Formula 1 News

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ALONSO AIMS TO FINISH WITH FERRARI

Fernando Alonso wants to finish his Formula One career at Ferrari after describing his move to the Italian team as a "dream come true".

Alonso confirmed this week that he will leave Renault at the end of the season to join Ferrari on a three-year deal as the 28-year-old looks to add to the two world titles he won with the French outfit in 2005 and 2006.

"I really think Ferrari will be my last team because leaving Ferrari is always a step backwards," he said.

"It has to be a step backwards because Ferrari is more than a team and I want to finish my career with them.

"The contract is three years with options to continue so hopefully I can continue as long as they want and I can finish my career here with a lot of wins.

"It's very special, no doubt. I think all the drivers dream one day to drive for Ferrari and now this dream came true for me and I'm extremely happy and ready for the challenge."

Alonso did admit he will find it difficult to live up to the legacy of Michael Schumacher, who won five of his seven world titles in the famous scarlet livery, but believed he had made the right choice to cement his reputation as perhaps the best driver currently on the grid, despite the team's struggles this season.

They have just one race win to their name to date when Kimi Raikkonen - whom Alonso is set to replace - took the chequered flag at Spa.

"It will be not easy and I don't arrive there just to do the same as Michael. I'd like to do the same and win many championships but I think it's going to be very, very difficult," he added.

"I go there just to be in the best team possible for my career and Ferrari.

"We share many things together like the passion for competition, to give 100 per cent in everything we do and it was the best destination for my career.

"With Ferrari, we will have a competitive car. I am sure they can perform well enough to win races and hopefully I'll have chances to win championships.

"Winning a championship is something special and winning with Ferrari, maybe it is even more special - but I cannot tell you now because I haven't experienced that yet.

"This year has obviously been a strange season with the top teams not fighting for the world championship but I think Ferrari and McLaren are still the best two teams in Formula One."

Alonso revealed he had also been in touch with former Renault team principal Flavio Briatore, who was forced out of the sport over the race-fixing scandal, over the switch and the flamboyant Italian had given the Spaniard his full blessing.

"I was in touch with Flavio two months ago when we were talking about 2011 at that time and then in the last few days when everything was for 2010," said Alonso.

"I talked to Flavio a couple of times and he was very happy for me because he knows what Ferrari means."





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RAIKKONEN MAY LEAVE F1

Departing Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen revealed he may walk away from Formula One if he cannot land a competitive drive for next season.

The Finn, who pipped Lewis Hamilton to the world championship in 2007, will be replaced at the Italian team by double world champion Fernando Alonso after the Spaniard's switch from Renault on a three-year deal was confirmed on Wednesday.

Raikkonen, who did not rule out a move into rallying for 2010, is not interested in continuing in the sport if he is not given the necessary machinery to contest the drivers' title.

"If I do decide to stay in Formula One, I wouldn't go to any of the small teams where I wouldn't have the chance to fight for the championship," he said.

"If I race next year, that would be my goal otherwise there'd be no point in being in Formula One. I achieved what I wanted but if I race then of course I want to win more races and titles."

Raikkonen has been widely tipped to replace Heikki Kovalainen at McLaren next season but is confident his professional outlook is bright whatever he decides to do.

"I'm still happy with what I've done in making this decision and I still think I'll have a good future," he added.

"There were reasons it didn't work out but I'm okay with how things have turned out. With Ferrari, I've achieved what I set out to do in winning the title.

"We had good times and sometimes more difficult times, but that's part of this business and you just have to get through those moments. We won many championships - one for me, two for the team - and I have happy memories."

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali, meanwhile, paid a glowing tribute to the Finn.

"He is a great talent, a great champion and he is in the history of Ferrari, he won the world title." he said.

"You have to make decisions for the future and take into consideration a lot of things. You will never hear me say anything negative about Kimi, I feel he is one of the strongest in the field.

"All things have to be put on the table, the positive and the negative. I think all the drivers have different characteristics; Kimi has a pragmatic approach to the team but he is part of the team and he is working very well with the team."




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KUBICA 'ON BRINK OF MOVE'

BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica has revealed he is on the verge of completing a move to another team for the 2010 season, but the Pole was giving little away as to the identity of his intended destination.

Kubica came into the current campaign with high hopes of building on last season's progress, where he recorded his first Formula One victory but ultimately saw his title aspirations fade away as the team decided to focus on developing a car capable of challenging for this year's championship.

That has proved a disastrous decision with BMW Sauber collecting just 21 points from 14 races and the German manufacturer announcing they are pulling out of the sport at the end of the season.

Kubica has been widely forecast to fill Fernando Alonso's seat at Renault but he insisted he considered a number of options and remains confident he will land the drive he wants.

"I'm clear in my own mind what I want to do. I'm 95 per cent certain my first choice will come through," he said.

"From my point of view, there is no 100 per cent confirmation where I will be and we will have to wait but my options were not for Ferrari so it didn't depend on Fernando, what I did in the future.

"Now is the period you have to decide, it is better to have closed the deal so I think sooner or later we will know where I will be.

"There is nothing 100 per cent sure until I sign the contract. Who says I will be racing there (Renault)? There are some other options. There is never 100 per cent guarantee of performance, it's a difficult period in Formula One for all teams. There is always uncertainty in the future but I think this will not be the case of the team to which I will go."

Kubica also reiterated his disappointment BMW Sauber did not focus all their efforts on trying to win him the driver's crown last term and hoped for better fortune with his new employers.

"Everybody tried their best and last year we had a big chance and I think everyone knows my opinion about it," he added.

"Last year, I was really pushing because it might have been the only chance of my life. I hope not but if so, that's life.

"I hope that the team that I will race for, I will not have to desist from fighting for the championship. My future team will know what to do. I hope there will not be the need to try to convince them."

Renault are expected to announce their 2010 line-up sometime next week and the departing Alonso endorsed Kubica's credentials.

"I rate Kubica," the Spaniard said.

"He is one of my best friends and best drivers so if they have any chance, I recommend him."



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ALONSO: NO STRIFE THIS TIME

Fernando Alonso insists there will be no repeat of his McLaren meltdown when he partners Felipe Massa at Ferrari next year.

Alonso's brief tenure at the Woking-based team in 2007 was characterised by the breakdown of his relationship with then-rookie Lewis Hamilton - with the Spaniard, amongst other things, complaining he was not getting the preferential treatment he felt befitted a defending world champion.

