Fisichella admits second is bittersweet

Giancarlo Fisichella admitted his superb runner-up finish in the Belgian Grand Prix left a bittersweet taste because he felt he had a fast enough car to win.

The Italian veteran spent the whole race in Kimi Raikkonen’s slipstream after the Ferrari driver used his KERS button to pass him at the lap four restart, and finished just 0.9s behind the victorious Finn.

Fisichella was naturally delighted to deliver not only Force India’s first points but a podium finish, saying: “Obviously it’s a great result for us.

“An important target was even to score a point, and we finished second with eight points – so it’s a great result, a great day.”

But he was disappointed to miss out so narrowly on victory, particularly since he had matched Raikkonen’s race pace despite running in his turbulence.

Indeed, the ease with which he caught the Ferrari after briefly losing ground at the second pit stops suggested the Force India had the greater underlying pace.

Fisichella was in no doubt that he had the measure of Raikkonen.

“Actually I was quicker than Kimi,” he declared.

“He could overtake me just because of KERS at the restart after the safety car.

“I’m a little bit sad for that because I was quicker than him, I was keeping his pace even behind his car, and we did exactly the same strategy.

“It’s great, because I finished second just one second behind the leader, but actually we could have won the race.”

Source: ITV

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Button: I want to win races

Jenson Button has decided that he will drive in a more determined manner from now on after losing only two points of his championship lead despite crashing in the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday. The Englishman holds a sixteen-point advantage over team-mate Rubens Barrichello with five races to go in 2009.

Having last won in Turkey six races ago, championship leader Button has failed to achieve a result higher than fifth for the last ten weeks although the Frome driver knows that the championship advantage is his. "I suppose having six wins in seven races is the reason why it's taken them so long to close up," he said of his rivals, in reference to his strong start to the year.

"We have got to start getting back to being competitive; I know all I need to do is finish fourth or fifth but that's not what I want to do - I want to win races, it's what I'm here to do and it's what I love doing, competing at the front, so I'm going to be aggressive.

"I'm not going to suddenly back off after qualifying and take it easy in the races because - even if I'm in fifth - I still want to do well; I still want to win races and I still want to be competitive and that's exactly what I hope will happen at the Italian Grand Prix at Monza a week next Sunday."

Source: GP Update

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Ignore Phillips comments, say Force India

An official statement from the Force India team has moved to clarify what could be misleading remarks from its commercial director. Ian Phillips claimed on Monday morning that a move by Giancarlo Fisichella to Ferrari is now highly likely although the team encourages onlookers to 'ignore' what it claims are unauthorised comments.

With Phillips having told BBC Radio 5 Live that team co-owner Vijay Mallya should expect a call from Ferrari within twenty-four hours, a statement of response issued by the team explains that there is no such communication between the two parties.

'During a press conference via telephone shortly after the team's podium finish, in response to specific and repeated questions on the subject, Fisichella has himself clarified that he has 'not received any invitation from Ferrari' and went on to add that he was 'looking forward to driving the Force India car at the Monza GP',' the statement reads.

'There has been absolutely no change whatsoever on this front since yesterday (Sunday) and we look forward to Fisichella scorching the tracks at Monza.'

Having highlighted those comments of the driver, the press release went on to refer directly to the Director of Business Affairs' feelings. 'Ian Phillips' comments do not reflect the views of the Force India team management since he is not the designated spokesperson for the team nor is he authorised to speak to the media.

His comments should therefore be ignored.

We completely deny as baseless, whatever is reportedly attributed to him in reports that have appeared in a section of the press a short while ago.'

Source: GP Update

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'Replacing me now would be absurd' - Badoer

Ferrari stand-in Luca Badoer claims that it would be 'absurd' for the Italian team to replace him less than a fortnight before his home Grand Prix. The reserve driver, Ferrari's longest-standing pilot, currently remains set to continue replacing the injured Felipe Massa although media pressure is increasing to change the line-up.

With Kimi Raikkonen having won the Belgian Grand Prix on Sunday, Badoer finished last of the runners and over a minute and a half behind his team-mate. "I can say that, after two races, I have much more of a grip on this mountain of things to learn," Badoer told the waiting media after the race at Spa.

"From these two Grands Prix I have learnt so much and grown in experience. From my point of view, it would be a shame to change things now." With the F1 circus heading to Ferrari's home race of the season next time out, Luca is confident of performing well in front of the Tifosi.

"Monza, Mugello and Fiorano are the tracks where I have driven for most in my life," he continued. "It would be absurd and I would be very disappointed (to not drive) because I am convinced that, at Monza, I have the feeling needed.

"Going to a track that I could drive with my eyes closed, I am sure that I could get a good result. If I had to set myself a deadline, maybe I would do it for after Monza - I would be the first to say 'Lads, it's not working out'."

Source: GP Update

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Force will be quick again, warns Mallya

The only Indian team to ever compete in Formula One certainly lived up to its name by harassing Kimi Raikkonen from start to finish in the Belgian Grand Prix. In a season of innovation, the Finn's KERS device was all there was between Force India and Giancarlo Fisichella winning at Spa on Sunday.

