2008 SPAIN GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING
Lewis Hamilton MP4-23 04
Heikki Kovalainen MP4-23 03
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Heikki
Kovalainen will start Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona
from fifth and sixth positions on the grid respectively. In
the third part of Saturday's qualifying, Lewis set a time
of 1m22.096 whilst Heikki's time was 1m22.231.
Qualifying Session One: Qualifying Session Two: Qualifying
Session Three:
Lewis: 3 laps, 1:21.366 (4th) 5 laps, 1:20.825 (7th) 6 laps,
1:21.096 (5th)
Heikki: 3 laps, 1:21.430 (8th) 6 laps, 1:20.817 (6th) 6 laps
1:21.231 (6th)
LEWIS HAMILTON
"I am actually quite surprised that we are not higher
up the grid as the car felt very good, and I put in some strong
laps. Throughout qualifying one and two the car felt extremely
well balanced, but it’s so close which means that it
will be an exciting race tomorrow. Being on the third row
is not the end of the world as we are surrounded by good drivers
who all want to finish the race. The key is now to make a
strong start and hopefully gain a couple of positions, and
I am confident as I believe our race pace is competitive,
and we have a good strategy."
HEIKKI KOVALAINEN
"I didn’t expect to be on the third row as I thought
the last part of qualifying wasn’t too bad. However
the times are very close and with just a tiny bit more I would
have been able to gain a few positions, but that is life.
We will now dig deep, and tomorrow is another long day where
anything can happen. I don’t know if the lack of running
yesterday had any influence as the more laps you have the
more confident you are - but I don’t think it would
have made too much of a difference, and the team has done
a great job in getting the car ready and competitive. I believe
we should be able to go for it in the race tomorrow."
RON DENNIS
"Of course we would have preferred to be higher up the
grid, but from row three anything can happen. We are well
prepared, and I believe our strategy will prove competitive.
The race will be interesting as there are a number of drivers
capable of winning which is great for the fans, and I am sure
that Lewis, Heikki and the entire team will put in strong
performances."
NORBERT HAUG
"Positions five and six are not our dream result and
as less than three tenths are missing to pole position we
have to wait who of the four or five competitors ahead of
us are running how long in the first stint. Both Lewis and
Heikki feel confident in the car, our long runs during testing
produced consistent lap times, so the aim is to get better
positions tomorrow in the race than today in qualifying."
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