.

''I'm upset,'' said the Frenchman. ''The team didn't radio me so I saw Massa at the last minute. I'm sorry to them but I'm also very annoyed at the stewards.''

Mike Gascoyne apologised to Olivier for not keeping him up-to-date on track, ''but I don't agree with the stewards. We feel the penalty is too harsh.''

The tech director also called 'go slow' tactics in the first session ''deceitful. It's a disgrace. It's unbelievable the fans are let down.''

Cristiano da Matta will start from fourteenth.

JORDAN-FORD - Giorgio Pantano (16th) beat experienced team-mate Nick Heidfeld. ''I could have been quicker if not for a mistake,'' said the quicker Roman.

German Heidfeld (17th) pointed to some Bridgestone tyre-graining.

MINARDI - The little team 'did it for John' in qualifying with news their much-loved sporting director John Walton died after a heart attack last Tuesday.

A spokesman said John would have 'wanted Minardi to get on' with the British GP, even though as a mark of respect drivers did not take part in opening practice.

''I wasn't feeling great,'' said Gianmaria Bruni (18th).

Paul Stoddart said if both black cars make it to the chequered flag on Sunday it will be in memory of ''one of the greatest guys in this [Formula One] paddock.''

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