Giancarlo Fisichella has taken pole position at the Belgium Grand Prix at Spa Francorchamps. An amazing performance in all three qualifying sessions has landed the Italian veteran his 4th career pole position.
His Force India was struggling with understeer on Friday’s practice yet the car came alive in Saturday to claim pole.
A similar sentiment from Jarno Trulli who qualified 2nd place but was at a lost to explain why Toyota seemed to be as fast as it is at Spa during the post race press conference. Nick Heidfeld rounded out the podium and will start third for the race tomorrow.
Ferrari, McLaren, Brawn GP, Red Bull and Renault were all left out as they struggled to find the pace to keep up with the Force India, Toyota and BMW.
Championship leader Jenson Button finished a disappointing 14th position for the race tomorrow but his only consolation is that Red Bull, the closest challenger to the crown, have failed to capitalize on Button’s poor form. Button’s choice of the option compound seemed to hamper the Brit as his veteran teammate, Rubens Barrchello, is the proverbial meat in the BMW sandwich of Neick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica.
In the end analysis; it is amazing what even the slightest hint of a possible Ferrari drive can do for a man’s performance. Interesting also that Nick Heidfeld, Giancarlo Fisichella and Jarno Trulli are all three rumored to be effectively out of a job next year. Could this years Spa be the race where struggling drivers place themselves securely in the shop window?
Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1. Fisichella Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:45.102 1:44.667 1:46.308
2. Trulli Toyota (B) 1:45.140 1:44.503 1:46.395
3. Heidfeld BMW-Sauber (B) 1:45.566 1:44.709 1:46.500
4. Barrichello Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:45.237 1:44.834 1:46.513
5. Kubica BMW-Sauber (B) 1:45.655 1:44.557 1:46.586
6. Raikkonen Ferrari (B) 1:45.579 1:44.953 1:46.633
7. Glock Toyota (B) 1:45.450 1:44.877 1:46.677
8. Vettel Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:45.372 1:44.592 1:46.761
9. Webber Red Bull-Renault (B) 1:45.350 1:44.924 1:46.788
10. Rosberg Williams-Toyota (B) 1:45.486 1:45.047 1:47.362
11. Sutil Force India-Mercedes (B) 1:45.486 1:45.119
12. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:45.239 1:45.122
13. Alonso Renault (B) 1:45.767 1:45.136
14. Button Brawn-Mercedes (B) 1:45.707 1:45.251
15. Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes (B) 1:45.761 1:45.259
16. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:45.705
17. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari (B) 1:45.951
18. Nakajima Williams-Toyota (B) 1:46.032
19. Grosjean Renault (B) 1:46.307
20. Badoer Ferrari (B) 1:46.359
The published fuel loads will be more suggestive of who is positioned tactically to take advantage of today’s result. Is Force India’s Fisichella running on fumes? Are Toyota running light or Brawn GP’s Barrichello running heavy? We will find out in time but I can’t help but congratulate the terrific result for Giancarlo Fisichella. Well done mate and let’s hope this translates to points for Force India.
Oh…I forgot to mention…Luca Badoer crashed the Ferrari bringing out the yellow flag in Q1. If rumors are true, Fisichella has been linked (using that word very liberally) to Badoer’s race seat after Spa.
Even the slightest hint of a drive in a Ferrari can really do wonders for a man’s performance.