The championship heads to Italy next weekend and another power circuit at Monza; with rumours flying around linking Fisichella to the second Ferrari seat alongside the 2007 Champion, whether the Italian will be driving for the Silverstone team is another matter but Force India's co-owner is confident that the speed of the car in Belgium was no solitary stroke of luck.

"Why not?" Vijay Mallya - who shares ownership of the team with Dutchman Michiel Mol - replied to Reuters when asked if Force India can challenge at the front again. "We know that the car is quick…blindingly quick I would say. The sector times show it and I think the Monza track will suit us."


Source: GP Update

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Räikkönen: Monza will be difficult

Kimi Räikkönen does not believe that the Italian Grand Prix will provide a repeat victory of that at Spa on Sunday. The Belgian Grand Prix saw the Finn bring an end to a sixteen-month losing streak stretching back to Spain last year but the 2007 World Champion believes that rivals' abilities to straight-line kerbs will be help them at rapid Monza.

With four of Räikkönen's 18 Formula One wins having being registered at Spa-Francorchamps, the Finn is yet to win at Monza; a best result of second came for McLaren in 2006. "It will be difficult," he admitted. "Our car is not as strong as some others over the kerbs and that is really the key to go fast there.

"To be able to drive the kerbs as much as you want, that is not our strongest point, so it will be difficult I think but we will see how our car will handle there and what we can do." Kimi finished ninth and out of the points in Italy's wet race of last year.

Source: GP Update

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Force India expecting Fisichella-Ferrari move

Force India Commercial Director Ian Phillips has admitted that the Silverstone-based team expects to be contacted by Ferrari this week in order to place Giancarlo Fisichella alongside Kimi Räikkönen for the upcoming Italian Grand Prix. Sources say that an announcement is expected by the Scuderia on Tuesday.

With Italian Fisichella having driven an incredible race to finish less than a second behind Räikkönen at Spa, Phillips told BBC Radio 5 Live on Monday morning that a call from Ferrari is now expected. "We do expect a move will probably be made in the next twenty-four hours or so," he said after Ferrari reserve driver Luca Badoer finished last of the runners for the second race in succession in Belgium.

"Nobody's asked us yet but I think it's pretty likely that somebody will make a phone call to Vijay Mallya (Force India co-owner) over the next twenty-four hours or so, asking if we would release him to Ferrari."

With Fisichella contracted to Force India until the end of the season, does Phillips see Ferrari paying a required fee for the loaning of the F1 veteran? "I don't think they have really got any options," he continued. "Ferrari being Ferrari, it's their home race at Monza, which is a place with a cauldron-like atmosphere, particularly for the Italians - seats will be thrown on the track if Ferrari aren't doing well.

"They're going to have to put somebody in there who can basically run around with Räikkönen at the front of the field." With regards to the Maranello team, no representative could confirm anything over the matter at the weekend although no predictions of Fisichella's move have been denied either. The almost certain replacement at Force India would be another Italian in reserve driver Vitantonio Liuzzi.

Source: GP Update

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Satisfying birthday present for di Montezemolo

Luca di Montezemolo's 62nd birthday on Monday has been made all the more sweeter by the fact that Ferrari notched up its first win of the 2009 season in Belgium on Sunday. The Chairman of the Italian marque has endured a tough time this year, although Kimi Räikkönen's success demonstrates that performances are firmly on the up.

Having qualified sixth, Räikkönen achieved his fourth Belgian Grand Prix triumph from his last five races at the track. "I'm very content with this victory," di Montezemolo told the Ferrari website having called Team Principal Stefano Domenicali in the immediate aftermath of the race.

"I'm happy for Domenicali, for the whole team and for our fans. Over the last four Grands Prix, starting with the Nürburgring, we have always been on the podium. Kimi drove an excellent race, demonstrating his talent on the most beautiful track in the championship - they really made me a nice present for my birthday!"

It may have taken Ferrari twelve races to succeed this year but the result marks the 210th Formula One victory from for the Scuderia, its third consecutive success in the Ardennes and its 17th in the country since first winning at Spa with Alberto Ascari in 1952.

Source: GP Update

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Indian GP on track, confirms Mallya

Indian GP on track, confirms MallyaForce India co-owner Vijay Mallya has ensured that all plans to host a first ever Grand Prix in India are running smoothly. The country hopes to makes its Formula One debut in 2011 although a number of commercial upsets have recently cast a shadow over the event.

With the Indian sports ministry having denied a request by race promoters JPSK Sports in January, the latter was unable to forward the required race hosting fee of US$35.5m (£22.4m) to F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone and his Formula One Administration (FOA) group.

"The Indian Grand Prix for 2011 is on track," Kingfisher supremo Mallya told Reuters in Belgium, casting aside any doubts over the race. "The promoters of the event have acquired land and spent a fairly significant sum of money in getting the track built, together with surrounding infrastructure.

"I think the recent media reports of the government of India's ministry of sports not supporting the event is limited only to permission that the promoters sought to remit about 38 millions dollars (£23.4m) to FOA because we still have exchange controls in India; they ran into some difficulty with that but, in the entire environment of exchange control in India, that is not surprising at all.

"Maybe they just have to go back to the ministry of sports and give some better explanation. At the end of the day, it's a lot of Indian rupees and so a typical government officer would not just readily sign it off."