It ultimately led to him heading back to Renault after just one season, where he was never really extended by team-mate Nelson Piquet Jnr.

It will be a different story in 2010, however, with Massa likely to match his new partner every step of the way - but Alonso stressed there is no desire on his part to impose his will on the Brazilian.

"We have a very good relationship," he said.

"Felipe, we know, is a very quick driver and also a great personality, and we are both Latin and I think this will be good.

"Also Felipe has been in the team for many years now so he can help me a lot to adapt to the team as quickly as possible."

Ferrari boss Stefano Domenicali is also confident the pair can enjoy a fruitful relationship.

"We will control them the same way that we controlled Felipe and Kimi in the last two years, this is the way we manage the team," he said.

"Drivers coming to our team have to respect the rules. Felipe helped Kimi when he won the title and Kimi has helped Felipe and this will happen in the future because this is the team spirit, this is the way our team works.

"I can't speak about (Alonso's) previous experience in McLaren because I wasn't involved but he is a world champion and his personality will fit into the way our team operate. I don't see that to be a problem, to be honest.

"We know that one of his characteristics is that he is very charismatic with the people working around him and for me, as a team principal, it is important that the values of the team remain the same. His leadership ability is also one of his main characteristics "

Alonso, for his part, understands he now has not just the hopes of a team but of a whole nation resting on his diminutive shoulders.

"It feels good I think at the moment, we will see next year if the results come," he said.

"Ferrari is not only Italy, it is around the world. They have fans wherever you go. I can feel this and it is very great to feel this because you realise which team you are at, this is more than a team.

"We can work probably in the same way as they are doing now but I can make sure that I will put all my input there, all my experience there and I will be 365 days working for Ferrari."

Domenicali revealed he had spoken to Massa about the decision to hire Alonso, while also confirming the Brazilian would not be making his return from his horrific crash in Hungary at his home track of Interlagos.

"I can categorically say he will not be coming back in Brazil," he added.

"Felipe is recovering very well, he is already in the second step of his training. He is doing some karting and he should be back in Europe next week to do some activity on the simulator, and then we will see after that."


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WIN AT ALL COST FOR BARRICHELLO

Rubens Barrichello insisted he only has eyes for Japanese glory this Sunday as he bids to eat into championship leader Jenson Button's 15-point advantage at Suzuka.

The 37-year-old Brazilian looked on course to reduce the Brit's margin at the top of the standings last time out at the Singapore GP even with the added hindrance of a five-place qualifying penalty due to a gearbox change.

However, a determined drive from Button saw him ultimately leapfrog his Brawn GP team-mate after the second round of pitstops and extend his lead by what in the end could prove to be a crucial point.

Barrichello, therefore, has only one thing on his mind when battle recommences over 53 laps of the Suzuka circuit.

"Winning, winning, winning," he said.

"It's pretty simple. I've been flat out for a long time, I've nothing else to think about. I have to try and win the race and without worrying where Jenson is.

"It's concentrating on my job, that's my strength, do the best I can. I'm really relaxed, I think I have a good chance and I think that's the best chance for a long time.

"There was a bit of pressure for me to know I had to change my gearbox in Singapore but I dealt with it well. I hope all my gearbox and electronic glitches are done for the year.

"It was frustrating not to finish in front of Jenson because it would have been a reward for all the hard work."

Barrichello's future, meanwhile, has been subject to speculation with some suggesting he could swap places with Nico Rosberg at Williams for 2010.

Wherever he ends up, the Brazilian is confident his Indian summer can extend into next year.

"I'm in much better shape than I've ever been, winning races and I think I will be driving a competitive car but so far that's all I can say," he added.



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HAMILTON RELISHING ALONSO RIVALRY

Lewis Hamilton is relishing the prospect of once again locking horns with Fernando Alonso at the head of the Formula One grid next season.

The Spaniard's long-anticipated move to Ferrari was finally confirmed yesterday after it was announced he had signed a three-year contract to make the switch from Renault.

While both the Italian marque and McLaren have both experienced below-par seasons by their own lofty standards, it is widely predicted the pair will once again be slugging it out at the head of the field in 2010.

Hamilton and Alonso famously endured a fractious relationship while team-mates at the Woking-based outfit in 2007 as they battled for a drivers' title eventually won by Kimi Raikkonen.

Alonso eventually returned to Renault after just one season but with the news the double world champion has joined Ferrari, Hamilton was once again looking forward to renewing a sporting rivalry.

"I'm looking forward to it," he said.

"It sounds like it could be quite exciting. It could be back to the older days because I grew up watching Kimi and Fernando being at the front with Schumacher and for me, I see those as the greats and being able to compete with those back up the front with Massa, it will be a close, close battle.

"I've got a huge amount of respect for him, he'll be very strong at Ferrari so we've got to make sure we do everything we can. We've got to do a solid job with our car, which I'm sure we will.

"As drivers, we always want to be racing against the best and you always want it to be close but you always want to be ahead of them."

Turning attention to this season, fellow Brit Jenson Button can inherit Hamilton's drivers' title this Sunday if he gains five points on Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello at the Japanese Grand Prix in Suzuka.

It's a scenario Hamilton is well acquainted with having led the standings in the previous two seasons with three races to go.

Having won one title and lost one, the 24-year-old is perhaps best positioned to offer an insight into the mentality that goes with the territory but Hamilton, like Button, made light of the perceived pressure of closing out a championship.

"Not too much goes through your head," he added. "You're thinking about racing, you just want to enjoy yourself and the moment.

"The only build-up is from you guys (the media) really. For us, each time it's one step closer or one step back from your dream but you just keep doing what you're doing.

"Jensen's won championships in his career and been in the exact same position, it's the exact same thing, you've got the experience then you're fine. If you've never won a championship in your life, then it's tough"



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BUTTON PLAYING DOWN TITLE TALK

Jenson Button insists winning the Formula One drivers' championship has been the farthest thing from his mind as he prepares for what could be the most momentous weekend of his career.

Button needs to score five more points than Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello in Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka to be crowned world champion, following in the footsteps of fellow Briton Lewis Hamilton.

Sebastian Vettel is also in with a mathematical chance, although the Red Bull driver would need a minor miracle to overhaul the Brawns in the final three races of the season.

