Australian Grand Prix – Qualifying session
Session Driver Pos. Time Laps Driver Pos. Time Laps
Q1 RAI 1st 1.26.644 3 MAS 5th 1.26.712 3
Q2 RAI 4th 1.25.644 3 MAS 16th - 3
Q3 RAI 1st 1.26.072 11 - - - -
Chassis: F. Massa 261, K. Raikkonen 260
Weather: air temperature 22/20 °C, track temperature 35/37
°C, dry track, clear skies.
First race of the season and first pole position for Scuderia
Ferrari Marlboro, courtesy of Kimi Raikkonen, making his debut
as a Maranello team driver in a Grand Prix. This is the seventh
time a Ferrari driver starts the Australian Grand Prix from
pole and the 187th in the history of the Prancing Horse in
Formula 1. For Kimi, this was his twelfth career pole.
Jean Todt: “A bitter sweet start to
the first weekend of the 2007 Championship. On the one hand
there is satisfaction with pole for our new arrival, Kimi
Raikkonen, while on the other hand, disappointment because
of the gearbox problem that affected Felipe Massa in Q2. Up
to that point, he had driven impeccably all weekend. Today,
Ferrari showed it has the potential to be a front runner on
a day that confirmed the pecking order we had seen during
winter testing. The key parameters for the race are now reduced
to three- strategy, reliability and performance - given that
everyone has the same Bridgestone tyres. Today, we had the
performance but not the reliability. Now we have to work out
how to get the most out of the sporting regulations, particularly
the one concerning usage of the two types of tyre.”
Kimi Raikkonen: “A great qualifying,
but a shame for Felipe who was not able to get the sort of
result he should have done. I think our car is more competitive
in race trim than over a single lap. Usually here the race
can be full of incidents so it’s impossible to know
what could happen. If all goes the way it should, then we
have a good chance, but it will be important to pick up as
many points as possible. Tonight? I will sleep well, as always.
Am I worried about Felipe’s gearbox problem? You can
never be a hundred percent sure, but I am certain the team
will do everything it can to make sure that I have a car in
the best possible shape.”
Felipe Massa: “What happened in qualifying
with the gearbox was a shame, given the good car we had and
the strong performance yesterday and today. So, we have to
hope that this is the first and last time it happens this
season. Tomorrow, my main aim will be to bring the car to
the finish, trying to move up the order as much as possible.
I am still confident because I know we have a car that is
very good in terms of race pace. Of course it will be difficult
to finish in the top places, but I will give it my best to
at least try and finish in the points, going for every opportunity
that comes my way.”
Luca Baldisserri: “A great qualifying
from Kimi, straight to pole on his debut with us. His car
performed faultlessly as was his driving. However, we are
very disappointed for Felipe who, because of a gearbox problem,
was pretty much unable to take part in qualifying. Already,
at the end of free practice we had seen that there was a faulty
component on the F2007’s gearbox and, as a precaution
it was changed. Unfortunately, the problem reoccurred, which
forced him to stop at the side of the track. Now we must look
at the situation carefully to see how to remedy it and to
try and make the best of Felipe’s start position which
is definitely not up to our expectations. As for Kimi, we
will try to make the most of pole position, in the knowledge
that we can expect a tough race, where reliability, strategy
and team work will be, as usual, crucial.”
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