Bahrain 2009: Live Qualifying Notes

Following the relative success of typing up the race notes live for the Chinese Grand Prix, I thought I would extend this to the qualifying session for the Bahrain Grand Prix. This may not go as well as the Qualifying Results post requires constant updating unlike the Race Result table which only gets added to when a driver retires. However, I’ll give it a go, and if anybody needs a translation of anything do ask in the comments.

• Weather quite windy. Sand is being picked up and dumped on the circuit.
• Webber, being interviewed by the BBC, had it pointed out to him that this is his 125th race. Webber didn’t seem to care and just wants to race.
• Apparently Buemi lives in Bahrain as well. I thought it was only Glock who resided there. Apparently not. Buemi’s apartment looks quite modest as well.
• Sorry, by the way, the action will begin soon.
• The Crown Prince of Bahrain was interviewed by Eddie Jordan, and his highness spoke better English than EJ. The Crown Prince surprised me by saying that most of the ticket sales are to locals. I had always presumed that it was visitors to the country who attended the Bahrain event, but apparently Bahraini’s are really interested in Formula One.
• Another surprise, that probably shouldn’t be a surprise, is that Ecclestone has a Formula One car collection. As Brundle says, Bernie is very secretive about it. Ecclestone has showcased part of his collection in Bahrain, which includes Auto Unions and Mercedes from the pre-WWII era.
• Track temperature is about 51 degrees Celsius at the moment. Air temperature is around 40 degrees Celsius. Wind speed 6.2mph according to the BBC.

Q1

• FIS first out. Force India has new aero package and interim diffuser.
• FIS: 35.9 on Super-soft. First lap set.
• KOV out.
• KOV obviously up on FIS.
• KOV: 35.5
• Head wind in T4 allows drivers to brake later.
• PIQ: 35.4
• BOU: 34.516
• ROS: 34.561 on medium tyres.
• VET: Good application on throttle.
• TRU: 34.117
• VET: 34.159
• RAI going purple.
• RAI: 33.648
• WEB: 34.5
• MAS: Up on RAI.
• RAI up on MAS now.
• MAS ahead by a tenth.
• RAI didn’t respond.
• BMW yet to set lap.
• 9 minutes to go.
• HAM: 33.290
• BUT: 34.078
• BUE: On super soft: 33.856!
• KOV not looking great at the moment. Will definitely need to go again.
• Also GLO in danger zone.
• KUB: 33.946
• PIQ: On super soft: 33.608
• WEB and ALO also in drop zone now.
• HEI: 33.786
• ROS: On super soft: 33.672
• KOV: Good middle sector: 33.479. P2. HAM still on top.
• TRU: 32.779
• KUB: Minor fuel fire.
• WEB and ALO who are in drop zone are on better laps. WEB was baulked in traffic.
• BAR through.
• BUT: P3
• VET: P1 32.680. Lap set on second run on super soft.
• ALO moves to P13.
• NAK P8
• WEB: P19. Will he complain about traffic?
• ALO says he was also held up by SUT and KUB.

Q2

• KOV on track.
• MAS and RAI on track.
• KOV: Super soft: 33.273
• BAR: Super soft: Missed apex at hairpin.
• BAR: HAM backs off line to let BAR through. BAR: 33.250
• BUT: 33.107
• RAI: 32.827
• HAM: On slightly dirty tyres from moving out of BARs way.
• HAM: 33.472
• VET: 32.474
• ALO: P3
• BMWs only just out.
• 7 minutes to go.
• KUB on lap. Relatively clear track.
• KUB: P13: 33.738
• HEI: P14: 33.778
• Final runs about to begin.
• KOV on track.
• KOV is currently P9 and has to improve. KOV current: 33.273. Prov. Pole: 32.474…
• KOV: 33.242: P8. Still not good enough maybe.
• MAS on lap.
• MAS solid S1. 0.2 up.
• MAS: Good S2 as well.
• MAS: 33.014
• BAR: P3
• BUT: P4
• Brawns on a 2 lap run.
• KUB: P13
• HAM: P6
• TRU: P2
• KOV out.
• GLO: P2
• SUT admits making error in baulking WEB in Q1. Visits Red Bull motor home to apologise.

Q3

• GLO first out.
• GLO: 34.366
• ROS: 35.966
• TRU: 34.297
• BUT: 34.595
• VET: 34.810, P4
• BAR: 34.970
• ALO: P6, pushing HAM down to P7
• Final runs about to begin.
• MAS/RAI – P8/P9. ROS P10.
• BUT first to run.
• The bright front wheel bins on the Brawns do not rotate with the wheel and I keep thinking the Brawns are locking.
• BUT: 34.022 – P1
• HAM: 34.196 – P2
• GLO: P1 – 33.712
• VET: 34.015
• TRU: 33.431 – P1
• Ferrari: P8 and P10.
• TRU on pole. GLO in P2
• VET P3, BUT P4
• HAM P5. BAR P6
• ALO P7, MAS P8
• ROS P9, RAI P10
• Toyota locked out the front row.