After bursting onto the Formula One scene in a blaze of publicity with Williams nine years ago, it seemed Button's chance to land the sport's ultimate prize had long since passed him by and, following Honda's departure in 2008, an uncertain future beckoned for the man from Frome.

But in a remarkable reversal of fortune, Ross Brawn resurrected the team and they now stand on the brink of the constructors' and drivers' titles.

Button stressed it has not been difficult to occupy his thoughts with other matters and played down his chances of completing the job over 53 laps of the 3.6-mile Suzuka track.

"When I'm away from the circuit I'm with friends and they know better than to ask me about that, so it's not hard really," the 28-year-old insisted.

"To beat your team-mate by five points when he's at his prime, as he is at the moment, is very difficult, it's a big margin.

"I'm looking forward to the weekend, Suzuka is possibly my favourite circuit. I think the Red Bulls are going to be the team to beat but I think the update we had at Singapore also helps us with high-speed circuits.

"We'll see if it works, it might not but I believe in the team.

"It's a very fast-flowing circuit and I think every driver enjoys racing here but I don't come into this race thinking I'm going to seal the title here.

"There are so many possibilities this weekend, there are three people who can still challenge for the championship and I'm one of them.

"The most important thing I can do is work as hard as I can on Friday and Saturday to get the car right for qualifying and the race and have a good race. I shouldn't be thinking about anything else.

"It is a thrill. As kids we all want to race in Formula One and be world champions. My dream is not to win it at Suzuka, my dream is to win it."

Button extended his lead over Barrichello to 15 points in Singapore with a determined drive to overcome a poor qualifying performance.

He conceded it was driver error rather than any lack in mechanical performance that led to his qualifying troubles but arrives in Japan in positive mood following his recovery on race day, which came hot on the heels of a welcome second place in Monza.

"In Singapore it was my mistake," he admitted.

"We tried a few different things to help the balance of the car in Q2 but it was probably the wrong thing to do. With two massive flat spots, I couldn't really do a good lap time.

"Coming here I'm in very good shape. I'm looking forward to the weekend. Last weekend was a very interesting race but it was a good weekend, we came back from a very tough Saturday and had a good Sunday so I was happy."

Button did concede however, that after winning six of the season's first seven races, seeing a healthy advantage whittled away over the second half of the campaign has taken its toll.

"It's been a pretty hectic season with a fantastic start, then a few races where the car wasn't as good as we hoped and then a couple of races where I didn't get the best out of the car," he said.

"The last two races have been good for me. I've been happy with my performance and been very happy with the team's performance but it is a bit of a rollercoaster when you're fighting for a championship.

"It's been a long time since I was fighting for a championship so you do forget but if it was easy to win a title, everyone would be doing it.

"It's part of the challenge, it's a sport for me that is very emotional. To be in this position, I'm very lucky and privileged and I have some great people around me keeping me grounded and focused.

"It's tough but also very exciting and I wouldn't change it for the world."




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KOVALAINEN SETS EARLY PACE

Heikki Kovalainen led a damp first practice as Formula One action returned to the Suzuka track after a two-year absence.

With the Japanese Grand Prix having been held at Fuji for the past two years, many of Formula One's new guard have yet to experience a track considered by many drivers as their favourite circuit on the calendar.

And the McLaren driver posted the 90-minute session's quickest time of one minute 40.356 seconds after 24 laps of running to finish 0.292secs ahead of Japan's Kazuki Nakajima's Williams.

Force India are hopeful of a competitive weekend and Adrian Sutil made an encouraging start to place third, albeit nearly half a second off Kovalainen's pace. Giancarlo Fisichella's Ferrari was fourth and Sebastien Buemi's Toro Rosso claimed a heartening fifth.

But the session will prove a much-needed fillip for Kovalainen, whose future at McLaren has been the subject of much speculation with compatriot Kimi Raikkonen tipped to replace him.

Lewis Hamilton showed he quickly got to grips with the 3.608-mile circuit and ended the session sixth but championship leader Jenson Button finished way down in 18th, almost three seconds back having put in 17 laps, although given the experimental set-up nature and greasy conditions, not too much can be read into the Briton's performance.

Button will, however, be slightly concerned that team-mate and title rival Rubens Barrichello managed to post the ninth-fastest time.

The early news was that Japanese driver Kamui Kobayashi was standing in for the unwell Timo Glock in the Toyota but it took until 20 minutes into the session for any driver to set a time on a wet track with Kovalainen posting a 1:52.546.

McLaren team-mate Hamilton then took nearly three seconds off that mark and the Brit led the way with an hour to go.

Fernando Alonso, looking to give Renault the perfect parting gift with a victory over the final three races of the season before joining Ferrari, then set the benchmark but the bar was frequently being lowered before Hamilton again posted the quickest time, a 1:42.642.

However, Japanese driver Nakajima bettered that mark by just 0.051 in his Williams as the track continued to dry and cheer the home fans that had turned out on a gloomy morning.

Kovalainen put in a lap of 1:42:495 with just over 20 minutes to go before Sutil was the first man to dip under the 1:42 barrier, only for the Finn to reply with a time of 1:41.757.

Hamilton knocked over three tenths off Kovalainen's mark as the session wound down and times continued to tumble as conditions improved before the Finn eventually came out on top in the final shake-out.

Times
01 H. Kovalainen McLaren 1:40.356 24 laps
02 K. Nakajima Williams 1:40.648 18 laps
03 A. Sutil Force India F1 1:40.806 14 laps
04 G. Fisichella Ferrari 1:40.985 27 laps
05 S. Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:41.421 26 laps
06 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:41.443 15 laps
07 F. Alonso Renault 1:41.532 22 laps
08 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:41.577 25 laps
09 R. Barrichello Brawn GP 1:41.821 19 laps
10 N. Rosberg Williams 1:42.188 20 laps
11 M. Webber Red Bull 1:42.332 10 laps
12 V. Liuzzi Force India F1 1:42.475 15 laps
13 J. Trulli Toyota 1:42.657 13 laps
14 J. Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:42.667 27 laps
15 R. Kubica BMW 1:42.833 17 laps
16 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:42.977 14 laps
17 S. Vettel Red Bull 1:43.218 11 laps
18 J. Button Brawn GP 1:43.318 17 laps
19 K. Kobayashi Toyota 1:43.407 16 laps
20 R. Grosjean Renault 1:43.572 22 laps




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Sutil quickest, Brawns idle
Heavy rain disrupts second practice at Suzuka

Last updated: 2nd October 2009

Force India's Adrian Sutil was quickest in a wet second practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix on Friday.

