WEBBER INHERITS 6TH ON THE GRID FOR FRENCH RACE
By Ian Lockwood
June 21 2008
Having spent a difficult Friday making up the numbers in the second half of the field, Mark Webber recovered to qualify eighth fastest for the 70-lap French Grand Prix despite encountering traffic and a spinning Jarno Trulli on his timed laps during the hour long session. Although
Although he qualified eighth, Webber will actually start sixth tomorrow after inheriting two positions thanks to penalties metered out to both McLaren drivers. Lewis Hamilton who qualified third fastest has taken a 10-place hit for his traffic lights indiscretion in the last race in Montreal while team-mate Heikki Kovalainen has been hit with a five place penalty after impeding Mark in today’s Q1.
Webber’s lack of pace yesterday came as a complete surprise to both driver and team alike, especially after Red Bull Racing had completed a successful test at Barcelona last weekend and had been hoping to carry that progress forward this weekend. However, the team made the decision to change the set-up overnight and this morning Webber was back in more familiar territory, setting the second fastest time in final practice.
“It was a tough first day at Magny Cours yesterday,” admitted Webber, “we struggled quite a bit with the settings for the car at this track. Having used a few development items yesterday, we decided to go back on some of those changes and use settings we had a bit more confidence with, and straight away today we were back to a better pace.
“I’m very surprised to end up eighth still,” added Webber after qualifying, “We changed the set-up on my car overnight and also changed the engine which was very tired, so all that contributed to my better pace today. I’m still not overly rapped with the car though as this track has proved quite a difficult venue for me this year and I have no idea how we ended up being eighth fastest. But, now it’s even better; we’re sixth on the grid after the two McLaren drivers have been penalized - if we can get a good start, have clean pit-stops and still be there at the chequered flag, we should be able to take some points.”
Signs that all was not well in the Webber camp came early on Friday with Webber’s usual programme of long runs swapped for a series of six shorter runs, his best time of 1min 17.269s leaving him only 13th fastest. Things didn’t improve for the second session either, a best lap of 1min 17.106s leaving him 16th.
However, Saturday’s final practice saw an encouraging turn-around with Webber - after losing valuable running time with a bodywork problem - banging in a 1min 16.602s to go sixth fastest with half of the session completed. On his second and final run, he set a “purple” second sector time to record the second fastest time of 1min 15.759s and end the session just 9/1000ths shy of surprise pace-setter of Renault’s Nelson Piquet jnr.
Webber was quickly up to speed in qualifying, setting the fifth fastest time of 1min 16.020s behind the McLarens and Ferraris although he had ultimately slipped to eighth when he came out for his second and final run in the closing minutes of the session. He was two tenths up on his first sector time but the remainder of his lap was compromised by traffic, particularly so at the last chicane onto the start/finish straight when both Kazuki Nakajima and Heikki Kovalainen almost came to a standstill and snookered Webber; Kovalainen later receiving a five place penalty. Happily, Webber’s previous best was still enough for him to move through into Q2 in 13thplace.
The start of the second session saw Webber and Fernando Alonso trading “purple” sectors although Mark was to finish the session in sixth place with a best time of 1min 15.488s but safely through to Q3.
A spin by Jarno Trulli wasted Mark’s first timed run in Q3 so a good grid position all hinged on his second and final run. A 1min 17.233s pushed him up to sixth fastest before dropping back to eighth in the final moments of the session. Team-mate David Coulthard also made it through to Q3 and posted the ninth fastest time of 1min 17.426s although both Red Bull Racing drivers now move up to sixth and seventh respectively on tomorrow’s grid.
www.racingbulls.net
Quote:I think Kovalainen has been harshly treated here. Yes he did hold up Webber, but he really had nowhere to go. Perhaps punish him if it had led to Mark not getting into Q2, but as there was no damage done I think he should have been let off.
Sorry growler but i don't think it was harsh, because the penalty was not just for the blocking in Q1 but for the blocking in Q2 or Q3.
Kovi blocked Webber in Q2 or Q3 aswell as Q1!
However, I think this is a situation where you have to punish based on the "action" not the "consequences" of the action.
Although this situation seemed fairly clear cut, there may have been subtle consequences, such as the fact that, as result of having to abort a hot lap in Q1, Mark had to do another run in Q1, ruining a set of tyres that he was saving for Q2/Q3, or something similar. Also, there will be situations in the future where it will not be easy to determine if the infringement impaired another driver.
Also, if you don't punish this infringement, it will set a precedent that other teams/drivers will use to argue waiver of a punishment in future incidents. Much easier to avoid elements of doubt and apply consistent punishment, regardless of the consequences. This will teach drivers to watch out for other drivers at all times or face punishment.
Quote:I agree that the punishment seems a bit harsh based on the consequential outcome.
But Webber was blocked by Kovi in Q1 and Q2 or Q3
So penalty for Kovi is fair!
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:06:22:01:25:31 by -Whitey-.
Fingers crossed MW has a good race today and can pass Kovi in the Championship. If Nick H does not score any points then MW can start hunting him down in the Championship as well- lol I know dreaming but......
Quote:Sorry growler but i don't think it was harsh, because the penalty was not just for the blocking in Q1 but for the blocking in Q2 or Q3.
The penalty was issued purely for the Q1 incident. The FIA make no comments on anything in Q2 or 3.
My feeling that the penalty was harsh is not based on the fact that the outcome was OK, rather that there didn't really seem to be anywhere that Kovy could move to get out of Marks way, given the track positioning and the presence of two other cars (Nakajima was one & a Fifi??).
www.racingbulls.net
Quote:RuralVic
Looks like things are starting to fall apart at McLaren because of their rookie drivers. ... I'm sure his experience would be just what they need to get them back into winning ways.
Well firstly LH and HK are not rookie drivers.
And didn't McLaren win just two races ago?
Quote:RuralVic
Perhaps they should be trying to entice back that nice Scotsman who drove for them a year or so ago.
LOL... a year or so ago? Talk about being caught in a time bubble.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:06:22:11:58:52 by jez33.