2007 JAPANESE GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton will start
Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix at the Fuji Speedway from
his fifth Formula 1 career pole position. In Saturday’s
difficult qualifying with a wet track and poor visibility,
Lewis put in a time of 1m25.368. Fernando Alonso qualified
second fastest with 1m25.438 and made it the fifth all Vodafone
McLaren Mercedes front row of the year.
Qualifying Session One: Qualifying Session Two: Qualifying
Session Three:
Lewis: 10 laps, best 1m25.489 (4th) 9 laps, best 1m24.753
(1st ) 11 laps, best 1m25.368 (1st)
Fernando: 6 laps, best 1m25.379 (2nd) 10 laps, best 1m24.806
(2nd) 11 laps, best 1m25.438 (2nd)
LEWIS HAMILTON
“A very good qualifying for me and also the team. I
really like the Fuji circuit. We looked strong already yesterday
during practice when it was dry. Obviously today’s wet
conditions made it a very challenging session particularly
as this morning’s free practice had been cancelled –
this makes today’s result even more satisfying. The
car ran perfectly, and the team has done a great job in making
sure we were as prepared as possible. My final lap was quite
good. I managed to improve my style in a couple of corners
which made a difference but lost a little bit of time in the
exit of the last corner. Today’s pole position is important,
but tomorrow is when it counts.”
FERNANDO ALONSO
“Today’s qualifying was OK for me. Of course,
pole position would have been better, but I am satisfied to
start from the front row which will be a good basis for the
race. I have always liked driving in the wet, so I enjoyed
today’s qualifying. It’s very challenging, and
I think it will be an exciting race tomorrow as our main competitors
are incredibly close and have been both in the dry and wet
conditions. The Bridgestone wet tyre has been working well
for us today. Obviously I will do what I can to take the lead
but also be sensible as it’s not in anybody’s
interest not to finish the race. I am happy with the team’s
performance, and the work we have done so far this weekend
and look forward to the race tomorrow.”
RON DENNIS
“A great result in today’s qualifying for the
team with Lewis and Fernando occupying the front row. Both
did a great job in these challenging conditions and are happy
with their cars. The team, both here in Japan and back at
base, has put in a lot of effort in preparing for these final
three races and I am pleased that all our hard work seems
to be paying off. However the race is where it counts, but
today’s result has provided us with the best possible
basis for either Lewis or Fernando tomorrow.”
NORBERT HAUG
“Probably one of the most exciting qualifying sessions
this season with Lewis and Fernando achieving the optimum
result for the team in most difficult conditions when it is
very easy to get it wrong. With a gap of seven hundredths
of a second between these two, it was very close indeed. The
fifth all Vodafone McLaren Mercedes front row and a total
of seven pole positions is quite a good balance for this season.
I expect a close fight for tomorrow’s race; however,
we had fast and consistent laps in Friday’s free practice
and a sound basis for the race tomorrow.”
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