Source: GP Update

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Vatanen vows to work with FOTA

FIA presidential candidate Ari Vatanen has promised to work closely with the Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) should his cabinet be voted into power in October. The Finn, 1981 World Rally Champion, believes that close relations with teams are vital for the overall stability of the sport.

With the current head of the governing body - Max Mosley - due to step down in October, Vatanen is running head-to-head against former Ferrari Team Principal Jean Todt for when the role changes hands for the first time since 1991. "There is so much untapped potential in the sport but we can realise it if we work together," Vatanen told Autosport.

"The people in FOTA are the ones that know what the sport and the business is about. The fact is that the sport has not been run as they would like over the years and they have realised that they can work together, and with the FIA, in the common interest." FOTA currently consists of eight current teams (all bar Williams and Force India) and Vatanen believes that the group, which represents 16 of the 20 cars on the current grid, should be treated with the upmost respect.

"They have lived in fear, without knowing what the future holds, and that's no way to run a sport," he stressed, having retired from politics this year after a decade in the European Parliament. "I can't see why different members of the same family cannot work together without one side or another wanting to dominate the other.

"My message is that it doesn't take away anyone's independence to work together, it's in everyone's interest that the competitors prosper and remain in the FIA championship; our role is to give them a platform from which to perform - it's in the interest of everyone to make sure that this platform is as solid as possible and that there are as many competitors as possible."

Source: GP Update

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Badoer: I really want to race at Monza

Luca Badoer was disappointed to come home as the final runner in the Belgian Grand Prix. Having started from the back of the grid, the Italian replacement driver for Felipe Massa finished fourteenth and last of the runners at Spa-Francorchamps but feels more confident for his home Grand Prix in a fortnight's time.

Having qualified and finished last in Valencia just over a week ago, recent history repeated itself for the oldest driver on the grid in Belgium. "Today I did my best," said Badoer, 38. "Unfortunately, at the first corner after the start I flat-spotted the front tyres and so always had strong vibrations throughout the first stint.

"Once the tyres were changed, the situation improved but the performance of the harder compound (Medium) was not as good as the soft one (Soft). I have upped my performance level yet again and I really want to race at Monza, one of the tracks I know best, along with Fiorano and Mugello. I am very happy for Kimi (Räikkönen) and the team; this is a fantastic victory, which was just what we needed at this point of the season."

Rumours continued to circulate at Spa on Sunday, however, that Belgium runner-up Giancarlo Fisichella could be taken from Force India to replace Badoer at Monza next time out.


Source: GP Update

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Räikkönen ends losing streak at Spa

Kimi Räikkönen has won the Belgian Grand Prix for the fourth time to bring an end to a losing streak stretching back to the Spanish Grand Prix of last year. Behind the Ferrari, the Force India of Giancarlo Fisichella continued to pile on the pressure all afternoon-long as championship leader Jenson Button retired on the first lap.

With ambient temperatures at 16°C (61°F), the crowd at Spa was not blessed with large amounts of sunshine but could at least be thankful that the rain of Friday morning stayed away. One of the most mixed up grids in Formula One history saw Giancarlo Fisichella's Force India starting from pole position with compatriot Jarno Trulli his closest challenger.

Rubens Barrichello was the grid's leading championship contender from fourth on the grid although the Brazilian carried the lightest car into the race. Team-mate and championship leader Jenson Button would need to adapt a cautious approach from the midfield and 14th spot as the two Red Bull cars of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber started from eighth and ninth.

Fisichella was able to make a clean getaway as the five red lights went out although trouble at the first corner saw Adrian Sutil's Force India spun into the left-front wheel of Fernando Alonso's Renault. Räikkönen elected to take to the tarmac run-off area on the outside of La Source as a late-braking Nick Heidfeld slipped wide, allowing team-mate Robert Kubica through to third in the second BMW.

The biggest drama of the race in terms of the championship came at only Les Combes on the first lap at a touch from Grosjean's Renault put championship leader Button into a spin, broadside across the charging pack. World Champion Hamilton anticipated the action although a rear-end hit from Jaime Alguersuari ensured that all four cars took to the barriers and out of the race. Both pairs of incidents are being investigated after the event, with possible outcomes being 10-place grid penalties in Italy.

The resultant safety car period allowed for early pit-stops for Adrian Sutil, Jarno Trulli, whose Toyota was tapped at Turn 1, and championship-contender Rubens Barrichello; the Brazilian was later able to fight back through the field, making best use of stops, to challenge Heikki Kovalainen's McLaren for sixth in the closing stages although a suspected oil leak saw the Paulista drop off the pace to confirm seventh shortly before a fire started in the engine bay once arriving in Parc Fermé.

Räikkönen had dragged past Fisichella in a brave move down the Kemmel Straight on the restart but a suspected easy run to the chequered flag did not happen for Ferrari, who were forced to push hard in order to fend off the flying Fisichella on an identical race strategy.

A sticking fuel rig hindered Trulli at his first refuelling stop of the race, as the Toyota was called back into the pit lane to retire at the end of the following lap. Alonso's first-corner wheel-bashing also came back to bite the innocent victim as Renault spent some 35 seconds attempting to change the tyre before calling their driver in on safety grounds, ending all chances of a podium finish.

