The European Grand Prix - Qualifying Formula 1

An incredible weekend. Sometimes you really do have to pinch

yourself and think, I'm in Formula One. I knew it would be in

incredibly tough race. The Ferrari's were very strong. Same

with the Red Bulls. The flag waves from the back of the field, the

Canadian Grand Prix about to start. I'm in position. Away we go, a good

start from the Red Bull. Sebastian Vettel surges into the lead. I was

surprised I could keep up with Vettel. He has closed the gap.

looked after my tyres really well. Hamilton has gone in front of

Vettel on the pit stop. I was thinking these guys were quite far

behind so I assumed one stop. I kept pushing and increasing the gap.

The second stop was slower than the first. When I release the clutch,

installed. It may have been my fault. I never had a doubt in my

mind that there was the possibility to win. Hamilton has grabbed second

place, just the Ferrari ahead. Passing the world champion is a

great feeling. Hamilton is in front. It is five years since I first won

hair, but it felt just as good. Lewis Hamilton becomes the 7th

different winner in 2012. It feels like one of the best races I've had

for a very, very long time. Lewis Hamilton was masterful today.

We all loved it! Beautiful music to accompany a quite beautiful drive.

It may not have had the drama of Jenson Button's winning Canada 12

months ago, but it was no less special and it means we have had

seven different winners and there are many reasons to think this

weekend we might have an 8th different winner. David Coulthard

and Eddie Jordan were with me. You interviewed Lewis after the race,

I'm intrigued by what drivers are like off-camera, how was? They tend

to be more relaxed when the camera is not on. We raced together as

well, or shared the same race track! He seems in a much happier

place. He wears his heart on his sleeve, you know when he is happy

or frustrated. But that was a perfect Lewis Hamilton race, coming

back and having to overtake the world champion. A stunning victory.

The car is being worked on. Jenson Button was the quickest man in

final practice ahead of qualifying. It is a tough qualifying session to

call. The cars are so close. Some people are now saying to

unpredictable. Really? It is too unpredictable. It wipes out the

opportunity for us to be gainfully employed because I have no idea who

will be on pole position. The form book has been thrown out of the

window and that is good for the sport, but not good for me because

I don't have a clue what will happen! Can I distance myself? I

have a feeling who might be on pole position. Do you think it is too

unpredictable? It is sport, by its nature it is unpredictable. You can

have a Premier League club against a newly promoted club and the first

batch formbook says they wouldn't have a chance. It wouldn't happen

seven times, though. Engines are pretty much the same as each other.

Pirelli have tyres which have different operating Windows and the

teams can get into that window and make it last. We said before, I

don't see why this is a bad thing for Formula One. You don't have any

idea winning a Grand Prix! They are worthy winners. -- An idiot.

think wattages is that Eddie is frustrated that his predictions are

not coming true. Let's talk about this weekend. If there's one thing

you should say about Valencia, it is that this circuit is predictable.

Can you understand a criticisms? One of the most outspoken people is

Mark Webber. He had a big accident here, maybe that is in the back of

his mind and he doesn't want the same thing again, needless to say.

But it is a street circuit. We seem to be going in that direction. We

have seen what is happening in New York. And what happens in Singapore.

People and racetracks are becoming more like this. A nice overview of

the old fish warehouses, which now house the cars in Formula One.

There are some nice things about this circuit. But what we have not

had over the years is unpredictable racing, but we get the sun, the sea,

the Spanish, and of course, the For now, this race has its place on

the calendar. We are here for the Behind us, the fans have turned out,

there's always interest when Fernando Alonso is involved in

Spain, but there's talk this race will not happen next year and a few

other bits of gossip surrounding next year's race for top the latest

bits of information is this race will alternate with Barcelona.

understand that is certain. We have had great talk during the week.

Bernie Ecclestone is in talks with people from the Olympic Commission

in London and it's possible we may have a European race, in addition

to Silverstone, in London. It could be unbelievable. Who knows what

will happen. But then we know New York will happen. All sorts of

intriguing opportunities. A race around the Olympic Park sound

special! Talk about something less exciting, the fact that spark may

be missing from the calendar. the nature of Formula One, it has

moved into new territories and it puts pressure on the traditional

European Grand Prix. Spark is a favourite, but financial restraints

make it difficult. Let's give some credit to Bernie Ecclestone because

his vision to go into the East, particularly in this moment of

crisis in Europe, who knows, motor- racing is stronger because of his

guile and making sure we are in the proper place. Giving credit to

Bernie for a change! Lewis Hamilton won last time out, a fantastic win

from him. We've seen it from his perspective, but what did David

Coulthard and Ben Edwards make of start from the Red Bull. Sebastian

Vettel surges into the lead. Hamilton is in second, Alonso in

third. Massa has spun on the exit of turn one. Raikkonen on Button

empty makes the move. Jenson Button on the heart of the two tyres, he

has decided to bail on those. Hamilton is going past on the DRS!

He read takes the lead from Alonso. Corsham, Corsham. -- Corish and.

Michael will have to retire. There's a problem! Away he goes.

Perez just sweeps past Felipe Massa and up into fifth place. Hamilton

is back in front and takes the lead. This is the story of, if you try

and keep tyres that are well past it, you have nothing left to fight

with. Here comes Romain Grosjean. The Lotus is now aiming at a

second-place finish. Perez, an easy pass with DRS. Lewis Hamilton

becomes the 7th different winner of 2012! Grosjean finishes in second

2012! Grosjean finishes in second place. Perez his third. Lewis

Hamilton was masterful today. Masterful indeed and that win for

McLaren edges them closer to Red Taking a look at this, Vettel's

lead was 60 points when we came here last year. Now 60 points

between the top 10. It is. Is this a dream or not? It is not a dream.

It is so close, any one of those top 10 could forge forward and win

the championship, but it does look like the top three are looking like

pulling away. Do you agree with that, David? You can start dropping

down to the likes of Rosberg and Raikkonen, there's a gap emerging.

There is, but Rosberg is within one victory of leading this

championship. It is not against what we expect during a normal

what we expect during a normal season. You would expect maybe one

mechanical failure. You definitely expect one incident, a driver to

get involved in something or drop the car in changing conditions. I

don't see that anyone is clearly moving ahead in the championship at

this stage. There's work going on on Mark Webber's car at the moment.

Only four laps in the final practice session because of an

issue with his brakes. He has raced here a lot and he has had a bird's-

eye view of this circuit when he had the airborne moment with Heikki

Kovalainen a couple of years ago. It will affect his tyres. He is

under pressure to run the faster tyres in qualifying because he

can't afford to get his eye in and then just sit there. I would expect

him to go out there on the primes straight away and then go to the

option tyres. We will discuss Mark Webber's future in a bit, we will

also talk about some of the young drivers, and we will see David

Coulthard going back to his roots, but first Lee McKenzie with all the

The Formula One roller-coasters or Lewis Hamilton becoming the 7th

different winner from as many races and if the championship looks

increasingly like a fairground, the driver contract merry-go-round has

also started turning. Sebastian Vettel has been linked with Ferrari

and Lewis Hamilton with most of the top teams. I'm happy, I'm proud to

still be a part of his team and to have the success we have, working

with the guys I'm with. Just excited about the next step. That

can come in time. Things will fall into place when the need to.

thing is for sure, Fernando Alonso is sticking with Ferrari and after

finishing second in Barcelona, he is looking to go one better at his

second home race of the season. Racing at home is always special.

In Valencia it is not only the race, it is also the team around the

Grand Prix with music concert that night and go-kart circuits for the

fans. In general the weekend is quite special and attractive for

the fans. Jenson Button has had a torrid time lately, finishing 16th

in the last two races and has scored only two points in the last

four Grand Prix. Every race, 18 cars on the grid fighting for

victory. It is no different for me. I come here hoping we have sorted

out the issues and we can go racing and make the best of what we have

over three days. Whilst Valencia might not be a favourite track for

the armchair spectators, it does split the opinions of the drivers.

