Chinese Grand Prix 2011: 1st Qualifying session – Formula One highlights (part 5)
While we could speculate all we wanted in the dying stages of the first qualifying session, all 24 cars involved looked to defy even the most accomplished motorsport pundits all round by keeping the timesheets ticking with the passing minute.
Vitaly Petrov managed to safely get out of the relegation zone shooting up to P1! It was an inspired run by the Russian; proving that the Renault is no ordinary car this term – This year’s Ferrari – McLaren – Red Bull party poopers? Also, despite having their number 1 driver, Robert Kubica, out due to a horrific rally accidents during the season break, the French based constructors seem to have gotten the Formula right in terms of driver selection.
Rubens Barrichello, effectively in the relegation zone thanks to Petrov’s stunning lap looked to improve upon his lap time. The Brazilian veteran started his flying lap and brought his Williams into the top 17 positions. This in turn meant his former Ferrari teammate, Michael Schumacher, losing out as the seven-time world champion was shunned to the relegation zone.
Sticking to the Mercedes tale, Schumacher’s teammate put up a fast lap from out of nowhere to go fastest, P 1! Schumi, rising to the occasion, brought his Mercedes out of the relegation zone and into 5th spot – The Mercedes was proving to be another success story of the weekend in China.
Moments later, Maldonado started his hot lap in the Williams and finished P 15. However, while many cars were seen to be on the road to improvement, the opposite could be stated of Red Bull’s Mark Webber.
There was drama late in the first practice period as the Australian failed to make it into the top 17 – Clearly uncharacteristic of a Red Bull these days. It could be argued that the veteran was certainly at a handicap not having the KERS and running on hard tyres.
The drivers failing to make it into the second qualifying session were: Red Bull’s Mark Webber in 18th, Heikki Kovalainen and Jarno Trulli in the two Lotus cars, D’ Ambrosio and Timo Glock in the Virgin Racing cars followed by Vitantonio Liuzzi and Narain Karthikeyan in the two Hispania Racing cars.
After late, late drama in the first qualifying session, the 17 cars that remained braced themselves for yet another feisty affair come Q2. Would we see another upset like Red Bull?
Stay tuned to Bettor.com for the highlights of the Chinese Grand Prix from the Shanghai circuit.
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