BMW-Sauber enjoyed what was by far its best weekend of the season
BMW-Sauber enjoyed what was by far its best weekend of the season

It was a good day for BMW, which scored the most points after Ferrari courtesy of fourth and fifth places for Kubica and Heidfeld, and an equally impressive drive from Kovalainen to rise to sixth from fifteenth at the start. Barrichello was able to hold onto seventh from Nico Rosberg; the German's achievement of picking up a point is all the more remarkable when considering that the Williams car has been distinctly off the pace all weekend.

Disappointment was on the side of Mark Webber, who finished one place outside the points for the second time in a week, and 11th-placed Adrian Sutil who was unable to maximise the performance of the Force India car - an off-track excursion at the Fagnes chicane did not help proceedings. For Webber, a drive-through penalty after a near-collision with Nick Heidfeld in the pits could prove extremely costly come the end of the season. Luca Badoer's Ferrari was the final finisher, over one and a half minutes behind his race-winning team-mate.

Räikkönen's win at Spa is his fourth from the last five races at the Ardennes track, having narrowly missed out last year, and Ferrari's first of the 2009 season. The result also marks the sixth different winner from the last six races, dating back to Turkey at the beginning of June. Fisichella's second place marks the first points for Force India, as well as a podium result, in a quite remarkable race.

The Italian Grand Prix is next up on the calendar; rumours in the Spa paddock continue to link Fisichella with Badoer's Ferrari seat although all will become evident over the course of the next two weeks.

Source: GP Update

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Winner Räikkönen: We were not the fastest

Belgian Grand Prix winner Kimi Räikkönen has admitted that his Ferrari was not able to match the raw pace of Giancarlo Fisichella's Force India at Spa on Sunday but won the race thanks to its KERS device. The Finn's win brings an end to a sixteen-month losing streak for the 2007 World Champion.

Having last won in Spain last year, Räikkönen's fourth Belgian Grand Prix victory was the first of the season for the Ferrari team. "It hasn't been an easy year for us - we were behind straight away at the first race compared to the top teams," he said. "We made a big step in Barcelona but it hasn't been enough. Getting the win now, it's quite a long since the last one, is perfect - my aim has been to win at least one race."

Kimi did admit, however, that his success in the Ardennes was no stroll in the park. "For sure, I needed to put in a little bit of effort to get the win," he continued. "We were probably not fastest with lap times but we managed to keep everybody behind - we'll see what we can do in the last part of the season."

The collection of ten points means Räikkönen leapfrogs both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg to move up to the top five of the Drivers' Championship.

Source: GP Update

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We could have won, says Fisichella

Dreams of scoring the team's first points soon became dreams of collecting a first Grand Prix victory for Force India as Giancarlo Fisichella resolutely challenged Kimi Räikkönen for victory in the Belgian Grand Prix. The Italian eventually finished second from pole position but knows that victory was a real possibility.

Having retained his lead on the opening lap of the race, Fisichella lost the top position to the Finn at the restart but knows that the Ferrari's 80 horsepower KERS advantage was the reason for being unable to overtake.

"We should have won here but this is a great result," Giancarlo said after the race. "Obviously it was a great result for us, it was a great day and it's important to get the first points for the team but I was quicker than Räikkönen; he passed me because of his KERS - I'm a little bit sad for that because I was keeping his pace and we had exactly the same strategy - it's a great but we could have won the race."

Force India, which brought with it a smaller motorhome to Spa, is now ahead of Toro Rosso and ninth in the Constructors' Championship as Fisichella celebrates his 19th podium finish in Formula One and first since Japan 2006.

Source: GP Update

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'Button took me out' - Grosjean

Romain Grosjean has talked of the four-car crash that involved championship leader Jenson Button going out of the Belgian Grand Prix. The Englishman accused the Frenchman of braking too late at Les Combes corner to remove both cars, plus Lewis Hamilton and Jaime Alguersuari, from the race before the end of the first lap.

Having survived La Source and Eau Rouge, Grosjean's Renault eventually came to rest at the Les Combes chicane at the start of the second sector. "I made a very good start, moving up to thirteenth place, and I was keeping a good pace but then Button took me out at Turn 5 and it was the end for me," the Renault man explained.

"It's frustrating because I would have loved to finish the race and learn more about the car on this very special track. Hopefully I can do better in Monza." The multi-car shunt is currently being investigated by the FIA-appointed race stewards, with 10-place grid penalties a possible punishment for the Italian Grand Prix.

Source: GP Update

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Alonso annoyed by lost podium chance

An opportunity to achieve a podium finish was lost for Fernando Alonso after being struck at the start of the Belgian Grand Prix by the spinning Force India of Adrian Sutil. However, with the extent of left-front wheel damage remaining unknown to the Renault team, the Spaniard eventually retired on Lap 27.

With the contact having damaged Alonso's left-front wheel fairing, the team spent some 35 seconds removing the wheel at the former double Champion's sole pit-stop of the race although, with the damage now known and with the Hungarian Grand Prix still fresh in the mind, Renault chose to retire Alonso on safety grounds.

"Today I missed an opportunity to be on the podium," he said, having climbed to third from 13th on the grid. "I had a good start, making up a few positions, and the strategy looked good. The car was better than we expected and I was in third position when I came in for my pit-stop.