Some love it here and others are not so sure. It is not in the top

five of tracks in the world, that's for sure. It is pretty repetitive,

a lot of low-speed corners, which is not extremely satisfying for the

car. The cars are pretty choked around here. You can't pick and

choose your golf course, you have to be good everywhere. The

challenge we have this weekend is that. The highlight of coming to

Valencia for Kobayashi is not only the on-track action, but also the

orange juice. Valencia orange juice is very famous. I'm always excited

to come here for the orange juice. This morning I woke up at 8am and I

went downstairs to get breakfast, but the first thing I get his

orange juice. If you get on the podium this weekend, you will want

to spray orange juice at night that That is a good idea! He is so

quirky, I love him. All the money spent on cars, all that effort and

they end up putting take on the driver's seat! They have to be able

to remove the whole drum to make changes. It is just the most

efficient system. It is able to withstand the heat and any Robing

from the inside of the wheel. You can see the hand-built nature of

Formula 1 car! A mention of Mark Webber and Ferrari, interestingly,

they chose to put up the story about Sebastian Vettel on their own

website. It is part of the game of Formula 1. Teams will

systematically inquire about other drivers even if they do not have a

particular interest in them, perhaps to destabilise that driver

by making them the big offer even if they have no intention of

actually honouring that. It is a distraction from their main job.

All the top teams will be doing exactly the same. Mark will be

hoping he does not end up upside down on this circuit as he did two

years ago. He would certainly love to stay at Red Bull another year?

It is testament to how strong these cars are. He was able to walk away

from that. But you have to imagine that the safe place for him to be

is in her Red Bull car. He knows the team, he is in a good situation

and to go somewhere new at his stage in his career, it is a risk.

He is in the twilight of his career in many ways. The older drivers

have been warned, there are many young bloods coming up eager to

Grosjean finishes in second place! Tell us about that race? It was

just amazing. It was crazy, it was a difficult start but then the

sunshine came out and we had a good strategy. The race was crazy and

then suddenly we saw that our strategy was a good one. And we got

second place on the podium which is my best result so far.

It is Pleistocene Europe and all these young people starting to show

what they can deal. We want to race and we are in

Formula 1. It is a long career and a lot of effort. It is just great

to be part of this. The you look round and think, we

are the future of Formula 1? It is difficult to say that. I'm just

concentrating on doing the best that I cannot and enjoying it.

Trying to get the best result for the team. We have a common goal

which is to become world champion one day. We have a common objective.

Would you be on happy not to get a win this year? Definitely. We need

to get ever think we perfect to win a race. But I think it is possible,

it could happen. We have consistency at the front.

We were on the podium in Barcelona, in Canada. We just need to find

that extra bit to get a win. We need to just keep going in the

same way and get some extra podiums. Well here I am, of and I will ask

the same question. Do you think you have joined the big boys? I think

we have. We know we have to keep the development stage going on and

manage to stay through the season. 25 years ago, Lotus last won a

Grand Prix. Can you do it again? do not know, we expect we can do it.

We have never been so close to doing it. It is our turn. What has

made a difference? The differences are tight this year, you just need

to be competitive in any session and not miss any opportunities to

make sure you can qualify it well and race well. Everyone is talking

about Sergio Perez. And we saw on the website at Ferrari that he is

too wild. Can you hang on to him next year? We have announced in for

this year and we always announce the drivers just for one year,

we're not going to change that. he is one you would like to keep?

We will see. I'm going to make an apology because at the start of the

season I did Romain Grosjean was good enough to be in Formula 1, but

he has been doing a remarkable job. I would love him to continue to win

and I'm definitely sure that he can do it. In the first five or six

races of the season and in Canada, I definitely saw that he is ready

to win. Let's get the thoughts of the only

man to have driven a Formula 1 car who can give us an idea of Grosjean

is. Did we judge him to have quickly first time around? I think

so. It is a lot to ask. We have seen even more experienced drivers

struggled to adapt to a different team. He came back into Formula 1

and no one would say that he has not shown great speed. He needs to

be a little more consistent and the next logical step would be to win a

Grand Prix. Consistency is the key. When he does race, he does a great

to job. Here he is at the start of the Chinese Grand Prix. This was

without DRS on the back straight. You do not see too many of those.

How hard is it to marry up the speed with the consistency? Because

to be fast enough to you have to be on the edge. You do indeed. And I

spoke with Gary Anderson earlier and she summed up the difference

between the drivers. Kimi Raikkonen uses his experience Grosjean just

wants to be quick around every corner. He needs to even that up.

He has the speed to be one of the graves in Formula 1. All of the

parts of his car being put together behind as as weak year up for

qualifying which is less than -- we gear up. It is all about learning

when you're young and you're learning. And I'm usually the one

that asks the questions. But David Coulthard has got a question for

you. Here is a question, what does Nigel

Mansell, Ayrton Senna, of Damon Hill, what do they all have in

common? I note what you're thinking, one of them was too good-looking to

be a racing car driver, but the answer is they all started in

Formula Ford. It was the first time I actually drove something that was

big and heavy. It is a grace -- a great place to learn race grafting.

You learn a lot of techniques. Driving in the wet and things like

that. It was cut-and-thrust, as close as you'll ever get in a

racing car or denying all your abilities. If you look at my

generation seven or eight of us came out of there and went to

Formula 1. It is not just a case of getting in and driving fast.

Formula 1 are looking for the driver that is the most complete.

It is incredible how much motorsport has moved on since I

started. Now they're getting the full briefing on how to interact

with the team, how to deal with engineers, the media.

Race craft is the area where it you really learn about it. We have got

driver coaches here who help us with that side of it. I do not

think you get that in any kind of car racing. It is important, it you

want those guys out there to work as hard for you as they possibly

can. I love this line, are you working harder than your

competitors? It is a great endorsement of how important it is

to serve your time in the lower quarters were stuck you definitely

have to go through the stepping stones, to learn the mechanics of

the car and how to work with people. I have been through at least five

workshops and they always help you. The standards now are just getting

higher and the guys need to be educated. How do they look after

themselves? How do they push themselves and get the most out of

the car and the team around them? It is where you start and there is

no one out there today who will not gain something. Then it was time to

put on the helmet and roll back the years.

It is a little bit heavier, more power. It is a lot quicker than I

remember. That is fantastic! The raw teaching that you get for the

young drivers is still there. Formula Ford, a fantastic proving

ground. A brilliant day for me. I feel like a young man a Kent! Does

that mean I can date young girl's?! It has not stopped you in the past

20 years! Good memories can smack it felt like home. I do some racing

in a touring car or right now and it always feels quite alien. But a

Formula Ford, of course the technology has improved, but it is

still the ultimate proving ground for young drivers. And how is the

dating going? Yes, well.... Let us move on and talk about some news

that has been unfolding. News about Timo Glock? He will not take part

in the qualifying session today. He has been suffering with the stomach

bug. He only managed to do is seven laps since Monday morning and it

has gradually been getting worse. I saw him at breakfast and tea did

not look very well. He tried to do some lapse in practice but it is

all too much and he will not take part in qualifying. The team says

no decision has been reached regarding the race tomorrow. There

is a board that he might get some dispensation, he is an experienced

Would you see them allowing him to raise even if he can't qualify?

What is important, and I think Lee is perfect, he's an experienced

driver, he will not do something silly. He knows his way around here,

he has done hugely competitive laps. He also knows what it is like to be

on the podium. He is a top driver. I would give him dispensation.

is quite straightforward. It is no different from if your car stalls

immediately in the pit lane. There's no question, he will take

part if he is fit enough. Regarding racing when you are not well, we

remember the famous radio commentary of Mark Webber trying to

talk to his team whilst being sick whilst racing in Japan. In this

heat, you can understand why he might not. I can and I can't. To my

mind, real fighters will be out in any conditions. I remember Heinz

Harald Frentzen was physically ill in a Jordan but managed to do the

Grand Prix. Unless you have something affecting your vision,

you get out there and tried. you race when Gail? Of course. I

was not fit for every of my 240 races. You see drivers having to be

lifted out of the car. I don't know the condition Timo Glock is in, but

it is unusual to see a driver not racing because of a tummy bug.

team are taking medical advice. At the moment, Timo Glock is not

involved in qualifying today. Hopefully he will be well enough

tomorrow. We saw David in his Formula Ford car. This car behind

us, Jean-Eric Vergne. He has never tested a Formula One car. David, in

the peace, regarding Formula Ford, that is where the young drivers

start. It starts a karting, Formula Ford, Formula Three, and if you are

really good enough, you go straight to Formula One. That was the

sequence. You get as much experience as you can at junior

level and you never lose it. Once you are able to ride a bike, you

can ride a bike forever, and these guys can do that. They say and an

Ricciardo are good enough to go into the Red Bull. -- Laverne and

Ricciardo. Is that now of a barometer? I think so. They are

both potential world champions, but because there's no can tuck in the

performance, no one is standing out as a clear leader of the team. They

might be a victim of their own success in many respects. It is

tricky when you come in to have made great team, you have to do

something remarkable. Some people to take notice. You can't say they

are not experienced enough because they have been part of the Red Bull

system for several years. Being part of the Toro Rosso or the Red

Bull system, there's no guarantee you will have a seat next season.