The session was largely a damp squib as, with persistent rain making the Suzuka track treacherous and a limited number of wet weather tyres available to teams during the weekend, everyone stayed in the pits until conditions began to ease slightly towards the end of the scheduled 90 minutes.

Sutil's effort of one minute 47.261 seconds was over half-a-second quicker than Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull.

Vitantonio Liuzzi, in the second Force India, and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton were the only other drivers to go under one minute 48 seconds in third and fourth respectively.

Championship leader Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello - his Brawn GP team-mate and closest challenger for the title - took no part in the second session having been off the pace earlier in the day.

Button, from Frome, holds a 15-point advantage over Barrichello and will clinch the title in Japan if he scores five more points than the Brazilian.

"We did some wet running this morning, we didn't run in the afternoon because it was very wet and there wasn't any useful running for us to be doing," Button explained.

"This afternoon was very wet and we decided to call it a day before the end of the session but if you were doing wet running, you would have run at the end of the session for sure.

"You've also got to be careful here because you don't get that many tyres over a race weekend and this place damages tyres quickly.

"We did some set-up work towards the end of the session, running all the info to do with what we're going to do for qualifying tomorrow, gear ratios, that kind of thing.
Fun

"This morning was useful but this place is so much more fun in the dry so I'm looking forward to tomorrow and hope qualifying and the race are in dry conditions.

"You're so much slower than in the dry. Tomorrow morning there's a good chance of it being damp and hopefully dry for qualifying."

Vettel is the only other driver still in the title race although he is 25 points behind Button and, realistically, needs victory coupled with a double Brawn retirement this weekend to revive his hopes.

McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen, fastest in the morning, also sat out the afternoon session.

Toyota elected to use reserve driver Kamui Kobayashi on Friday as Timo Glock was ill.

Glock is, however, expected to be fit for qualifying on Saturday.

Second practice times:
01 A. Sutil Force India F1 1:47.2615 laps
02 S. Vettel Red Bull 1:47.9236 laps
03 V. Liuzzi Force India F1 1:47.9315 laps
04 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:47.9835 laps
05 K. Nakajima Williams 1:48.0588 laps
06 S. Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:48.6919 laps
07 F. Alonso Renault 1:48.6935 laps
08 J. Trulli Toyota 1:48.7377 laps
09 J. Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:48.80211 laps
10 R. Kubica BMW 1:48.8616 laps
11 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:48.8865 laps
12 K. Kobayashi Toyota 1:49.0547 laps
13 M. Webber Red Bull 1:49.3827 laps
14 R. Grosjean Renault 1:49.4056 laps
15 G. Fisichella Ferrari 1:49.5535 laps
16 N. Rosberg Williams 1:49.8728 laps
17 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:50.17910 laps
18 H. Kovalainen McLaren no time
19 J. Button Brawn GP no time
20 R. Barrichello Brawn GP no time

 

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Toyota join top driver race
Struggling team confirm Kubica and Raikkonen interest

By Rachel Griffiths Last updated: 2nd October 2009


Toyota has verified that its targets for the 2010 Formula One season are Robert Kubica and Kimi Raikkonen.

The team, who appear to be trying to inject some star power into their ill-performing line-up, has upset presumptions by making a bid for the sought-after pair when they were widely thought to be heading for Renault and McLaren respectively.

Toyota team principal John Howett rated his team with an "even chance" of snatching Kubica, currently of BMW Sauber, from Renault's grasp.

"I definitely would be interested," said Howett. "We are probably fighting with Renault."

There had been speculation that the Kubica deal had already been signed, with Renault set to announce a replacement for Ferrari-bound Fernando Alonso, but the Polish star denied any concrete decision had been made.

Although Howett claimed he had sounded out Raikkonen, who will move over for Alonso, the Finn has previously vowed he will only join a title-contending team for next season, which may count against Toyota.

The global economic climate has seen the withdrawal of manufacturers Honda and BMW from F1, with ongoing speculation that Toyota could go the same way, regardless of the contract with F1 organizers that binds them to the competition until the end of 2012.
Budget

Howett has revealed that although their 2010 budget is likely to be condensed, the team is still in a position to contend for high-salary drivers.

"It's going to be less than this year, but still a very significant and substantial budget," said Howett.

"If we buy a cheaper driver, we can employ that in other areas - it's a simple equation."

The chase for Kubica and Raikkonen means that current drivers Jarno Trulli and Timo Glock could leave Toyota at the end of this season, with the pair already informed they are free to negotiate with other teams.

"We have tried to be fair to the drivers and say we may not have seats for them," added Howett.

"We remain in contact with both of them, particularly Timo."

 

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NO POINT RUNNING IN THE WET - BUTTON

Championship leader Jenson Button sat out Friday's second practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix because he saw no benefit from driving his Brawn GP car around a sodden Suzuka circuit.

Button finished 18th in a damp first session but persistent heavy rain fell throughout the afternoon run, making for difficult conditions with standing water visible in several places on the track.

With Saturday's qualifying shoot-out and Sunday's race forecast to take place in dry conditions, the Englishman felt there was little value in heading out during the 90-minute window, preferring to concentrate on preparing for what could prove to be the biggest weekend of his career as he looks to secure a maiden drivers' crown.

"We did some wet running this morning, we didn't run in the afternoon because it was very wet and there wasn't any useful running for us to be doing," he said.

"This afternoon was very wet and we decided to call it a day before the end of the session but if you were doing wet running, you would have run at the end of the session for sure.

"You've also got to be careful here because you don't get that many tyres over a race weekend and this place damages tyres quickly.

"It's looking like it's going to be dry for qualifying and the race. At the moment there's not a chance of rain, it can always change for sure, but we'll still be okay.

"We did some set-up work towards the end of the session, running all the info to do with what we're going to do for qualifying tomorrow, gear ratios, that kind of thing.

"This morning was useful but this place is so much more fun in the dry so I'm looking forward to tomorrow and hope qualifying and the race are in dry conditions.

"You're so much slower than in the dry. Tomorrow morning there's a good chance of it being damp and hopefully dry for qualifying."