"It became clear that something was wrong on my left-front tyre and the team asked me to retire. We now think it was damaged at the first corner at the beginning of the race. Anyway, Monza is in two weeks and I look forward to making up for the disappointment of today."

If paddock rumours are anything to go by, Monza should also mark the weekend that Ferrari announce Alonso as a race driver for next year.

Source: GP Update

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Webber rues pit lane incident

All chances of Mark Webber scoring points in Belgium went up in smoke after receiving a drive-through penalty for a near miss in the pit lane with Nick Heidfeld. Having lost significant time because of the punishment, the championship contender finished ninth and out of the points for the second consecutive race.


With championship leader Jenson Button eliminated in the first lap pile-up at Les Combes, an opportunity had been handed to Webber to catch the Brawn driver in the championship although the Red Bull man was unable to make the best of the situation.

"I had a good first lap and laid the right foundations to get some good points today," said the unfortunate Australian. "But, at my first pit-stop, I was released in front of Nick (Heidfeld), which I was given a drive-through penalty for. After that it was a case of damage limitation.

"I tried to get back into the points and when we had free air, which was not often, we had good pace, but it wasn't enough. It's very frustrating not to take any points away; I thought I deserved them from that drive but the drive-through wrecked that. No one's interested in excuses though, that's how it is, so let's get on and look ahead to the next race."

Source: GP Update

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Barrichello relieved to get home

A fortunate Rubens Barrichello was able to survive an oil leak to finish seventh and reduce Jenson Button's championship by a further two points in the Belgian Grand Prix. Having finished the race, Brazilian Barrichello's car caught fire in Parc Fermé.

After challenging Heikki Kovalainen for sixth place, Brazilian Barrichello was forced to drop back after plumes of smoke began to rise from the Brawn's engine bay. "I have to be happy with seventh place and the two points, really, after such an eventful race," said the Valencia winner.

"We should have had far more from today but the problem with the clutch at the start took away any chance of a podium, which is frustrating for me and the team. We changed my strategy at the end of the first lap to fuel longer for the first stint, which was a good move and gave me the chance to get into the points.

"I had fun in the race from then on and the move on Mark Webber at the Blanchimont bend was definitely one of the highlights. The oil leak gave us some worrying laps but I was able to manage the pace and bring the car safely home which was a big relief."

Source: GP Update

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FIA investigating Renault deliberate crash claims

Formula One governing body the FIA has confirmed that it is reviewing claims that the Renault team instructed driver Nelson Piquet to crash deliberately in one of last year's Grands Prix. The team won the Singapore race with Fernando Alonso following a subsequent safety car period for Piquet which allowed the Spaniard to take the lead.

With Piquet having now been replaced at Renault by Romain Grosjean, Brazilian television channel Globo has reported that the French team gave orders to its second driver to crash in what is highly suspected to be the night race, forcing a deployment of the safety car.

With Alonso, who had made an earlier pit-stop, taking the lead when the leaders came in, the Spaniard went on to win his first Grand Prix of the season. It is now believed that an FIA spokesperson has claimed that 'alleged incidents at a previous FIA Formula One World Championship event' are now being looked at.

Source: GP Update

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Badoer 'not happy' after qualifying

Luca Badoer endured a miserable day at Spa on Saturday as the Italian, who had improved to eighteenth position in final practice, slipped to the back of the grid once again. The Italian's qualifying session ended in embarrassing fashion when taking a trip into the Les Combes barriers.

Having passed Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull on the outside approaching the Les Combes chicane, the Ferrari substitute for Felipe Massa dropped his left-rear wheel into the dirt before subsequently spinning back across the track and knocking the wheel off the car against the barriers.

"I'm not happy because, this morning, at the end of free practice, I had hoped to make it through to Q2," Luca explained later. "Unfortunately, partly because of traffic and partly because of a few small problems, I didn't manage to put together a perfect lap.

"I was counting on doing so on my final run but there was the incident with Vettel which then led to me going off the track and that put an end to my qualifying. I have made another step forward in terms of performance but it's still not enough.

"For me, the hardest thing is getting into a rhythm and finding the limits of the car. Unfortunately, there's no opportunity to do the testing that would put that right. I am sure that tomorrow I will perform better than I did in the Valencia race. I will try and do my best."

Source: GP Update

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Fuel loads show Barrichello as lightest

Rubens Barrichello was the lightest fuelled car in Q3 and will in fact start the Belgian Grand Prix will the least fuel of anybody on Sunday. The FIA-published figures therefore prove that Giancarlo Fisichella's pole position was not simply due to carrying a light fuel load. Nico Rosberg's Williams is the heaviest top ten car.