We were all shocked with the way drivers were dispensed with last

season. That is the way they want to operate. I thought you would say

it we were shocked with the way David Coulthard was dispensed with.

That was a natural progression. He lived his life. We are glad to have

him. David is lower number driving in Formula One, but it is a sport

that continues to move forward. When Gary Andersson was driving --

designing cars, you did things quicker than now. After a bit of

criticism of McLaren in the last race, he was invited to pop down

and see for himself what has changed in Formula One in the past

1991, 2011, two completely different concepts. 20 years of

development. A new gearbox. As opposed to a carbon composite

gearbox of 30 kilos. In Montreal, Jenson Button had oil in the

gearbox and I was a bit critical. Three hours and 45 minutes since

you started working on that car. I found it ridiculous that it has

taken that amount of time. It is something that should be done in 30

minutes. Do you think that is correct, does it take too long?

is the way development has gone now. Everything is so tightly packaged.

This is not really a gearbox any more, it is a chassis career. One

of the visuals things you see is the link. This gearbox does not

have any safety impact structured on it, whereas this one has a large

impact structure with the gearbox starting here and going to the back.

That is because of safety. This is a complete crushed stone to enable

the driver to go into an all -- into a walk backwards and not hurt

himself. The gearbox changed times are over an hour now and I do

remember them being fed five minutes when I started in Formula

One. We have to make sure things don't go wrong. That oil leak in

Montreal should never have happened. A massive number of centres, there

were only two sensors, this one has almost 30. For a whole car has a

lot of sensors. Has this made the driver a little bit more redundant

from the James Hunt days? Definitely. It means the driver

can't make up stories. They don't do it on purpose, but the driver

tries to interpret what is going on around him. Hamilton and Button's

mentality is to use data. I can't control it. They won't even try to

go down because they know it is all backed up by 25 engineers looking

at every single thing. Formula One still has a responsibility to make

sure it is a driver's sport. The driver has to remain a big part of

that. In 20 years' time we will ask you about that. I will be saying

that to some young guy. Thank you. All the best. Time never stands

still in Formula One and the same applies right now. 15 minutes to go

until the start of qualifying as we emerge from the back of the old

fish market. These days fighting of the points in Formula One.

Interesting to hear Sam and Gary chatting about the way cars have

changed. Are you sad to see there's no longer an onus as much on the

driver's skill? I'm one of the older guys. Sam and Gary and I

worked for -- worked together for a long time. They are missing it, too.

We just wanted to see the drivers do more things. I was against

paddle shift some stuff, but modern cars have that now. We have to move

with technology. You can't hold back the tide of technology it. We

except technology, we use it and it makes life easier. It is the same

with racing cars. I think they are very busy -- behind the wheel. KERS,

DRS, brake balance, engine loads. There's a lot going on we don't get

when we are watching. I don't think you'll find many drivers saying

they are not fully engaged. They call them the computer game

generation and he can use one of these already. That is the kind of

skill you need behind the wheel. It is more knowing about the buttons.

Fingers control of the thing. everything. What we were talking

about, gone are the days when you would see Mansell getting out of

the car, the same with Senna, dehydration and exhaustion. We

don't see that. Easier to drive. They are physically easier because

they are running six or seven seconds off the pace of qualifying.

If you look back, we had no Oumou refuelling, there was only one or

two seconds between qualifying pace and race pace. It is physically

chaff -- tough for the drivers and it is well over 25 degrees here.

Let's head back to the pit lane because Gary is there taking a look

at how the cars have changed for this weekend.

At Red Bull, they have come here with a raft of parts. This year's

championship will be won by the team with the best development

programme. Red Bull have done a few subtle changes. These turning

beans... This area gives you a lift. These help that airflow and reduce

the lift. It reduces the negative. In the could bottle area, much more

elaborate. The air flow comes in on top of the floor, but on the right

hand side, they've gotta ducked. The air flow goes into the duct and

comes out into the diffuser area. The airflow over the top is the

same, but the air is redirected into a double panel and detects its

Red Bull fighting for victories in the last few races. This is our

view for the afternoon. What is that you like from the commentary

box? We have a great view from the box. We overlook the main

contenders for the world championship. It is so tight and

you said earlier you think... think Vettel. Keep your eyes on

Sebastian Vettel. What about Felipe Massa? He is the only man to have

won on this track apart from Vettel. He was racing with David and we

thought it was time they shared a Down the top or off the bottom?

go up. Go down? How does that look? Looks good? I'm tied for time so

let's go. You won the inaugural winner here in 2008. It was a great

car, a great race, everything worked perfectly. That is what I

need now. Really struggling now, Massa. Bruno Senna and Massa

tangling. The first day I drove the car I was not very happy. It was

different to what I expected. And then I drove the day after, he also

came in the same direction as me. It is looking more promising now as

we get towards the middle part of the season. We are improving the

car now. From now to the end, I expect things will be different.

expect things will be different. This corner is more related to the

start. The normal laps, you don't see much overtaking here because

the Street is not very long, but at the start, it is very important

because you can gain a few positions. Turn two is coming

immediately and I can't remember, is it flat? It is flat. New tyres,

qualifying, it is flat. And then the race is another story when you

have 150 kilos. Everything changes in the race. At the beginning you

are six or seven seconds slower. have stopped at what is the only

swing bridge in Formula One and you can see, literally... That is a

six-inch gap. It doesn't look like a racetrack! Very unusual. Can you

feel the bump? Yes. This is the longest section on the track, but

it is not straight. You have a little kink. And then you get to

the straight. It is the longest straight. This is twentysomething...

I think there are 29 corners. 18 or 19? No, more. 22? We will ask

Michael. Do you know which corner No. This is? We are trying to work

out the corner number. I think it Thanks very much. What did he say?

19 and 20? 19... I am always get, I always think he will try to hit me.

He is going to have it out with David Coulthard! It is not 29

corners. I think I got confused. Here we are in the heart of 19 and

20. Officially verified by your former team mate. It is flat out.

You have very slow corners. What stands out on this track as being a

great corner? The bridge! At least you didn't say the exit from the

circuit when you go to the airport. We thank you for your time. 2000

and a winner here. We wish you all the best this weekend. If I win

Thanks to Michael for the man lesson. Felipe Massa has improved

in the last few races but is a winter much to ask? As much as he

as improved, he is not have the level of those guys that we talked

about. Just to make it totally clear, it is 25 corners and the

drivers do it in around 100 seconds. Time to find out how things will

determine the outcome of qualifying here in Valencia. As the sun beats

down temperatures are rising and not only on the track. The driver's

return to Spain for the second time this season. Pastor Maldonado took

his first pole position some weeks ago in Catalonia. This track has a

lining of concrete walls that look identical in different parts of the

circuit. Qualifying honours in the past have gone to Ferrari, McLaren

and Red Bull. Sebastian Vettel is looking for a hat trick of poll

positions around this circuit and to take his 33rd career pole to

bring him a joint third in the all- time list. That is the beach right

next to the circuit, around the marina. And the temperature now on

the track is up to 43 degrees and climbing. Therefore casting even

warmer temperatures at the weekend. And how that changes the

performance of the teams, that will only unfold as we go through the

three qualifying sessions that we are now looking forward to here.

