Hungary 2009: Live Qualifying Notes

Hungary 2009: Live Qualifying Notes

Lasting approximately one hour, qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix shuld prove to be just as exciting as the other sessions this year. Scuderia Toro Rosso are debuting Jaime Alguersuari, and McLaren appear to have found some serious pace in the MP4-23, running well in all three practice sessions. Red Bull look strong and the rise in temperature should be helpful to Brawn and their tyres. This post details my notes from qualifying and helps me when I write up the report later in the afternoon.

  • BBC pay tribute to Henry Surtees. Brundle voiced the piece, himself a father of an F2 driver, Alex.
  • Rarely watch the first part of the BBC’s build-up, but it’s actually quite good.
  • And I’ve just noticed the addition to Alguersuari’s helmet. “Ciao Henry”.
  • All the talk this weekend is about young drivers. BBC showing footage from KF3 karts, and Jordan giving his opinion on testing, backing Massa’s thoughts on the in-season testing ban.
  • Jarno discusses his “mystifying” car, how he doesn’t know on a Thursday if it will be quick or slow. Also discussing his charity, Abruzzo nel Cuore.
  • Just heard Ron Dennis on the radio to Heikki Kovalainen after he won last year’s Hungarian Grand Prix: “Er, welcome the world of winning races.”
  • Just remembered why I don’t watch the early part of BBC’s build-up. Because I’m put off by the boring latter part.
  • Vettel’s racing Kate this weekend. He’s obviously dumped her dirty sister.
  • BBC make the classic mistake of staying the garage just prior to a session. We can’t hear you!

Q1

  • FIS, BUE and ALG first out.
  • Brundle says ALG should calm down on the steering wheel a little, and use more of the track. He seems to scared of the outside edges, but is learning quickly.
  • When did Agip change to Eni?
  • BUE on a 22.3, ALG on a 22.7.
  • Lots of work going on in Sutil’s garage. Car in several pieces/
  • BUE 21.8.
  • WEB out of shape at T2.
  • BUE still heading table.
  • RAI 21.6.
  • HAM P2.
  • VET P1 but horribly out of shape in the final turn.
  • RAI 21.5 and P1.
  • WEB P3.
  • WEB also sliding around final turn. Trying to stay on hard tyres.
  • ALG P15! Good on ya lad.
  • HEI running wide and kicking up the dust.
  • SUT still in pits.
  • Track is still green from rain last night, but it’s slowly getting grippier.
  • PIQ running wide. Hacksawing steering wheel. P18.
  • Tyres go on SUT’s car.
  • ROS in P4 is going again on softer compound. Obviously doesn’t feel that safe with the track improving with every lap.
  • SUT on track.
  • KOV in P16 starts his hot lap run.
  • KOV improves S1.
  • KOV improves in S2.
  • KOV P7. Still slightly messy though in places.
  • BUE currently P5!
  • ALG P19, but only a hundredth down on GLO.
  • VET P1.
  • HAM P4.
  • ALG off track.
  • ROS P1.
  • ALG stopped on outside of corner. Yellow flags are ruining laps.
  • BUT P2.
  • ALG’s car is cleared for final laps.
  • FIS P11.
  • KUB out.
  • FIS pushed down and out.
  • ALO P6.
  • SUT improves, but is still out.
  • ALG, KUB, SUT, FIS and HEI are out.
  • Looks like ALG suffered some kind of hydraulic failure.
  • ROS was fastest.

Q2

  • RAI and TRU first out in Q2 with 13m40s on the clock.
  • This answers my Agip question. They are a subsidiary of Eni, and presumably Eni want promotion this year.
  • WEB P1.
  • VET P1. 20.9.
  • WEB on softs. Steps out in final turn. Stays P2.
  • HAM P3.
  • RAI runs wide at the chicane.
  • ROS P1. 20.895.
  • BUE P11.
  • ALO P1. 20.885.
  • RAI P14.
  • “Alonso about to put himself somewhere near the front. In fact, that’s very near the front, he’s P1.” Brundle.
  • ALO improves his own fastest lap to a 20.826.
  • HAM P5.
  • BUT P6.
  • TRU P6. Final sector proved very quick.
  • KOV P10. Not safe though.
  • KOV pushes both Ferraris down.
  • RAI P6. KOV now down in danger zone.
  • VET P1.
  • KOV now P12.
  • Brawn P9 and P10.
  • WEB P1. 20.358.
  • KOV P5.
  • BUT P9.
  • BAR P11.
  • MAS in tyre barrier..
  • NAK P3.
  • BAR out.
  • BUT P6.
  • MAS still in car, but moving head.
  • Medical car on site.
  • Ambulances on scene.

Q3

  • Q3 will start at ten minutes past the hour.
  • The drivers are touring the Hungaroring at the moment. 7m10s to go.
  • ALO is on a mission. Goes fastest.
  • ROS purple in S2.
  • ROS P1. 22.386.
  • ALO P1. 22.293s.
  • HAM P1. 22.286.
  • WEB P1. 22.021.
  • BUT finally leaves the garage. Only doing one run of 2 laps.
  • RAI purple in S1.
  • ROS P1. 21.890. First in the 21s.
  • Live Timing is down. Typical, just as the final minute of qualifying happens.
  • Somebody get a stopwatch out!
  • ALO is P1 apparently!
  • Alonso is on pole according to the BBC. Live Timing is still down.
  • VET is P2.
  • BUT P7.
  • ALO doesn’t know what position he’s in. And ALO and BUT swear on live TV.
  • ALO is asking drivers for their times so he can work out where he is on the grid. “Are you on pole” he asks.
  • I’ve never known a qualifying session to lose all ability to record the times of the drivers at the most critical part.
  • I await official confirmation before updating the results post. As annoying as that is.

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