- Lightest car: Rubens Barrichello / Brawn - 4th - 644.5kg
- Heaviest car: Kazuki Nakajima / Williams - 18th - 706.1kg


Post-qualifying car weights:


1 - Giancarlo Fisichella / Force India = 648.0kg *
2 - Jarno Trulli / Toyota = 656.5kg
3 - Nick Heidfeld / BMW = 655.0kg
4 - Rubens Barrichello / Brawn = 644.5kg *
5 - Robert Kubica / BMW = 649.0kg *
6 - Kimi Räikkönen / Ferrari = 655.0kg *
7 - Timo Glock / Toyota = 648.5kg *
8 - Sebastian Vettel / Red Bull = 662.5kg
9 - Mark Webber / Red Bull = 658.0kg *
10 - Nico Rosberg / Williams = 670.0kg *
11 - Adrian Sutil / Force India = 678.5kg
12 - Lewis Hamilton / McLaren = 693.5kg *
13 - Fernando Alonso / Renault = 684.4kg *
14 - Jenson Button / Brawn = 694.2kg
15 - Heikki Kovalainen / McLaren = 697.0kg
16 - Sébastien Buemi / Toro Rosso = 685.0kg *
17 - Jaime Alguersuari / Toro Rosso = 704.5kg
18 - Kazuki Nakajima / Williams = 706.1kg
19 - Romain Grosjean / Renault = 704.7kg
20 - Luca Badoer / Ferrari = 691.5kg


* Lightest of the team's two cars (first to pit under normal circumstances)

Note: Race entrants are displayed in provisional grid order


Source: GP Update

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Webber warned for qualifying block

Red Bull's Mark Webber has received a verbal word of warning from FIA race stewards followed an on-track incident during qualifying at Spa on Saturday. The Australian is judged to have held up another car during the session but will be handed no grid drop penalty.

Having qualified ninth on the grid, Red Bull Racing received the following message from the FIA late on Saturday afternoon in Belgium:

'The Stewards, having received a report from the Race Director (Charlie Whiting), have considered the following matter, determine a breach of the regulations has been committed by the competitor named below and impose the penalty referred to.'

GPUpdate.net can reveal that the incident took place just over two and a half minutes from the end of Q1 but the FIA did not share information on the other car involved in the happening.

Source: GP Update

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Contrasting feelings for Brawn drivers

Brawn GP drivers Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button find themselves separated by nine cars on the Belgian Grand Prix grid after differing qualifying sessions at Spa-Francorchamps on Saturday. With Barrichello fourth on the back of his Valencia win, championship leader Button starts fourteenth.

Row 7 was certainly not part of the game plan for Jenson Button in Belgium as the Englishman failed to make the cut to the top ten shootout for the first time this season. "I didn't expect to qualify in 14th position today but we really struggled with grip levels, particularly on the softer tyre," he explained of the Soft, green-striped Bridgestone compound.

"The car hasn't felt quite right all weekend and unfortunately I wasn't able to get any more out of it today. Rubens and I are usually very closely matched but he was quick on the Option (softer tyre) and I wasn't, so we need to look into the reasons for that. I just couldn't find any grip on the softer rubber so the rear end felt unstable and I had no confidence under braking, particularly in the middle sector. It's strange as our setups are different but not by much."

Having taken his first Grand Prix win for the best part of half a decade at the European Grand Prix, Barrichello's second row placing is far more comfortable. "I'm extremely happy with our qualifying performance today and the second row of the grid is a great starting position for the race," he smiled. "The results today have to be one of the biggest surprises of the year and it's great for Giancarlo Fisichella to be up there on pole. It's good to see that the 'old-timers' still have it!"

Source: GP Update

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Vettel laments qualifying mistake

Red Bull Racing successfully saw both of its cars into the top ten after what has been a weekend of worries so far at Spa. With Sebastian Vettel having only two engines outstanding for the final six races and Mark Webber on a new unit for qualifying, it was the German who regretted a driving error.

With only a couple of new Renault powerplants at his disposal for the remainder of the season, Red Bull is developing methods of conservation for Vettel as previously used engines are used in practice sessions. However, with the team's two cars starting the Belgian Grand Prix from eighth and ninth on the grid, Vettel was the man disappointed to miss out due to a mistake of his own.

"It was quite an interesting session and not the best for us, obviously," Sebastian said after qualifying. "Eighth and ninth will be tough tomorrow on the grid; unfortunately, I made a mistake on my last flying lap in Q3 - I lost the rear going into Turn 14, which leads onto the back straight, and lost all the speed so there was no point in completing the lap. The results were quite a surprise today; I don't think anyone expected Fisi (Fisichella) to be on pole."

"That was a strange session - we expected to be more competitive than that Fisi on pole!" Webber reiterated. "A great day for them, but we were surprised by that. A lot of the guys were too quick for us; it shows you just never know in this game, it should be an interesting race tomorrow. We had to change the engine before qualifying but that wouldn't affect our result and we were pretty confident going into the session."

Source: GP Update

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Alonso hoping for rain on Sunday

Fernando Alonso was a clearly disappointed man when returning to the paddock after being knocked out of the second phase of qualifying at Spa on Saturday. The former double World Champion, who has never won the Belgian Grand Prix, hopes to see a wet track for the race on Sunday.

With a number of big names down the field, Alonso may not be the only driver performing a rain dance on Saturday evening after qualifying in (a perhaps ironic) 13th position. "Today we just weren't competitive enough and we struggled in both Q1 and Q2, where I did my maximum but still missed out," the Spaniard said.

"However, it was an unusual session today as we had big competitors knocked out in Q2; tomorrow this should make for an interesting race and then there is always the weather, which may play a role, so we will not give up and will do our best to fight back tomorrow."