Fastest this morning, Jensen Button set the pace in practice. But

Sebastian Vettel got the fastest sector of times. So he does look to

be one of the favourites to take pole position here today. But there

will be some competition. Button, Kimi Raikkonen, they are fast. And

the Force India looking competitive as well. The teams now have just

moments away from the first qualifying session. David, you

think that Sebastian will be the one to beat, but we could be in for

some surprises. Pastor Maldonado was in pole position in Barcelona.

Williams and Force India, a couple of teams could surprise the front

runners today. Indeed. And Sebastien fettled could beat the

one for pole. He was quickest in a Friday session for the first time

this year. He was fastest of all in the first couple of sectors. So I

just think he has the pace in hand if he can deliver the lap. Fernando

Alonso on home turf for the second time this year. There is great

support for him. Anti will try to do the best for his fans. He has

not won at this circuit in the past and has not yet qualified in the

front row. McLaren have had a poll position here in the past, that was

Lewis Hamilton. But race victory actually went to Rubens Barrichello.

RADIA Cologne front wing down half race engineer. The conversations

required for the change in temperature. Our technical man is

down in the pits. That was an interesting call, a front wing

change. You actually lose a little bit of downforce, the majority of

which is on the rear of the car. You lose a little bit of that

because the track temperature is working against you. So you take a

little bit of the front to balance the car. Well we have the soft and

the medium tyres here this weekend. But weather conditions are

absolutely stunning. With the soft target you get a faster lap time in

qualifying but we will see some of the top teams trying to stay on the

medium fires in this first part of qualifying because they want to

save the soft tyres for the last part of qualifying and that

ultimate battle. Where's the midfield and the slower teams will

Prom Belleek have to use the softer compounds to do the best they can

in this first qualifying sector. -- probably have to use.

All through Friday practice we saw some crazies beans. Lewis Hamilton

looking a bit frustrated with the balance of his car. It is more or

rally style than we had in Canada. Radio communications there saying

that they have a similar winter. Pastor Maldonado is 5 - 2 against

Bruno Senna in terms of competition with his team-mate.

Daniel Ricciardo out there currently. Problems this morning,

and some braking issues with Mark Webber was my car. They have to

give up on a session in the morning, he only completed four laps. But

the saving grace is that the track conditions are different now and

Mark Webber has experience of this track. He might be forced into

running a couple of sets of tyres. I would not be surprised to see him

taking to the track soon. Nico Rosberg heading out. And Mark

Webber will be out on track in the next few minutes. Daniel Ricciardo

is on the harder of the compound tyres. He had a brilliant

qualifying performance at the last event where this compound choice

was the same. It was a stunning effort of from the young Australian.

He started this season extremely impressively in Australia. Since

then he has not had quite the same level of success. Toro Rosso just

seemed to be slipping back down that midfield in the last couple of

events. Daniel Ricciardo coming through the fastest and most of

flowing part of this track. A tricky braking area coming into

this last bend. They often we can see the cars blocking up and the

reason is they arrived there at just over 190 mph. And you have a

different kind of feeling in the card burnt you would normally have

because of the braking. -- than you would normally have.

Pastor Maldonado locking up and that will mean he has to use the

rest of the lap for a trap -- track positioning.

Sergio Perez also struggling. We are seeing so much blogging with

the cars in 20 trough. Fernando Alonso their sliding around a

little. Gary, it just to bring you in, in the area part of the session

we see everyone going out on the harder tyres. That is what you

would expect. The softer tyres seem to be around half a second faster.

It is not going to be easy on the harder tyres to get into the top

rankings. I'm not sure they will make it on the harder tyres. We

will see at the end of the session will start Fernando Alonso

certainly got a bit sideways. Kobayashi moves out of the way as

Nico Rosberg comes past in the Mercedes. Felipe Massa is the

fastest. On board with Sergio Perez, one of

the stars are from Canada. Despite starting back in 15th position on

the grid. He qualified in 5th place on the

grid back in Catalonia but he was tricky last corner. Felipe Massa

still setting the pace in the early stages of qualifying. We will lose

six or seven cars from this but we have already lost Timo Glock was

not taking part in this session. He is not feeling well enough to

compete. So we will lose six cars that are active out on circuit.

Grosjean was very quick this morning. We go on board with

Michael Schumacher at. And this vast section at the end of the lap.

They have the wall. A bit of oversteer on exit of which we saw

from Michael this morning. It seems to be the nature of his car, but

that puts him fastest at this stage. Kobayashi going quickly here. He

had the fastest first sector of anyone and in fact he has been

going well all weekend. Fastest of anyone in the first sector and good

times in the second sector as well. But it is the lower order it that

really matters in his first and second parts of qualifying because

you have got to qualify through to the next stage and only 17 will do

that. Paul di Resta, a Force India have been looking good here and

they have a good record. Paul di Resta is the 5th fastest at the

moment. He was going well this morning. Jean-Eric Vergne, let us

have a look at what he is up to have.

There is a tail wind, a little more wind speed today then yesterday and

it is catching the drivers out. Pastor Maldonado is doing another

run on the harder compound tyres. I think he will have to come back out.

Let us ride with Lewis Hamilton. That unusual growl from the

Mercedes engine. A reasonable first section from Lewis Hamilton. It

should be enough if he just keeps it together. Sounding more like a

motorbike! Leaning on that front tyre. He is well under the mark for

getting 17th, but is he on the mark for going fastest of all? Not quite.

I think he is on target. He's nip and tuck with Felipe Massa. It all

depends on his last sector. And he is fast does, a very good luck for

Lewis Hamilton and he should be able to go through without having

to change to his softer tyres. He lap so he is going again. That will

cost him about a tenth of a second to carry that extra fuel, but I

think the drivers have seen through practice that they find more from

building speed and getting heat in the tyres and gaining confidence on

these medium tyres. Michael Schumacher has gone fastest in the

middle sector, which has moved him up to fourth place. Jenson is

coming to the last part of the swing bridge. A good drive into the

longest section. This will be the DRS overtaking section in the race

tomorrow. They are able to use DRS on the entire lap, 63% of the lap,

during qualifying. It gains them up to 20 mph depending on the system.

From Button point of view, the key is to get through to the final part

of qualifying and be in the hunt because he has struggled. Two of

the last three qualifying sessions... Trafficker head. --

traffic a head. He sounded hesitant in that turn. Something has given

him the feedback that either he is comfortable on a 39.6 with seven

minutes to go all he knew about the traffic ahead. Let's see if he

decides to have another lap or whether he comes in. He has taken a

very wide line to start the opening of his lap. That man really is that

all! No future as a Grand Prix driver! Sebastian Vettel is on the

track now. Let's see what he can do. And he has been very far as this

weekend. He will try to put himself safe on the harder compound tyre.

He heads out of turns four and five and heading through the sweeping

curves. They have corner numbers, but they are not really corners as

such. Threading his way over the bridge. Looking for a good exit.

His team-mate, Mark Webber, has gone out on a set of the soft tyres.

Sacrificing a set of the more gripping tyres at this stage. When

he went out earlier, he went straight back in. It was an

installation lap. We have got Lewis Hamilton up front doing a personal

best first sector, quickest of all in the middle sector. Hamilton is

still finding pace on medium tyres. Back on board with Vettel. This is

all about getting through the top 17. Three-tenths down on Hamilton

in the middle sector. This should be enough to comfortably getting

through. It should be enough, but behind the battle is beginning to

hot up for getting into that top group. Hamilton is currently

fastest. He had a mistake in the last sector. Two-tenths slower than

his previous best. McLaren are quick. Vettel is six fastest with

that. I'm surprised he has not gone a little quicker. Will Red Bull

have to put the softer tyre on? Maldonado and Perez have gone out

on softer tyres, as has Bruno Senna. Now we will see some real pace.

