2008 German Grand Prix Qualifying and Final Free Practice
Report
Adrian Sutil (car 20, VJM01/02):
FP3: 17th 1:16.938 (20 laps)
Q1: 19th 16.657 (10 laps)
Giancarlo Fisichella (car 21, VJM01/05):
FP3: 19th 1:17.312 (22 laps)
Q1: 20th 1:16.963 (10 laps)
The Force India Formula One Team will start tomorrow's German
Grand Prix with Adrian Sutil and Giancarlo Fisichella in 19th
and 20th positions respectively following a tough Qualifying
today at the Hockenheimring.
Rain fell in the minutes before the start, however eased
up just before the session got underway. In the subsequent
dry, but very windy conditions, the Force India duo completed
three runs in the first 20 minute segment of the session,
however their fastest laps were hampered; Adrian's by understeer
through the final turn that sent him wide, and Giancarlo's
by traffic.
The team will now look to tomorrow's 67 lap Grand Prix for
an upturn of fortune with its improved race pace performance.
Adrian Sutil (car 20)
'I'm a bit disappointed to be honest with this qualifying
as I think we could have done a bit better. My second run
was looking good, the car felt well balanced and I was comfortable,
but then I ran a little bit wide on the last corner going
into the straight and lost a couple of tenths. My last run
was not so good as the balance had changed a little, but I
did improve a bit, just not enough. It's a shame, but as we
look better in race conditions we will see for tomorrow.'
Giancarlo Fisichella (car 21)
'We did three runs today, and on my fastest lap I hit some
traffic in the last sector and couldn't record the time I
think we could have done round here, so I'm quite disappointed.
Of course we don't know what's going to happen in the race
tomorrow, there are some overtaking possibilities at this
track so we can try and make up some places like this.'
Mike Gascoyne, chief technical officer
'Giancarlo struggled really for balance all day and the windier
conditions in qualifying upset the car a little bit, while
Adrian had similar problems and ran wide on one of his quicker
laps. We did expect to be closer to the group in front, but
once again we know we have a stronger race pace relative to
the others so we have to look for more tomorrow.'
Dr. Vijay Mallya, chairman and managing director
'Throughout the season we have never demonstrated a good qualifying
pace, however we have always shown a good race pace. I'm therefore
looking forward to showing this tomorrow.'
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