Team-mate and title rival Rubens Barrichello also failed to emerge on track for the second session having posted the ninth-quickest time in the morning.

Barrichello trails Button by 15 points with three races to go and with qualifying likely to be the first time the drivers' have the chance to tackle Suzuka in the dry, the Brazilian admitted he was relishing the differing challenges Saturday will bring.

"This throws things up in the air a little bit which I just like it," he said.

"It's not going to be better or worse, I just like it.

"When I saw everyone getting ready right at the end, I thought we were going to go so I was a bit disappointed but it was a good call as well because there were no big things to learn.

"Tomorrow is going to be a hard day for everyone in terms of set-up because, yes, you can be on the limit but if you're on the limit with a car that is not balanced, it's tough."



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SUTIL QUICKEST AS BUTTON STAYS

Adrian Sutil posted the fastest time as the second practice session for the Japanese Grand Prix was disrupted by poor weather at Suzuka.

Persistent rain greeted the drivers for the second 90-minute session, which saw championship leader Jenson Button and title rival Rubens Barrichello remain in the BrawnGP garage.

Sutil topped the timesheets in his Force India with a best of one minute 47.261 seconds, nearly seven seconds slower than Heikki Kovalainen's fastest lap in the morning.

Sebastian Vettel was second with Vitantonio Liuzzi claiming third in the other Force India and Lewis Hamilton fourth.

Only the two Toro Rosso drivers initially braved the wet conditions but both soon returned to the pits without completing a lap after encountering streams of water on parts of the circuit.

With only a limited amount of wet-weather tyres at their disposal, teams were reluctant to put in too many laps and, as the rain continued, the possibility of no further action seemed a real possibility.

But with half an hour to go, Fernando Alonso's Renault emerged from the pits only to return without completing a lap.

Jamie Alguersuari eventually set a time of 1:56.848 but Alonso bettered that by over eight seconds when he did complete a lap with 12 minutes left.

That was the prelude to a flurry of activity as all but Button, Barrichello and Heikki Kovalainen emerged to complete some late laps.

Kovalainen had earlier set the fastest time in first practice as Formula One returned to Suzuka after a two-year absence.

Japan's Kazuki Nakajima was second in his Williams with Sutil third, Giancarlo Fisichella's Ferrari fourth and Sebastien Buemi's Toro Rosso fifth.

Hamilton ended the session in sixth but Button finished way down in 18th, well behind Barrichello in ninth.

Times
01 A. Sutil Force India F1 1:47.261 5 laps
02 S. Vettel Red Bull 1:47.923 6 laps
03 V. Liuzzi Force India F1 1:47.931 5 laps
04 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:47.983 5 laps
05 K. Nakajima Williams 1:48.058 8 laps
06 S. Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:48.691 9 laps
07 F. Alonso Renault 1:48.693 5 laps
08 J. Trulli Toyota 1:48.737 7 laps
09 J. Alguersuari Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:48.802 11 laps
10 R. Kubica BMW 1:48.861 6 laps
11 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:48.886 5 laps
12 K. Kobayashi Toyota 1:49.054 7 laps
13 M. Webber Red Bull 1:49.382 7 laps
14 R. Grosjean Renault 1:49.405 6 laps
15 G. Fisichella Ferrari 1:49.553 5 laps
16 N. Rosberg Williams 1:49.872 8 laps
17 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:50.179 10 laps
18 H. Kovalainen McLaren no time
19 J. Button Brawn GP no time
20 R. Barrichello Brawn GP no time




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[sky star 2]

BARRICHELLO KEEPS ON BELIEVING

Rubens Barrichello claims a positive mindset is the key to keeping his Formula One world championship dream alive in Japan this weekend.

The Brazilian heads into the 53-lap race at Suzuka with a 15-point deficit to Brawn GP team-mate Jenson Button with three rounds of the season remaining and if the Englishman outscores his rival by five points on Sunday, then he will clinch the title.

If that proves the case, it will undoubtedly be a bitter pill for Barrichello to swallow having played second fiddle to Michael Schumacher at Ferrari for so long, but the 37-year-old insisted it is not a memory that will not haunt him.

"It's almost like you come here fighting for the championship, you have to give your best, you don't actually remember what you did or did not do, in fact you have to remember just the good things from the past," he said.

"This season is a different season, I've given myself a chance to get better as a driver, I think I really have

"At the end of the day if you feel the pressure and you just forget why you're doing this, you tense up and you don't do well.

"At the beginning of the season I was on pace with Jenson quite a lot but I wasn't happy with the brakes and when I was, the car wasn't, but I kept on pressing and my team helped me and I overcame the problem.

"I'm 15 points behind and I have to go and fight. The whole season has been like that."

With Friday's practice sessions heavily affected by adverse weather in Japan, a number of Formula One's new guard have yet to experience Suzuka in dry conditions after the circuit took a two-year hiatus from the calendar in 2007 to complete much-needed improvements.

But the veteran Brazilian does not believe that will prove an overriding factor come the weekend.

"You cannot have experience without speed. Experience will count at some point but speed is the main factor for now. You're putting the car on pole, not experience," he added.

"We have, I think, seven drivers who haven't been here on the dry so shame for them but all in all, it's a big challenge for everyone."

Barrichello is also relishing the prospect of his first dry lap around the 3.608-mile circuit coming in tomorrow's first qualifying session.

"It's very exciting," he said.

"It encompasses Suzuka. We do have a challenge and a very, very good one.

"It's a bit of a lottery, I don't pretend that this is better for me or worse. When you have a clear chance of going out and finding the car and seeing if you're happy, you have a better chance of understanding things.

"This throws things up in the air a little bit which I like, it's not going to be better or worse, I just like it."

Following a limited morning session, Barrichello did not complete a timed lap in the 90-minute afternoon run as Brawn GP elected to keep their two drivers in the garage but he felt that ultimately it was the right choice.

"Unfortunately, today was far too wet," he conceded.

"When I saw everyone getting ready right at the end I thought we were going to go so I was a bit disappointed but it was a good call as well because there were no big things to learn.

"Tomorrow is going to be a hard day for everyone in terms of set-up because yes, you can be on the limit but if you're on the limit with a car that is not balanced, it's tough."