That is Mark Webber. You think he is on the softer tyre? We will get

an idea of what the Red Bull can do. He had no real running this morning

so it is important from his point of view that he goes for it on the

best available tyre. As Gary mentioned, they reckon there's

about half a second depending on your car to be gained from having

yellow tyres on. Mark Webber can expect to be around 39.1 if he is

driving like-for-like to his team- mate, Sebastian Vettel. He

completed all of the Saturday morning free practice. Expect him

to be a little bit cautious as he builds the flap. Both the Force

Indias going out on soft tyres as well. That is a very slow first

sector from Mark Webber. Currie about six-tenths off the first

sector. -- currently. He will have to complete another lap and hope

for a clear lap with only just over four minutes to go. The car is

looking a little bit snappy. will be getting feedback that he is

not on a great lap. He will be getting feedback from his race

engineer as well, telling him where he is losing time. They will know

exactly where he needs to improve. Inevitably, when you know you're

running out of time, pressure starts to build. You need a certain

amount of pressure to focus your mind, but too much and you can

start getting ragged behind the wheel. On the harder tyre you can

get a couple of good laps, but the soft tyre might be difficult to get

a second quick lap. Let's see what his time is. Has he made anything

up? Not really. Only in 16th place. He goes on to another lap. We saw

this morning, some cars were taking three laps to get the time out of

their tyres. He might not be too concerned, but he certainly would

not have expected to be eight- tenths slower than Vettel on the

harder tyre. It is coming down to the final few moments. It is

getting crucial for Senna, he is in the drop zone. Remember, Timo Glock

is not running in this one. Senna has not made it through to Q3 in

any of the qualifying sessions so far this year. Qualifying has been

his bugbear. He blew his chance in Spain when he spun when he was

trying to get through to the next part of qualifying. That was that

the Spanish Grand Prix. We are now back in Spain for the European

Grand Prix and Senna needs a decent qualifying performance to boost his

morale. At the moment, against the fastest time, looking like a

reasonable lap for Bruno Senna. Interestingly, behind, the man who

is just one place in front of him, Mark Webber, is on a cruel lap.

He's leaving it to one flying lap. should be enough to get him through

to Q2. Paul di Resta has just gone fastest of anybody in the middle

sector. He is absolutely on it in the Force India as he tries to move

up. Maldonado is also going quickly on his soft tyres. Now you will see

people moved down the order. Webber is in the drop so now. Di Resta

goes fastest in the Force India! 38.8. A good lap from Paul di Resta.

We have seen the performance from Force India, but this is now a

critical for Mark Webber. It is indeed. Paul di Resta has matched

his lap time from the morning session. That is a clear indication

that track conditions are good. Pressure on Mark Webber to deliver.

He is down on what he needs to be even to get into the top 17 at the

moment. He has got some traffic ahead of him. It is not ideal.

just doesn't seem to be doing it this qualifying session. But it is

not over yet. Will he get round before the chequered? My maths are

not good enough! I think it will be pretty close. We will keep an eye

on that. Maldonado is still on a good lap. Webber is hoping that he

can get one more... Maldonado has gone fastest! He has set the pace

in the first and third sectors. Maldonado, who got pole position in

Barcelona, but he has gone to the softer tyre, whereas some of the

other top runners have not done that in this session. What about

Mark Webber? He will not get another lap. I suspect he will come

in. What is the point of finishing this lap? He will get round.

mathematics... Don't panic! It is all down to this lap, the third lap

on the soft tyres. What about that for pressure? Mark Webber is

currently in 18th place. There's an alleged impeding of a car being

investigated as well by the stewards. Hulkenberg allegedly

impeded with Kobayashi. You can see the notice on the screen. The

drivers steered this weekend is Nika Salto. Mark has just said,

that's it, a game over. He will be the first of the big scalps to go

out. Mark Webber is not going any further in qualifying and that is a

massive surprise. The Monaco pole position man, and Red Bull are

looking for three successive pole positions this season, but it is

not going to come from Mark because he goes no further in this session.

He had problems this morning, but that is still a huge surprise.

is indeed. Maybe they were not able to rectify the problem. They did an

installation at the beginning of qualifying, which if you have

confidence in the car you would just go for it. I suspect he was

trying to qualify with the room did car. We will get more information

when Lee catches up with him. have got both Caterhams down there

at the moment. Kovalainen a fraction faster than Petrov. They

are racing each other hard. Only on one occasion this year has Petrov

out-qualified his team-mate and he is trying to do it again. A great

battle. They are both coming to the end of their laps. Does it move him

ahead? Yes. But Kovalainen is on a lap now as well and trying to get

it back. We are with Heikki Kovalainen now. He takes it back.

He is into Q2! He has pushed out Jean-Eric Vergne. Caterham faster

than Toro Rosso. We saw a bit of that in free practice yesterday,

but that is a brilliant performance from Caterham. They are expecting

even more at Silverstone. You are spot-on. An incredible performance,

less than a tenth away from Daniel Ricciardo in the other Toro Rosso.

Only four-tenths away from what Kobayashi managed on the prime tyre.

Mark Webber, frustration in his eyes. Lee will get a word from him

later, but I would suggest that she approaches with caution! He is not

a happy man. He is out of qualifying, along with Jean-Eric

Vergne, Vitaly Petrov, Pedro de la Rosa and Karthikeyan and Charles

Pic. And Timo Glock did not start this session.

While it is frustration at Red Bull... Yes! This is what we were

talking about. It is happiness at Caterham. Congratulations to

Kovalainen. They have made it through to the second part of

through to the second part of qualifying. They talked about

upgrades and Caterham have done what they said. They have to do

that because they made us a prommers at the beginning of the

year and I'm quite certain they signed Petrov on that basis. They

said they would make Q2 on a regular basis. Let's hope it

continues. At the front, we have got Red Bull celebrating, usually.

The last two races here, front row lock-up for Red Bull, but Mark

Webber is out. They will be very, very upset about theirs. It opens

the door in the Constructors' Championship to McLaren. McLaren

are looking good and they are making much more progress. They are

right on the tail of Red Bull and Red Bull's non- qualifying going

into the Q2 as far as Webber is concerned is a real boost to

McLaren. Give us an idea what it is like in a team. The team was saying,

despite all the effort, and so many sensors on these cars, they didn't

really know what the issue was. It is not solved. It has a wider

effect. This has implications with the mind of Mark Webber. They want

stability, they want calm, they want to be able to come into the

garage and see the car gleaming and ready to go. This was a problem for

them. He didn't know what the problem was. Nothing worse than

racing when you don't know what is happening. And it is at a circuit

which is so difficult to overtake on. This is the problem. Mark

himself is not tuned in. He has already said this is in there --

not in his top five race circuits. When you're into a race and you are

mentally attuned to what you want to achieve and you automatically

think, I don't like the place, and now this happens, it is going to be

a long weekend for him. Mark Webber out of the first part of qualifying.

Timo Glock did not even take part. He was not feeling well and it is a

hot and difficult circuit. 25 corners for the drivers to

negotiate. He decided he was not well enough. He has not taken part

in qualifying today. When Caterham first sign Petrov, they expected to

sign a driver who would fight to get into the second part of

Having come from bloaters, and we have seen the turnaround with Lotus

which has been phenomenal, I presume they see themselves in that

ilk. Here is a team that have invested and put a lot of things

together with a lot of pub dates and they would have come to it

driver like Vitali Petrov and told him they were in a position to get

him to 14, 15 on the grid. But they have not done that. Vitali Petrov

now joining as. Are you frustrated about the fact that you are not in

the second stage of qualifying? Or do you think they're building a car

here that is good enough to Challenge in Formula 1. The moment

I am focusing on myself and I think I made a couple of mistakes during

the lap. That is life. But we are working quite hard, and we are

working well. And we will try to pick up the pace and show better

results. Due see any comparison between yourself and Lotus, who

have come on great strides? Dean of gathering themselves,

pushing very hard to get to the target. We have some good update

and we will be better at Silverstone. Back to qualifying

times. Q2 now underway. Nico Rosberg was

fastest amongst those who did not fastest amongst those who did not

go for the softer tyres. What will happen in the second part of

qualifying? The battle to be into the top 10. And then you can really

tried to take pole position. Felipe Massa was saying that the

Ferrari has become a much easier car to drive. It is a remarkable

turnaround. There is a radical front suspension. They have turned

it around and they're standing among the drivers and constructors

is absolutely justified. Gary, what are we looking for in this stage?