Rookie team-mate Romain Grosjean's run was compromised by yellow flags due to Luca Badoer's Q1 accident; the Frenchman will start alongside the Italian's Ferrari at the back of the grid.


Source: GP Update

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Fisichella clinches maiden Force India pole

Giancarlo Fisichella topped a highly dramatic qualifying session to clinch the first ever Formula One pole position for the Force India team at Spa-Francorchamps. The Roman leads an all-Italian front row from Jarno Trulli's Toyota with Nick Heidfeld third for BMW and championship leader Jenson Button fourteenth.

Formula One has been handed one of its most incredible starting grids in history at Spa after Giancarlo Fisichella stormed to the fastest time in both the first and third parts of the one-hour qualifying session. Ambient temperatures at the Ardennes venue reached highs of only 15°C (59°F) with the track surface at 26°C (79°C).

With fastest times from Trulli, Hamilton and Heidfeld in the three individual practice sessions over the course of Friday and Saturday, things always did look open heading into qualifying in Belgium although it is highly unlikely that any onlookers would have predicted the eventual starting order for Sunday's twelfth round of the championship.

On a dry day, Q1 brought with it another disappointment for Ferrari driver Luca Badoer; whilst searching for half a second on his final flying lap, the Italian lost control of the car after passing Sebastian Vettel on the outside of Les Combes corner, damaging the left-rear quarter against the barriers and starting last in the process. The subsequent yellow flags compromised a number of men, including Romain Grosjean who lines up 19th in the Renault for his second F1 event. Kazuki Nakajima's Williams had a quiet session on its way to 18th, behind the two Toro Rossos of Sébastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari.

After a number of big names had narrowly missed the cut in Q1, Q2 was always likely to be dramatic. Fastest in the first phase had been Fisichella by stringing together a three-lap run on the harder, Medium compound Bridgestone tyres. Nico Rosberg repeated the feat in Q2 and successfully made the cut.

Some significant cars did not, however, with Adrian Sutil - a mini-master of Spa and competitive all weekend so far - the first to be eliminated and starting in 11th place. World Champion Lewis Hamilton is the best positioned McLaren in 12th on a predicted tough weekend for the Woking outfit with team-mate Heikki Kovalainen 15th. Between the two Silver Arrows are another World Champion, Fernando Alonso, and championship leader Jenson Button, who starts from the seventh row in what looks to be a highly decisive race on Sunday.

Q3 brought with it one of the most fantastic line-ups ever witnessed in the sport. Kimi Räikkönen was the first driver to leave the pits and set a lap time with those behind him electing to rush back into the pit lane last-minute in order to switch to the harder compound, referred to as 'Prime'.

Nico Rosberg put in a sterling job to start 10th for Williams on a weekend when the car has been very much in the final third of the field. He will start alongside Mark Webber on Row 9, after the championship-contending Australian ran a brand-new Renault engine for qualifying. The first Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel is one place ahead of his team-mate with Timo Glock's Toyota leading the fourth row.

Räikkönen, who held the top spot until the final three minutes, will start sixth behind Robert Kubica after the Pole confirmed BMW-Sauber's best overall qualifying result of the campaign. Rubens Barrichello is the leading championship contender on the back of his Valencia win just six days ago and must be looked at as the best bet for race victory on Sunday.

The front three positions are occupied by three unlikely names; Nick Heidfeld is the leading BMW in third place on the day the Hilwil team - which continued to search for a buyer - placed two cars in the top five. The front row is an all-Italian affair as Jarno Trulli's Toyota put in an impressive lap to start from the front for the second time this season, after Bahrain.

The undoubted star of Saturday is Giancarlo Fisichella, whose first hot lap of 1:46.308 was not beaten by either his rivals or his own second run but was enough to secure a superb pole position for the Silverstone-based Force India outfit and his first since Malaysia 2006 with Renault.

The Belgian Grand Prix will begin at 2pm local time (BST +1 / GMT +2) on Sunday as Formula One prepares for what is surely going to be its best race of the year so far. It might even rain…

Source: GP Update

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Mysterious Toyota on front row

As Giancarlo Fisichella claimed Force India's first F1 pole position in Belgium, Jarno Trulli kept up the Italian feel-good factor by setting a time quick enough to start alongside his compatriot on the front row of the grid. The Toyota driver described his accomplishment somewhat as a 'mystery'.

Having qualified on the penultimate row of the grid in Valencia only a week ago, Trulli will find himself with a clear view of the starting lights on Sunday. "I am very confident for tomorrow," he said after the qualifying session at Spa. "I have been running most of the weekend on heavy fuel and being second on our fuel load will mean a good race tomorrow.

"I have to thank the team and I dedicate this to all of my mechanics, who are going through a difficult moment, and sometimes it is hard to understand what is going on."

Having been generally off the pace for the European Grand Prix despite Timo Glock's fastest lap at the end of the race, what is the reason for such inconsistency from the Japanese team? "It's a mystery," Jarno admitted. "We haven't done anything on the car since the last race yet we have been competitive all weekend!"

