2006 Bahrain Grand Prix - Qualifying
2006 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX, SAKHIR, 10-11-12 MARCH
FREE PRACTICE & QUALIFYING
Drivers Car No. Chassis
Rubens Barrichello 11 RA106-03
Jenson Button 12 RA106-04
T-car RA106-01
Weather Overcast, cool and windy
Temperatures Free Practice Air: 20-27°C Track: 29-34
Qualifying Air: 20-27°C
Track: 30-33
The Honda Racing F1 Team's Jenson Button was the third fastest
driver today in the first of the new-for-2006 knock-out style
qualifying sessions in Bahrain. At the end of an action-packed
hour of fevered activity in the garage and on the racetrack,
Jenson posted a time just 0.10 secs behind pole position and
declared the new qualifying format a success, despite missing
out on a front row grid slot.
His new team-mate Rubens Barrichello was less happy with
the set-up the car in the qualifying hour and will start tomorrow's
57 lap Bahrain Grand Prix form the third row of the grid.
JENSON BUTTON
Free Practice 3 Position: 1st Fastest lap time:
1:31.857
Qualifying Position: 3rd Lap time:
1:31.549
"I'm reasonably happy with third place. We had a good
qualifying strategy but it was difficult to be consistent
and get good clean runs because of the track conditions. The
wind was an issue again today but it was gusting in a different
direction to yesterday, so the track was still a bit of an
unknown quantity. Looking at how the new qualifying panned
out, for me it was very exciting. It was non-stop for me in
the car and it must have been great for the fans watching
at home. Traffic is always an issue with this format but we'll
get used to it I'm sure and I think the team did a great job
of handling what must have been a very pressured session.
On to tomorrow now when we'll see how everyone's fuel strategies
play out. It should be a great race and I'm looking forward
to it."
RUBENS BARRICHELLO
Free Practice 3 Position: 12th Fastest lap time:
1:34.009
Qualifying Position: 6th Lap time:
1:32.579
"I think it was okay to be 6th today because I was struggling
big time with the set-up of the car through yesterday and
this morning. We analysed the problem earlier today and we
felt sure there was room for improvement, so we changed things
for qualifying and it was a little better. Now we just need
to see what the race brings tomorrow."
GIL DE FERRAN, SPORTING DIRECTOR
"From where we were standing this must have been one
of the most exciting and tense sessions we experienced to
date! It all started early with the red flag in Q1, that forced
us to quickly adapt our running plan to ensure we were going
to make it to the last elimination round, which we did and
came very close to being on the front row. Jenson had to contend
with traffic and did a great job fighting for pole all the
way. Rubens wasn't entirely happy with the balance of his
car, nevertheless is in a good position on the third row.
Although we just went through our first qualifying session
of the year, there are still a lot of unknowns in terms of
strategy for tomorrow. As we said prior to the event, we look
forward to the race when the picture will become much clearer!"
SHUHEI NAKAMOTO, ENGINEERING DIRECTOR, HONDA RACING
DEVELOPMENT "The new qualifying format was an
interesting challenge! Both drivers showed their experience
and did a calm and solid job. Until the other teams' fuel
loads become clear tomorrow in the race it's hard to make
a prediction, but I think we are in quite good shape. The
engine is running well and we're looking forward to the race."
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