Well the track must be slower than it was this money because the Times

really did not improve from this morning. The track got a bit slower

in net session. The only one to match his time, the ones are the

front. We're looking at a 38 to get into the top 10. Well as you said

the track temperatures are changing and that makes a difference that

took the lap times. Massive support of course for Fernando Alonso. And

also for Pastor Maldonado. He is getting a big old cheer every time

he goes past. Alonso going through bridge. This long back stretch is a

great shot when they show the overhead. The dual carriageway

running parallel to this section of the track. And you visibly see the

difference in speed between a Formula 1 car and normal traffic.

That looked much neater from Fernando Alonso Hill is setting the

deep you go over the front tyre and you start to have understeer. That

will have cost him some time. Ferrari quicker than the Williams

on harder of the compound tyres. That is significantly slower than

the first part of qualifying. Paul di Resta et is currently the

fastest. Force India are one and two at the moment. Nico Rosberg

fastest now. We are talking about how Force India are looking good. A

reasonable opening up their from Rosberg. We have seen a lot of

locking up from the McLaren. Great to see these cars bouncing over the

kerbs. Again, a lock up. And then this long drag down in to turn

number 12. Nice and tidy as he builds his way through understeer

through 14. Then the next big decision, when to brake into 17.

Heat gets away with it. Hamilton has been the top qualifier this

year in terms of qualifying performance, not always grid

position. He has been a top three qualifying driver in every race

this year. He just has to beat in the top 10 in this session. Jensen

Button is on a better lap than Lewis Hamilton. It all comes down

to this last sector. Third-fastest for Jensen Button. Felipe Massa

trying to get into that top 10, he is only on 14th at the moment.

No sign Bob Heikki Kovalainen coming out yet, he may not bother.

Heikki Kovalainen on track. It is all about saving your tyres for at

the race? I think he will just accept that he cannot do much more

at then 17. But I would be surprised if he did not go out for

one little run on the soft tyres. Perhaps they just decided to save

the tyres. It is a good thing to do it if you're one of the smaller

teams, to go out when the track is quieter. Commercially, you need air

time as well to get the investment. The circuit drops away a little bit

into the apex fare so it does not do as much damage as you would

imagine. But of course the next time around, it finds that same hot

spot. And is more likely to lock. Grosjean in the top ten. If you

look at the top 10 right now and say, who does not deserve to be

there based on the fact that we would expect Pastor Maldonado,

Fernando Alonso, to be in their, who will buy the three in the top

10 currently that are the most likely? This is all about the

incredible season we're having this year, so many guys have shown and

delivered great qualifying performances. We are going to see

differences and in some senses this is the most difficult part of

qualifying, to get into that top 10. Look at the margins there on the

graphic. Hundreds separate the cars. I think it sums up just how

competitive Formula 1 is this year. It is very tight indeed. His Nico

Rosberg going to come back out with that time he has done already?

Fernando Alonso has a personal best in the first sector and not far off

the best of all. But he will want more than just to be in the top 10.

He might be just down on Rosberg's best. Has he found something

special in this last sector? He is just 6th fastest. The current

president of Ferrari showing no favouritism there!

They have got great pace this weekend. They managed to develop

lightly in his last sector. If he can deliver it again now it should

secure his place in the top 10. No traffic ahead. Run for the line.

qualified well in Canada. He goes second fastest just behind Nico

Rosberg. That should put him into part of the lap, he could just make

the top 10, but he will not challenge the time we've just seen

from Paul di Resta. Massa is also on track in the Ferrari. Kovalainen

is still not coming out to play. Felipe Massa moving up. Maldonado

in fifth place. That might be enough for him. 1:38.5. We are on

board with Massa. Top five are all on a 38.5, incredibly close.

Astonishing. Massa is trying to get there. He is in 12th place, not

enough! The clock is ticking. He may well be running out of time.

These guys are trying to find tap - - track position. Massa is only

two-tenths from pole position and he is in 12th place. Tell me I'm

not imagining things! Incredible. Ricky Adar is out of his car.

Vettel is currently in tenth place. Vettel is not safe on his 1:38.7.

The times are so very, very close to one another. Grosjean has just

set a new fastest first sector. He is in 11th place. On board with

Vettel. Pole position winner here for the last two years. This is

right on the cusp. It comes down to the last sector. He is green in

both these sectors so he is on a better lap, but he is currently

about two-tenths down, maybe slightly less, on the current

fastest runner. That is right on the cusp of not going through to

the next section. He is third. 1:38.5. He goes ahead of Raikkonen.

Grosjean could still move up and that would push Alonso down. Alonso

is in trouble because he is currently in tenth place. Grosjean

is on a very quick lap. He has missed a bit in the middle sector.

That might give Alonso some breathing space. I don't think

Perez will threaten Alonso. Perez is not into the top 10. What about

Grosjean? He lost a bit of time on the lap. He goes fastest! Where did

that come from? Grosjean has pushed along so out of the top 10. Michael

Schumacher we are with now. Desperately trying to get into the

top 10. This is his last attempt. He is wide. Can he do it? Personal

best in the middle sector. No! Michael is out. Rosberg was second,

Michael 12th. Massa, 8 hundredths slower than Alonso. You can't say

that Massa hasn't up his game. Today, in a remarkable middle part

of qualifying, the run to get into the top 10 is 0.22 of the second.

That has to be one of thickos list -- closes qualifying sessions.

of the Ferraris are out. Michael Schumacher is gone. Senna is out,

as is Perez. And Kovalainen and Ricciardo. That shows you how

dramatic Formula One is at the moment. Hundredths of a second

preventing drivers going through. If that was Q2, stairway Wharfe of

Q3. The Ferrari doesn't quite limp Q3. The Ferrari doesn't quite limp

back, but it was not flying. Disappointing for that team.

much for the pushing and cajoling by their President. I don't think

it worked particularly well. That is one of the worst performances we

have seen in qualifying from Ferrari for a long time.

situation we are in it after qualifying, one of the Red Bulls

gone, one of the Mercedes gone. We have the likes of Sauber, Lotus and

Force India still in the fight for pole position. It is just theatre

at the highest level. You can't get your breath. We are redundant in

this job at the moment. There's no such thing as a punter, we don't

know what's going on! Absolutely fascinating stuff. You're never

redundant eight back I am redundant. How will Mark Webber feel? A little

bit of tonic with the Ferraris. He wants to put the weekend out of his

mind and salvage a couple of points. Nevertheless, he has a car where he

doesn't understand what is going on with it, and neither does his team.

But the whole effort is happening. We thought Red Bull would be flying.

This qualifying is not finished yet, but the gauntlet has been thrown

down. Red Bull are not the team they thought they were going to be

this weekend. It is not finished for Vettel, but it is finished for

Webber. He starts in 19th place. Really disappointing to see you

standing here now. He had the soft tyre on, what went wrong? We had no

DRS. About 1.3 seconds. It makes it very difficult when you don't have

DRS. The car put up a big fight today, we only did four laps all

day. Three of those were in qualifying. One lap on the Prime at

the start. The gearbox and hydraulics were playing up. We were

in a desperate situation to get through. It is very tight. The lap

time wasn't too bad with the DRS out, but it doesn't do anything to

help the situation. Now we have to do what we can tomorrow. It is a

big hit for us in terms of this one and Barcelona, through no fault of

my own. That is the way it can go over 20 races. How does the driver

react to that kind of situation? You have got issues with your DRS,

which has cost him the chance to get into Q2. How will he deal with

that? We don't want to stop you, lads! The problem is, he will have

to sit down, sit with his engineers and work out why. What has happened

to the Diarra as? This is not the first time they have had problems

with this. They were one of the last scenes to sort out DRS and

KERS. -- teams. Red Bull should be above this, they shouldn't have

this problem. Just to make it clear how close to tears, Michael

Schumacher out in Q2, less than three-tenths behind his team-mate

Nico Rosberg. Let's speak to a man with a smile on his face. Heikki

Kovalainen. The celebration, almost like you had won the Grand Prix.