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[sky star 2]

EXPERIENCE COULD HELP BUTTON SEAL TITLE

Jenson Button believes his experience around Suzuka can give him a crucial edge following Friday's rain-affected practice as he looks to take a step closer to securing his first world championship in Japan.

Following a damp morning session, persistent heavy rain saw limited running for all teams in the afternoon run as they sought to conserve their wet tyres in case the inclement weather persists into tomorrow's qualifying and Sunday's 53-lap race, with Brawn GP electing to keep both Button and team-mate Rubens Barrichello in the garage.

With the last two Japanese GPs having been held at Fuji, it means a large proportion of the current grid have yet to drive around the 3.608-mile track in the dry conditions predicted for the weekend's action.

Button, on the other hand, has contested six Formula One grands prix around the iconic circuit and has enjoyed a string of strong drives. While that will not give the 29-year-old the upper hand over title rival Barrichello - he needs to gain five points on the veteran Brazilian to clinch the drivers' crown - it can help him collect at least enough points to maintain a sizeable advantage going into the penultimate round at Interlagos.

Button said: "There are lots of people here that haven't done much running here in an F1 car, or no running at all, so that's a good thing and makes it exciting for sure.

"I just got hope we can get a good balance for qualifying straight off so that's why were doing a lot of work now, to make sure that we have the balance correct.

"It's very difficult trying to balance the car in the wet thinking it's going to be the same in the dry, it's very different and that's some of the reason why we didn't run this afternoon."

Button has maintained a relaxed demeanour throughout his pursuit of a maiden drivers' title and heads into Sunday's race with a 15-point cushion over Barrichello.

And the Englishman insisted that remains the case even though he stands on the brink of completing a lifelong dream.

"I'm exactly the same as yesterday, it doesn't build," he replied when asked if the pressure intensifies over the course of a weekend.

"It's the same as yesterday, nothing's changed. I'm looking forward to this race and we'll see what happens. If it's a good race, it's a good race and if it's not, it's not. I'm just enjoying the moment."

However, one thing Button would like is an untroubled qualifying session following his dramas at Singapore last Sunday, where he failed to make it out of Q2

"Straightforward's good," he added.

"It's exciting but it's also a better situation for me if we go straight through qualifying. It's exciting because it's getting out there on dry tyres round Suzuka but I think it's better for me if we go straight to qualifying."

Button also underlined the confidence Brawn have that the weekend weather is set fair by revealing the team would have completed some timed laps in the second 90-minute period if they thought it was going to rain.

"This afternoon was very wet and we decided to call it a day before the end of the session but if you were doing wet running, you would have run at the end of the session for sure," he stressed.

"You've also got to be careful here because you don't get that many tyres over a race weekend and this place damages tyres quickly.

"If it was going to be wet, we'd have done a bit more running although not much. It's looking like it's going to be dry for qualifying and the race. At the moment there's not a chance of rain, it can always change for sure but we'll still be okay.

"We did some set-up work towards the end of the session, running all the info to do with what we're going to do for qualifying tomorrow, gear ratios, that kind of thing.

"We did some wet running this morning, we didn't run in the afternoon because it was very wet and there wasn't any useful running for us to be doing."





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[sky star 2]

WEBBER OUT OF QUALIFYING

Mark Webber did not take part in qualifying for the Japanese Grand Prix after crashing his Red Bull during the morning's final practice session at Suzuka.

The Australian ended up in the tyre wall after going off at turn nine towards the end of the hour-long session and although initially the accident seemed fairly innocuous, the team are unable to repair his car in time for this afternoon's shootout.

It means Webber will begin Sunday's 53-lap race from the pit lane and represents a serious blow to Red Bull's hopes of keeping the constructors' title alive as they trail Brawn GP by 42.5 points with just three races remaining.





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[sky star 2]

VETTEL CLAIMS JAPAN POLE

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel showed he still has the stomach for a championship fight by claiming pole position for Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix.

In an incident-packed session that saw three red flags and two drivers taken to hospital, Vettel held his nerve to post a time of one minute 32.160 seconds and keep his slim title hopes alive.

Jarno Trulli was second in his Toyota and Lewis Hamilton will start an impressive third for McLaren but championship leader Jenson Button could only manage seventh on the grid, while main challenger and Brawn GP team-mate Rubens Barrichello will start fifth.

Vettel trails Button by 25 points with a maximum of 30 left on offer, but the German enhanced his chances of making the title a three-way battle as the season draws to a close after leading all three qualifying sessions.

Timo Glock and Jamie Alguersuari had already brought out two red flags due to heavy accidents in the previous two runs and, when Heikki Kovalainen induced a third stoppage after sliding off at the troublesome Degner curves early in Q3, the stage was set for a dramatic shootout.

Kimi Raikkonen set the first time - a lap of 1min 33:010secs - with just over three minutes remaining before Vettel smashed that by nearly a second.

Trulli then posted a 1:32.220 to just miss out on pipping the Red Bull to pole and after Nick Heidfeld, Adrian Sutil and Hamilton also failed to usurp the German, all eyes were on the Brawn duo of Button and Barrichello.

Button, however, could only manage a time of 1:32.962 and will start seventh, although he will be cheered by the fact Barrichello is only two places in front of him after edging his team-mate by three tenths. Button needs to beat the Brazilian by five points to claim his maiden drivers' crown.

Hamilton trailed Vettel by 0.225secs and will start his first race at Suzuka in third, ahead of Force India's Adrian Sutil. Heidfeld claimed sixth and Raikkonen eighth. Kovalainen will start ninth and Sebastien Buemi a creditable 10th in the Toro Rosso, although neither set a time in Q3.

Q2 was red flagged with just over 11 minutes to go when Alguersuari ran wide exiting turn eight and drove straight on into the tyre barrier but the Spaniard managed to walk away from the wreckage of his Toro Rosso and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

Another red flag came shortly afterwards when Glock, who missed Friday practice with illness, ran straight on at the final corner and smashed into the barrier, destroying the front of his Toyota.

The German was quickly attended to by marshals, who covered the scene with a white sheet as an understandably worried Toyota garage looked on.

However, replays showed Glock managed to remove the steering wheel and place it on top of the nose of his car shortly after the impact before he was stretchered away in an ambulance.

It was later confirmed he was transferred to a hospital in Yokkaichi having sustained a left-leg wound and complaining of back pain but, otherwise, his general condition was okay.

