Chinese Grand Prix 2011: 2nd Qualifying session – Formula One highlights (part 4)
Thanks to the red flags, not much time was given to the drivers to try and build on a series of fast laps – Were we in for yet another upset? Who would lose out? Who would benefit most?
As the second qualifying session timer ran out, a lot of cars were on their hot laps. Michael Schumacher got loose under braking at the end of the back stretch and failed to move into the third and final qualifying shootout. This was effectively the third consecutive incident this season when the German veteran driver has failed to make the cut.
There was mixed news for the Force India team. After an impressive flying lap, Paul di Resta made it into Q3 list but his teammate, Adrian Sutil, fell short. Cars 9th, 10th and 11th were separated by two thousandths of a second; an account of how much even the millisecond matters in the near 300 km/h motorsport.
Everyone completed their final attempts at getting the golden ticket for the final qualifying session. The unfortunate ones that failed to make the cut were Force India’s Adrian Sutil, Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez, Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher, Williams’ Rubens Barrichello and Pastor Maldonado and Renault’s Nick Heidfeld.
It was a strong finish on part of the two Toro Rossos as Sebastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari got into the top 10 with Buemi out-pacing his teammate.
Force India’s Paul di Resta had a lot to celebrate about. Not only did the British driver manage to make the cut for the final qualifying session, but the accomplishment felt sweeter seeing as it was also his birthday that day. Despite adding a year to his age, the youngster continued to impress by beating his more experienced teammate Adrian Sutil into Q3 by 3 positions.
Petrov’s impressive run in the Renault was evidence of the fact that the car was in good shape to challenge for a podium finish. This further magnified Nick Heidfeld’s inability to get his car into the top 10. The German driver would have definitely been extremely disappointed.
Staying on the German driver debate, Michael Schumacher would be another driver that lost out big time as he finished six tenths slower than his young teammate Nico Rosberg, who managed to comfortably clear the hurdle to feature in the third and final shootout.
The second qualifying session drew to a close. Stay with us on bettor.com for the highlights of the third and final qualifying session of the Chinese Grand Prix.
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