2007 Spanish Grand Prix Qualifying Report
Adrian Sutil (car 20, F8-VII/03):
FP3: 21st 1:23.584 (22 laps)
Q1: 20th 1:23.811 (8 laps)
Christijan Albers (car 21, F8-VII/01):
FP3: 22nd 1:23.584 (22 laps)
Q1: 21st 1:23.990 (8 laps)
Weather: FP1: Highs of 25 C track / 32 C ambient. Q: 27 C
/ 39. Again, blue skies and scorching sunshine
The Etihad Aldar Spyker Formula One Team has completed Qualifying
for the Spanish Grand Prix, the first European race of the
season, with Adrian Sutil setting the 20th fastest time and
Christijan Albers just 0.2secs behind in 21st.
After honing the set-up in the third and final practice session,
both drivers were optimistic of qualifying closer to the tail
end of the field, however both Christijan's runs were slowed
by traffic and later an off in Turn 9 on his final flying
lap. Completing two runs on the medium tyres, Christijan set
a best time of 1:23.990 to start tomorrow's race on the final
row of the grid.
Adrian set his fastest time on his final lap of the day on
the medium Bridgestone Potenza tyres. Despite reporting reduced
grip levels in the first part of the 15-minute Qualifying
segment, the 24-year-old German was happier with the balance
of his car as the session progressed and recorded a best of
1:23.811.
The 66-lap Spanish Grand Prix will start tomorrow at 14:00
local time.
Mike Gascoyne, chief technical officer
'Both drivers had slightly less grip than in this morning's
session but did a reasonable job and were happy with the balance
of the car. The session really reflects where we are - we
need to find a second in the wind tunnel to be in the group
ahead. The good thing, however, is that the group is very
competitive and if you join it you can qualify in the top
ten. That's what we need to do in the second half of the season,
but for now, we're just looking forward to a solid race to
finish off a very solid weekend.'
Adrian Sutil (car 20)
'With all the rubber laid down in the support races the track
conditions had changed slightly and I had a lot of oversteer
and lost a couple of tenths on the first outing. For the second
lap, the balance and grip levels were much better for our
car and I managed to get a good lap. Of course conditions
may change for tomorrow again so the first 10 to 15 laps will
be hard, but I want to have a clean first lap without any
incidents in the first corner and hopefully stay with the
other cars in front.'
Christijan Albers (car 21)
'That was the worst Qualifying of my life with traffic. On
the first outing I made some mistakes and I felt I could go
quicker. Then I couldn't do much with the second outing at
all because of the traffic. It didn't really matter that I
went off in T9 on my final flying lap as I had already lost
about seven tenths in the first sector. It's a shame as I
think I could be quicker. I felt good in the car, the balance
is good, we just have to hope for more tomorrow.'
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