It meant a frantic scramble for the remaining 15 drivers to book their place in the final qualifying session and Hamilton initially led the way with a time of 1:30.627.

Vettel bested that by almost three tenths to eventually top the session ahead of the Englishman but, for championship contenders Barrichello and Button, everything came down to just one lap.

There was further drama as Barrichello almost ran into Buemi's front wing after the Swiss driver had left it in the middle of the track when he scraped along the barrier up the hill towards 130R but thankfully both he and Button managed to avoid the debris and make it though to Q3 in sixth and fourth places respectively, with Trulli third and Raikkonen fifth.

Meanwhile, Nico Rosberg's Williams, Fernando Alonso in the Renault and BMW Sauber driver Robert Kubica joined Glock and Alguersuari in seeing their participation ended.

Vettel led the way in Q1 with a time of 1:30.833 ahead of Hamilton and Button.

Buemi was one of the first out on track for the 20-minute session and promptly ended up backwards in the tyre wall near turn nine after going off in a similar spot to Alguersuari and where Mark Webber saw his day come to a premature end during morning practice.

Despite sustaining minor damage to the rear wing, the Swiss driver managed to recover and place his Toro Rosso an impressive fifth behind Trulli's Toyota.

Webber's crash meant the Red Bull driver was unable to take part in qualifying and he was joined by Ferrari's Giancarlo Fisichella, the Williams of Kazuke Nakajima, Romain Grosjean in the Renault and Vitantonio Liuzzi's Force India in failing to progress.

Vettel admitted he had enjoyed the rub of the green in a dramatic qualifiying session.

"You are sitting in the garage, planning when to go out and sometimes you're lucky because the red flag comes when you're about to warm up your tyres and sometimes not because you've started your flying lap already, especially in Q3 as it affects the fuel loads.

"We were quite lucky, the car worked fantastically, probably the most difficult was Q3. The tyres don't last more than one lap really,'' he said.

"With three races to go, it's quite a big gap (to championship leader Button), so all we can do is race and try to win and we are in the best starting position. We will see. It's a long race, tough on the tyres and tough on the drivers.''

Trulli admitted Glock's accident had played on his mind.

"The first thing I did was ask about Timo's condition and they told me he was fine, I was upset about the crash and it was a crazy session,'' the Italian said.

"I knew it would have been very hard, it was all about keeping concentration and getting it right at the right time.

"For tomorrow, my only concern is tyre degradation and the start as we are not known for our start.''

Hamilton, meanwhile, was surprised to finish third.

"We didn't expect to be as competitive as we were,'' he said.

"This morning, the car was terrible to drive and we had to make some serious changes. We only had one practice session so we went straight into qualifyng with all these changes hoping they were the right step forward and they were.''

Vettel admitted he had enjoyed the rub of the green in a dramatic qualifiying session.

"You are sitting in the garage, planning when to go out and sometimes you're lucky because the red flag comes when you're about to warm up your tyres and sometimes not because you've started your flying lap already, especially in Q3 as it affects the fuel loads.

"We were quite lucky, the car worked fantastically, probably the most difficult was Q3. The tyres don't last more than one lap really," he said.

"With three races to go, it's quite a big gap (to championship leader Button), so all we can do is race and try to win and we are in the best starting position. We will see. It's a long race, tough on the tyres and tough on the drivers."

Trulli admitted Glock's accident had played on his mind.

"The first thing I did was ask about Timo's condition and they told me he was fine, I was upset about the crash and it was a crazy session," the Italian said.

"I knew it would have been very hard, it was all about keeping concentration and getting it right at the right time.

"For tomorrow, my only concern is tyre degradation and the start as we are not known for our start."

Hamilton, meanwhile, was surprised to finish third.

"We didn't expect to be as competitive as we were," he said.

"This morning, the car was terrible to drive and we had to make some serious changes. We only had one practice session so we went straight into qualifyng with all these changes hoping they were the right step forward and they were."





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[sky star 2]

BELL: RENAULT WILL RIDE OUT CRISIS

Interim boss Bob Bell is confident Renault will remain in Formula One despite the fall-out from the Singapore race-fixing scandal.

Former team principle Flavio Briatore and engineering chief Pat Symcox resigned over the affair before the former was hit with an indefinite ban from FIA-sanctioned motorsport and managing driver's affiliated with those series by the World Motor Sport Council.

The latter was given a five-year suspension by the same body after they were found guilty of conspiring with driver Nelson Piquet Jnr to fix last year's inaugural night race in eventual winner Fernando Alonso's favour.

Piquet deliberately crashed to bring out the safety car shortly after Alonso had pitted, allowing the Spaniard to climb the field while other drivers came in for fuel and tyres.

Following the damning verdict into the affair, there were fears the French motor company could pull out of the sport at the end of the season, particularly as two major sponsors had decided to terminate their relationship four races early, but Bell believes that will not prove to be the case.

"I'm not worried," he said.

"I think for me, the most important thing is that Renault are still here despite the crisis we've just been through.

"It's been an extremely deep and difficult crisis, not just for the team but for the parent organisation and the fact Renault have stood by us throughout all of this I think speaks volumes for their commitment both to the team and to Formula One because their commitments to motor sport, even beyond Formula One, are very broad and long-standing.

"So it's not a matter they take lightly but they have stood by us and I think that answers the question for you."

With Briatore's departure, Bell was handed the top job on a temporary basis but insisted he has no immediate desire to replace the flamboyant Italian on a more permanent basis.

"I have no intention of stepping into his shoes," he added.

"Housekeeping a few of his responsibilities over the coming months but I am no Flavio Briatore and I have no intention to be.

"It's extra work but not just for me, for a lot of people in the team. We are set up to deal with that and we are getting on with it. It has been a bit of a baptism of fire, back-to-back races on top of other things, so not much time to think about it.

"It's not a job I'm considering whether I do long term or not at the minute. I think Renault are probably in the same position. We need to get through these races in good shape and do some restructuring in the team and sort out some major issues in good time for next year."

One of those will be replacing Alonso, who is joining Ferrari at the end of the season.

"Fernando has been such a huge part of our team for many years. It is sad to see him go but we wish him well," said Bell.

"People move on at all levels of the sport and we will have to deal with it. I think it will work well for him there."






