Chinese Grand Prix 2011: 2nd Qualifying session – Formula One highlights (part 2)
Nearly 3 minutes into the 15-minute session and Jamie Alguersuari set the fastest time of the second qualifying round. The Spaniard was quicker than his Swiss teammate Sebastien Buemi.
The Big guns were coming on to track. Sebastian Vettel started his hot lap in the only remaining Red Bull for the period. The German slotted into 3rd position behind the second Toro Rosso. Moments later, Jenson Button made his way in the first of the two McLarens. The Briton managed to enter the 1 minute 34 second zone and effectively claimed top spot for the time.
Nearly one third of the session was completed while 10 minutes remained. Paul di Resta started his warm up lap and as he crossed the start finish line, the British driver was up into race pace; ready to register his first timed lap. Moments later, the Force India finished 2nd behind Jenson Button. Lewis Hamilton was out on track after conducting his warm up lap, took provisional pole as he crossed the finish line by nearly two tenths of a second faster than his fellow teammate and countryman.
Fernando Alonso looked to make his presence felt just as the McLarens were spreading their wings. However, a touch hasty, the Spaniard went a little hard on his braking as he overshot turn 2. The Ferrari effectively abandoned its lap and looked to try again in the next lap.
Staying with the Ferraris, Felipe Massa got his tyres to full race temperature and started his flying lap. A while later, the Brazilian went 5th fastest and slotted into P5 as a result.
It was interesting how different teams were responding to the conditions based on the choice of rubber. Jenson Button, Paul di Resta, Sebastien Buemi, Nick Heidfeld and Vitaly Petrov were all on the harder compound tyres – Hamilton had gone fastest on the softer Pirellis earlier. However, after a series of pit stops, everyone in the top 10 was on the prime tyres except for Jamie Alguersuari and Nico Rosberg. The latter’s on-board radio sprang to life with word from the Mercedes pit garage. The young German was told that he would have to come into the pits for the option tyres for his next run.
The soft compound Pirellis had fared considerably well on the Shanghai track. Would the option tyre be just as effective?
Continued in part 3...
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