What does it mean for you and the team to start in 16th place and

make it through to the second part of qualifying? It shows that the

effort everybody has put in it is paying off. We were targeting

higher and we were not happy with the beginning of the season, but

I'm very happy that everybody has kept their heads down and kept

working on the issues. It seems to be working. This is what we have to

carry on tomorrow and the next few races. The first time we are really

challenging the teams ahead of us. I'm very happy for everybody in the

team. Can we expect to see this on a frequent basis? Every race? You

have promised great things and we want to see you deliver them.

Absolutely. We still want to be cautious, but today was a genuine

performance. This circuit is not like Monte Carlo where you can

maybe sneak a good one in. Here, everybody is performing at their

maximum level and as a team we are working better than some of the

teams ahead of us. We still need to put more performance in the car,

but I hope this is a genuine trend. Bigger updates coming for

Silverstone as well. Is this the start of the resurgence of

Caterham? Hopefully. We need to wait and see how everything works

out. This weekend we have new parts and they are working. We have had

them in the past and they have not always worked. We shouldn't worry

about it too much yet. We are on the right track and what I see from

the team, we are focusing on the right areas. Thank you,

congratulations. You start in 16th place. Let's chat to David

Coulthard and Ben Edwards. Let's take the money -- Felipe Massa as

one example of a driver who has not qualified as well this season as in

previous years. It tends to be an example of how close to tears. If

you stay still, you have gone backwards. That's right. He is

eight hundredths slower than Fernando Alonso. The times are so

close. Can you say that Massa is no good because he's only eight

hundredths slower than Alonso? We have to think about a one

under way and it looks as though Kimi Raikkonen will be first out on

track. Pastor Maldonado following him out. Lotus are in good shape

because we believe Jimmy has two sets of the soft tyres still

available. We think Nico Rosberg has similar and may be Kobayashi as

well. Most of the others will have one set of the new softer tyre to

go out on. They might go out on a used set first. Gary, it will be

tricky. Having another set of soft tyres available has to be a big

advantage. Yes, that second set allows you to do two runs on new

tyres. Hulkenberg has gone out on a harder tyre for a lap. I think he

wants to use his new tyre after he has done a balance changed on the

front wing. A lot of time to do two runs around here. Two new sets of

tyres as the luxury of. I'm not sure about Kobayashi, whether he

has got one set or two sets. would not be surprised if Rosberg

tried to do one run and saved a set of options for the race. We will

keep an eye on what the strategy is this afternoon. We know qualifying

is very important this season. Nobody has won from lower down than

fourth place on the grid. With these high track temperatures and a

reasonable spread between the tyres, strategy could be crucial. Kimi

Raikkonen will have an eye on pole position glory. He might use both

his sets. You never know. Raikkonen enjoying the handling of the Lotus.

Back in Formula One this year, one of our six world champions on the

grid. One of two world champions yet to win a race this year. He and

Michael Schumacher, of course, joined a band of seven that have

won races this season. -- not joined. Turn one it is nothing,

really. Flat through there. Turn two is a bit more tricky, but he

spotted his braking well. The director decided a bit of pit lane

action will be more exciting than on track. We can question what he

might have been drinking! Back with what we want to see, a bit of track

action. The green flag being waved so it is the beginning of the

session. Common practice for the marshals to remind the race

director that they are still awake. A tidy laps so far from Raikkonen.

A reasonable first sector, 26.1. He has just been beaten by Rosberg,

26.0. We will watch the rest of the lap. We are not seeing any lock-ups

from Raikkonen. He has been a little bit slower than I was

suggesting. Maybe his team-mate is the man most likely to get

everything out of his Lotus this afternoon. As the track temperature

continues to grow, it is 46 degrees, air temperature 26 degrees, you

sometimes get the car coming in and out of an operating window. Let's

see if Raikkonen ends up with a smile on his face at the end of

this qualifying session. He has qualified best a fourth this year,

in China and Spain. He has had a couple of podium finishes as well.

We are still looking for that first victory on his comeback. Rosberg is

going quicker. Raikkonen sets the Mitchell pace. But Rosberg is

lapping faster. A bit of a lock-up from Rosberg! This is looking like

a good lap. He goes fastest, 1:38.6. And what can Hamilton do? I don't

think he is quite as fast but where will this put the McLaren? Hamilton

is in second, Button crosses the line, he does second! Button faster

than Hamilton! Jenson Button had a big debrief after the Canadian

Grand Prix and adopted some of the set up that Hamilton has been using.

Michael Schumacher is smiling. I doubt very much he is happy with

12th place. A lot to play for tomorrow. A replay of Maldonado

getting on the kerb in the last corner. An example of how not to do

it. He comes in the pits as a result. End of that lap for

Maldonado. We have only got four times having been set so far.

could have been a case of being how great you can be in keeping your

DRS Open and that is an example of a step too far for Maldonado. He

got on the kerb, which would have destabilised the car. We thought --

we saw Rosberg locking. That put him off line slightly in to turn 25.

I expect more time to come from McLaren trailing the Mercedes the

little bit. Have they got more to Pastor Maldonado going out on a new

set of the softer tyres. This is the big chance for him now.

Interesting that before he left the pits, they go through and the

procedure of finding the clutch biting point but it just seems to

me that that uses up vital seconds when you're sitting there in

qualifying. As a driver and I think I would say let us just get the car

out as quickly as possible. Gary, what is your prediction for pole

position time's based on what we have seen so far, I have got no

idea! It is just so close. Grosjean did a 38.48. Here comes Grosjean.

Let us watch as he goes for it here. He made his Formula 1 debut on this

very track. It was a difficult season for him but he has come back

with some mighty performances so far this year. He was nice and

early on the power on the exit of the second turn. He is fastest of

the second turn. He is fastest of all on that first sector. There's

still some time to be found there. But the opening of this lap not

looking too bad for him. He is avoiding those lock ups.

Let us see how this has affected this middle sector. Three-times

done it on the overall best from the previous part of qualifying. --

three times down. But it is still going to be close, if he can get a

good final sector as he did in Q2. Grosjean is quickest! Is that their

own to be enough for pole position? So the middle sector, he is leaving

some of that time behind. He is fastest of all in the first and the

last sectors which are quite contrasting sectors. So that shows

that the Lotus car is performing very well both at low and at high

there. That was Jensen Button making way for Pastor Maldonado.

Good, professional driving. A bit of traffic from Nico Rosberg,

hopefully that will not cost him too much. Pastor Maldonado quickest.

But Paul di Resta and has just set the fastest Mid sector time for the

Force India. It would be incredible if this could put him up into the

top three. It is seventh for him. A poor last sector there from Paul.

Let us see what Nico Hulkenberg can do it in this sister car? And he is

4th fastest, still a great effort for Force India.

Look at the time that Sebastian Vettel is doing! Half a second

faster than anyone else at just over the halfway point of the lap.

It all comes down to braking in this last corner. That is looking

so good. He is trying to take his third pole position here on the

bonanza street circuit. He goes fastest, four-tenths fastest than

anyone else. Lewis Hamilton now the second

quickest. The same as it was in Montreal. But perhaps Jensen Button

can change that? No, he is down in eighth place. A disappointing end

to the lap for Jensen Button. I think that is everybody. It is

Sebastian Vettel Fu has taken pole position. But Williams are happy

because Pastor Maldonado has qualified in third place. But

Sebastian Vettel has indeed match the greats, Alain Prost and Jim

Clarke, 33 Courier poll victories and he has done it in style while

everyone else was fighting, he took it fight over 3.5 tenths of a

second. In the end it came down to having the confidence in the

braking areas. So many of the cars were struggling and it just takes

away that confidence when you run at a very high speed. Such a young

man and a great record that you mentioned, matching the other

greats of the sport. A great performance for Williams and Pastor

Maldonado. He has only been in the top 10 on one other occasion. So he

has delivered on that promise. And do not forget that Lewis Hamilton

won at Caradak in spite of Sebastian Vettel been fastest in

qualifying. -- at Canada. That was a Challenge, thank you!