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[sky star 2]

VETTEL KNOWS SIGNIFICANCE OF JAPAN

Sebastian Vettel knows he needs to take full advantage of a golden opportunity at Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix if the Red Bull driver is to haul himself back into the world championship race.

Vettel will start the 53-lap contest at Suzuka on pole after he emerged from a chaotic qualifying session that saw three red flags and two drivers taken to hospital ahead of Toyota's Jarno Trulli with Lewis Hamilton third in his Kers-equipped McLaren.

Championship leader Jenson Button could only qualify seventh while fellow Brawn GP driver and title contender Rubens Barrichello managed fifth but both were subsequently hit with a five-place demotion.

Vettel, who topped all three qualifying runs, currently trails Button by 25 points in the standings and with just 30 left on offer, the German knows he has to capitalise on favourable circumstances tomorrow.

"Three races to go and quite a big gap so every race has to be a chance to do something in the championship if we want to keep our chances alive," he said.

"All we can do is race. We came here to race and we want to win, so I think we are in the best position. It is a long race and tough on the tyres, and really tough for the drivers.

"We expected to be competitive but we did not know how competitive. Looking at Q1, it is so tight. This year is up and down and we have seen different cars at the top and then back in the midfield again and the other way around. We expected to be strong and luckily we were right. Being fastest in all three sessions was pretty good, the car seemed to work very well."

The performance was also a welcome relief following Vettel's tribulations in Singapore last weekend, where he blew a potential runners-up spot after collecting a drive-through penalty for speeding in the pit lane before eventually finishing fourth.

And the 22-year-old is praying that mistake does not come back to haunt him at the end of the season.

"I think in Singapore we were quick," he added.

"Obviously when Rubens went off (at the end of qualifying), there was a red flag and maybe we would have put the car on pole, you never know. You never know how good my time might have been in comparison.

"We obviously had a very good chance to finish second in the race. In the end, we didn't so I hope I'm not lacking three points at the end. That's all."


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[sky star 2]

BRAWN ACCEPTS SANCTIONS

Team boss Ross Brawn had no complaints about the five-place grid punishments handed out to Brawn GP duo Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello for a qualifying infringement.

Button and Barrichello were given the demotions for failing to slow down under waved yellow flags during Q2 for the Japanese Grand Prix after Sebastien Buemi had left debris from his Toro Rosso in the middle of the straight immediately after turn 14 following an accident.

The pair, along with Force India's Adrian Sutil and Renault driver Fernando Alonso, were forced to take evasive action to avoid hitting Buemi's front wing and were subsequently penalised by the FIA stewards. The Swiss driver was also given a severe reprimand for careless driving.

Button insisted he had no other choice under the circumstances but Brawn was more philosophical about the affair.

He said: "It doesn't make any difference to us to be honest. It's disappointing because obviously it's going to be far more difficult to score enough points tomorrow to try and do what we're trying to do but it could have been worse.

"There have been examples of both sides, of leniency and much more draconian penalties for such a thing. We did commit an offence and it was a reasonable penalty for what we did.

"They swerved to avoid the problem. They were five or 10 seconds apart. We weren't aware there was the issue until we got called to the stewards after practice.

"Yellow flags on straights are difficult things, we get them quite often and they're in areas where the drivers have a reasonable view of what's going on.

"If we apply the principle that a driver has to lift (the throttle) every time he sees a yellow on a straight, that's going to get quite tricky. We often get yellows in the race on the straights and the drivers don't lift.

"With hindsight, we could have shouted to them on the radio but we don't do that as standard practice. Probably a momentary lift would have solved the problem."

The penalty means championship leader Button is now unlikely to clinch the drivers' title at Suzuka, while the constructors' crown may also have to wait until Interlagos with Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel on pole.

The incident occurred during Button and Barrichello's one and only attempt to make it through the second session, a situation Brawn revealed they were forced into given the nature of the soft option tyre they were running. The pair eventually finished seventh and fifth respectively until their subsequent penalties.

"We had screwed up the first run. It was only one lap on the tyre and to be honest we thought we had to run late because the track was improving all the time," Brawn added.

"The option for us was only good for one lap, it was a one-lap qualifying lap for us and we knew Q2 would be quite tight so we didn't want to put more fuel in the car then we had to. I don't think there was any other way we could have dealt with it.

"We didn't think we had much margin to make it through to Q3, in the end there was three or four tenths, but it wasn't clear what the situation was, that's why we left it until later.

"We just had a messy session with all the things that were going on. Rubens was reasonable but Jenson just lost the balance in the first sector. It caught him out a bit."



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[sky star 2]

GREAT START THE KEY FOR HAMILTON

Lewis Hamilton conceded his best chance of winning Sunday's Japanese Grand Prix will be if he can beat pole position man Sebastian Vettel into the first corner at Suzuka.

Hamilton starts from third following a surprising qualifying session at a track where the McLaren was expected to struggle.

But the 24-year-old clocked a time of one minute 32.395 seconds to finish just over two-tenths behind pole-sitter Sebastian Vettel and 0.175secs adrift of second-placed Jarno Trulli's Toyota.

The Red Bulls, however, are expected to be tough to catch over the 53-lap contest and Hamilton reckons his best chance to claim a third victory of the season is to leapfrog both the German and the Italian when the lights go out.

"We don't know how their performance will be in terms of race pace and looking after the tyres, they're not generally the best off the line either so our goal is to try to KERS them off the line and get out into a lead," he said.

"It's a very narrow circuit so to overtake it's pretty tough. We knew coming into this weekend (Red Bull) are extremely good and we do struggle in the high-speed corners.

"If we were driving the car we had at the start of the season, we wouldn't have made it round the first two corners so I think we've made a huge improvement and the car didn't feel too bad at all. If we can get a podium tomorrow, that wouldn't be too bad at all."

The outlook was very different following the morning practice session as Hamilton struggled with the set-up of his car and the Englishman could only post the 16th-quickest time.

However, a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck turned his fortunes around.

"It's not a circuit you can just go out and be quick on, you need to build up to it. We didn't have a lot of time to do that, the car was quite difficult to drive, a lot of oversteer and I couldn't commit to the corners this morning," he added.

"We made some good set-up changes and fortunately it was all in the right direction. When you go into qualifying, you can't make any changes other than to the front wing so we just had to hope that it was the right move, and it was.

"I'm absolutely delighted with third place, I definitely didn't expect that and it's a great position for us to start on Sunday."



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