Turkish Grand Prix 2011: 1st Qualifying session – Formula One highlights (part 4)
With the first practice session finally heading into its last third, all 24 cars seemed to have shifted into seventh gear and were driving flat out – the timesheets were changing continuously as drivers battled their way to move as far as possible from the relegation zone.
As things stood at the end of minute 14, D’ Ambrosio in the Virgin Racing effectively led the last-7 as Jarno Trulli’s Lotus appeared to be the last one to move to the next round of qualifying – A lot was expected to change in the next 6 minutes.
Vitaly Petrov started his flying lap. The Renault seemed to handle reasonably well around the curves. The Russian crossed the finish line and effectively bumped Nico Rosberg out of 5th position. Jarno Trulli headed the relegation zone, as a result.
Nick Heidfeld, in the second of the Renaults, began his hot lap. While the German driver wasn’t as impressive as his teammate Petrov, he still managed to score a ‘safe’ 11th fastest with his effort. Maldonado in the Williams improved his time to 16th fastest; out of the relegation zone but still in danger of being knocked off.
Force India driver Paul di Resta hadn’t posted a competitive lap time yet. He was effectively first in the relegation zone – Perhaps a team strategy to take it slow in the initial stages and pick up the pace in the final few laps so as to conserve the machinery?
Elsewhere on track, Vitantonio Liuzzi went 19th fastest in his Hispania Racing. The two Ferraris featuring Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa made their way back on track – A final throw of the dice.
Paul di Resta started his flying lap and managed to get himself out of the relegation zone and into 9th position – with nearly two minutes on the Q1 clock; it seemed to be job done for the Force India.
Turning our attention back to the Ferraris, Felipe Massa got off to a quick start and looked well on course to finish in the top 5. Moments later, the Brazilian shot up to P1 with the soft Pirellis! The ‘second choice’ Ferrari driver has been under consorted pressure for a while now; beating Sebastian Vettel albeit in the first qualifying session, would’ve been a huge confidence booster. It was going to be interesting how his teammate would match up at the end of his flying lap.
To be continued in part 5...
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