Sebastian Vettel's third pole position of the 2012 season. It is

all very close behind. Lotus in 4th and 5th position. Kobayashi is

superb 7th. Jensen Button will be a little disappointed with the 9th

position. The big surprise of course was Mark

Webber with problems with his car, starting down in 19th position.

Timo Glock unwell, he did not take part in qualifying. But this man

did come as Sebastian Vettel. Congratulations to him. 33 bull

positions in his young career. -- pole position us. This man loves to

break records. Well they made a strategic change

in the set-up of the car. He made reference to that on the radio. I'm

sure Mark Webber would like to know what that was. But to actually get

pole position by that margin, that is remarkable. The driver is being

weighed. Lewis Hamilton looking a little wilful, and well he might.

The idea was, let us get pole position but whatever else, I have

to make sure I'm in the front row. We know what happened in Canada and

he is looking for a repeat performance. And what does it mean

for Pastor Maldonado? Well we thought this was just a one-off

thing when he won the race. He was doing some impetuous things. I was

asking if he would ever find his form again? He has certainly found

it now. And the Williams car is very good. Paul di Resta made it

very good. Paul di Resta made it through at the final part of

qualifying. Congratulations. You start the race in 10th place. I

suppose we all thought there was a little more speed in the car?

think there was, I hold my hands after that. It locked up on 17. I

made a mistake when the car had a lot of potential which is a bit

gutting. But at the end of the date you have to be a bit on the edge. I

have a lot of work to do tomorrow. Great to think you're disappointed

by making it through to the third part of qualifying. But during that

mid-section, you were the fastest at that stage. We were all on the

edge of our seats, we thought you would get pole position. What

happened? Well, we probably lost a 10th of a second in the first

sector just trying a bit too much. But you always go into qualifying

on the edge and I just locked of wheel going into turn 17. It seems

to be a bit of a bogey in qualifying. But I'll take the

positives and reflect on that. positive is you have got good pace

in the car. We look forward to seeing him performing tomorrow. And

of course the British Grand Prix in a couple of weeks' time. Sebastian

Vettel the fastest man followed by Lewis Hamilton and Pastor Maldonado.

Red Bull will be happy to be on pole position. But it was a sweet

and sour question for them. A fantastic lap. You got the poll

position by Ford tense. It was remarkable. It was all about

stringing the perfect flat together and that was unbelievable from

Sebastian. He was inch-perfect. And the margin he got in the end

surprised all of us. But it is the same front row as it was in

Montreal. We have to try to make it stick tomorrow. And Mark Webber had

a problem with the DRS? We had a hydraulics issue with that which

meant to be -- meant that he could not use it. But he can be a

contender tomorrow for several points, for sure. We will keep

pushing and try to convert that into a big result. I think tomorrow

is supposed to be hotter again, track temperatures of something

like 50 degrees. So looking after the tyres is going to be critical.

It will be critical to make sure we do not oh we used the tyres. Good

luck for tomorrow. We have got people St Lotus will be

faster in the hot conditions. All eyes on Red Bull and forced India

who just appear and slap all that down. Well done to Sebastian. We

did not speak too much about him. Perhaps it is a bit like the

English football team, not too much expected but they provide the big

form at the end. Let us hear from Jensen Button. Out qualified by his

team-mate at every race so far this season for a DUP -- this season.

Are you scratching your head? really, it was how it was. The last

run in qualifying I had a massive amount of front locking. I just

could not slowed the car down. That is it, really. It will be an

interesting race tomorrow, quite a lot of the big names further back

down the grid. It is a long race here and a lot can happen. We're in

Valencia at! Not a lot happens here in the race. You cannot overtake

around here. And I think if you get it right on the strategy, maybe.

But the way that the tyres seem to hold on for most people, it is not

going to be the most exciting race I have ever seen. Perhaps the Lotus

could move up. We will tell the viewers to tune in anyway and

Mark Webber in 19th place, Massa in 13th, she Mackin 12th, Button 9th

and what of Fernando Alonso? Second was qualifying of the season and he

starts 11th. It was so tight. I'm sure going out

in Q2 was not what you hoped for. Definitely. Sad for not reaching Q3.

But that was the way it was today. Unfortunately we were not fast

enough. But the races tomorrow, hopefully we can score some good

points. We will see how the positions are at the end. What was

the Ferrari lacking? Was it just not fast enough? Yes, lacking top

speed on the long straights. We were two-tenths from pole position

so being that close you need a bit of luck as well. It can make a

completely different thing. Today we did not get the luck. Blaming

luck! Updates to the front wing, update to the floor, to the exhaust.

Fernando Alonso said he was delighted with the improvements

Ferrari had made. He will now know for sure the other teams got more

improvements. It is a big catch-up game for Ferrari yet again. They

just leave it too late to often. We all know what a star Alonso is. He

should not be outside the top 10. It is set up as it was in Canada.

Vettel from Hamilton. Tomorrow, keep your eyes on Pastor Maldonado.

Congratulations, Sebastian, a third pole position in a row at this race

and any one flying lap in Q3 to do it. Yes! I had one shot at the end

which turned out to be a very good lap and I was very happy. But Q1

and Q2 were not to our liking. We were struggling to find the balance

that we had earlier on this weekend. But a good recovery throughout

qualifying. Unfortunately we had to put on the second set of options in

Q2. It was the right call because it was very tight. My time would

not have been good enough with the first set. It was good to go again.

But in the last qualifying, I knew that if the track came in a little

bit more, tying de Laet together, it should be good enough to have a

look at pole position. In the end it was a surprising gap, but the

boys have been working incredibly hard in the garage, all of the

people in the factory as well, to make sure we bring a couple of new

parts to the car. They seem to work and I am looking forward to the

race tomorrow. Lewis, a front row for you. Sebastien said there was a

surprising gap in the end. Did you expect it to be much closer at the

end of Q3? I expected to be a lot further back. I struggled with set

up and going into Q3 to qualify and we had to make some guesses as to

what set-up we wanted to change. It seemed to work OK. Really, really

surprised, the guy's obviously did a good job, as always, to give me a

good gap. While the car still felt pretty good, the gap is still quite

big. It will be a tough race. that just the way it is in 2012?

You go from winning one Reece and then the next one you struggle. --

race. I think so. It appeared so when we first started practising

here yesterday. But generally, you look at the grid, because it is so

hot, you know that the Lotuses look massively competitive. I think they

will be the ones to watch out for tomorrow. I'm sure the Ferraris

will be quick on the long run as well. Who knows what will happen

tomorrow. We have to look after our tyres in tricky conditions. 2012 is

certainly unpredictable! One thing is for sure, you quite like Spain!

I think we've been working so hard. The car has been quite quick from

yesterday. We were struggling a bit with the option tyres. We were a

bit confused because the car was not the same. I didn't feel the

same feeling with the prime tyres. But then we have been working so

hard, trying to understand what happened in the car this morning,

still struggling, especially with the option tyres. Here we are. I

think we did a pretty good job. Williams is getting better and

better every time. I am pretty happy for the team, pretty happy

for my country and that is going to be a great opportunity to get the

job done. A good result for Williams in qualifying. This is the

Let's find out how the race will shape up. What do you think about

tomorrow? Looking at the tyres data we have got, I am sure a two-stop

strategy is the best solution. Some people will do a three, but we

thought a one stop in Montreal was good. With 25 Corners, one is not

the way to go. Get rid of the soft tyres as early as possible. Thank

you. It is so difficult to call the race because it has been so close

today. The weather can play a big part. I've just a sneaking feeling

that we might have the 8th winner in the eighth race. Romain Grosjean.

He is looking very dangerous, very quick, possibly should have had

pole position. He is looking very strong. Overtaking is not easy here.

He looks so good. The way he controls the car, even when it

steps away from him, he gets it back together. He has matured

enormously this season. Have you enjoyed that qualifying session? I

had a naysayer on twittered saying qualifying never delivers, but it

delivered today. For the first time, we've had some relative consistency.

The same qualifying as we had in the previous race. Maybe There's a

trend coming. David thought Sebastian would get pole position,

but I would not rule out Lewis. There's more Formula One coming

We will return tomorrow. A full weekend of live Formula One on the

It is a year of new faces and new records being broken. And despite