2007 Belgian Grand Prix Qualifying Report
Adrian Sutil (car 20, F8-VII/03):
FP3: 18th 1:48.348 (18 laps)
Q1: 20th 1:48.044 (8 laps)
Sakon Yamamoto (car 21, F8-VII/04):
FP3: 21st 1:49.179 (14 laps)
Q1: 22nd 1:49.577 (5 laps)
The Etihad Aldar Spyker Formula One Team got tantalisingly
close to going into the second Qualifying segment for the
first time today at Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium. With the improvement
in pace gained from its new B-spec F8-VII, Adrian Sutil was
just 0.5secs from the vital 16th place and Q2.
Adrian had an extremely productive final free practice session,
completing final long run checks and set-up work. Setting
the 18th fastest time of the morning, the German looked set
to improve his time in Qualifying, but a small error on the
exit to the final chicane cost him that few vital tenths of
a second. He will start tomorrow's 44 lap race from 20th position.
Sakon Yamamoto had a more difficult day. A front left brake
disc failure sent him into the barriers on his last lap of
the morning's practice, but as only superficial damage was
done to the nosebox, technicians were able to get the Japanese
driver out again for Qualifying. Unfortunately his programme
was then interrupted by a call to the weighbridge and, with
the laps at Spa being the longest on the calendar at just
under two minutes, was only able to complete one flying lap.
Sakon will line up in 22nd position.
Adrian Sutil (car 20)
'Here with the B-spec we saw an improvement. We are quicker
on the straights and the downforce is much better through
the quicker corners. It was very close and in the end we dropped
down the order a little bit, but the car was definitely good
enough to take P18 or better. I just lost a little bit of
time by locking a wheel in the last chicane that cost a few
tenths but I can still be quite happy as it was the strongest
performance yet in Qualifying. We were really close to the
field and hopefully tomorrow we will have even more chance
of moving up the order.'
Sakon Yamamoto (car 21)
'Generally my day was disappointing. This morning I had a
brake problem and then I had to go out for my first run in
Qualifying with hard tyres to prepare the brakes. Then I came
in and lost some time on the scales. We had planned to go
out twice on the softer tyre but in fact we only had time
to do one run. It was a difficult session but tomorrow I will
do my best in the race and I know we can do better from our
results in the Friday practices.'
Mike Gascoyne, chief technical officer
'At last an exciting Qualifying session for us. I think we
were much closer to the rest of the field in this session
and it's just a shame that a very small mistake for Adrian
on the last corner cost us 18th place or higher. It shows
that we are now making real progress and we look forward to
tomorrow's race where traditionally we are stronger and look
to fight and beat some of the cars in front of us.'
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