Source: GP Update

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Raikkonen fuels Ferrari exit speculations

Kimi Raikkonen has said that he is certain to race in Formula 1 next year, but the Fin also revealed that if it would not be at the Ferrari team it would for sure be at an other Formula 1 team. It is rumoured that Raikkonen is going to be replaced by double world champion Fernando Alonso at the Italian team in 2010.

"If for some reason I am not at Ferrari next season I know I'll have a seat at another team in the paddock," Raikkonen told The Telegraph. "It's not a problem. Other teams want me.

"I'm too young to retire. I have a contract with Ferrari for next season. If I didn't want to race next season I would not have signed a contract."

Source: GP Update

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Trulli hopes to stay with Toyota

After five years as the Toyota F1 team's official driver Jarno Trulli hopes he can secure a deal with the Cologne based team for a sixth season. Toyota F1 team president John Howett said last week that Trulli's future at Toyota was not secured.

Jarno Trulli joined the Formula 1 grid in 1997 with Minardi and moved to Prost in the same year. The Italian is currently in his 13th year in Formula One and he hopes to continue racing for another season. His contract at Toyota could not (yet) be extended and thus Trulli is all ears to other teams with offers. "I have had contact with other teams, but it's still early," Trulli admitted to our colleagues at Autosport. "I have had some contacts with teams, but it's too early to talk about anything. It's not a question of having a good offer. The question is that Toyota has been my family for the last few years and I have such a good relationship with them, on the Japanese side, with John Howett, with everyone.

"It's like my family. My priority has to be to stay with Toyota. I don't understand what is going on in the team - so we cannot talk about the future. The most important thing is that we can keep the team alive and continue because there are a lot of people working here with families."

Source: GP Update

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Abu Dhabi finale to become twilight race

Organisers of the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix have confirmed that the start time of the race has been put back by two hours in order to cater more for European television viewers. The move means that the venue's first Formula One event will now be taking place in 'twilight' hours, as were the Australian and Malaysian races.

With its original 3pm local start time now being moved to 5pm, the first race in the United Arab Emirates will now be an early or mid-afternoon event for European viewers as opposed to late morning or early afternoon depending on your location.

The move, suggested by F1 commercial rights holder Bernie Ecclestone, has been met with mixed opinions after drivers were blinded by the rays of a setting sun in Melbourne at the start of the season.


Local Abu Dhabi session times are now as follows:


Friday 30 October:

Friday Practice 1: 13:00 - 14:30
Friday Practice 2: 17:00 - 18:30

Saturday 31 October:

Saturday Practice: 14:00 - 15:0
Qualifying: 17:00

Sunday 1 November:

Race: 17:00


(Abu Dhabi's local time is on GMT offset +4)

Source: GP Update

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Vettel pleased with Friday weather

Whereas most of the field was frustrated to lose significant setup time due to rain at Spa on Friday morning, Sebastian Vettel enjoyed seeing the conditions which prevented the field from discovering full dry setups. The German has just two fresh engines remaining this season and is currently using older powerplants in practice.

With two blown engines in Valencia bringing Vettel's total to four this season, the German has just two of his total eight remaining according to 2009 regulations. Use of a ninth would include a 10-place grid drop and so the Red Bull driver was pleased to see the rest of the field compromised on Friday morning.

"We didn't have so much running time today, especially in the morning, but that was actually quite good for us," he explained. "We knew we would face a difficult Friday, as we don't have that much mileage available because of my engine situation, so it was a little bit lucky to have the rain this morning. In the afternoon, I felt comfortable with the car, we didn't have any problems and I'm quite happy with the performance."

Team-mate Mark Webber rounded the day off as leading championship contender, comfortably ahead of both Brawn GP cars in fourth position. "I think that's the most we could have hoped for during today's session," the Australian continued. "You always expect to lose a session at Spa due to the changeable weather conditions and that was the case this morning.

"We had a pretty productive afternoon with plenty to go through. We didn't always move in the right direction but that's not always a bad thing as we learn from it. So, that's today and now we'll put it all in focus for tomorrow - not a bad start for us."

Source: GP Update

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Badoer aiming for Q2 on Saturday

Luca Badoer claimed not to feel at ease with his Ferrari after winding up slowest of the twenty runners at Spa on Friday. The Italian's best lap time placed him over two seconds slower than fastest man Lewis Hamilton as rumours continue to circulate regarding the test driver's future as replacement to the injured Felipe Massa.

With Badoer having been distinctly off the pace in Valencia last weekend, the oldest driver in the field continued to follow the trend in Belgium. "In the wet this morning I was reasonably happy with my performance, even if I would have preferred to have run all the time in the dry, to increase my understanding of the car," the 38-year-old explained after only a minor off in the slippery conditions.

"In the afternoon, we made some modifications to the setup but I still haven't managed to find the ideal settings for my driving style and so didn't have the right feel for the car to attack all the corners. We still have a session available to us to work on the car tomorrow morning. My aim for qualifying is very simple: to make the cut at the end of Q1."

Team-mate Kimi Räikkönen had a bittersweet second practice by finishing third in a Ferrari which broke down at the end of the session. "I am pleased with the work we have done today and the overall feeling is a positive one," the Finn, who has won this race three times, reported after practice. "The car seems to be quick, even though we know it's only Friday and therefore we cannot be entirely sure where we are compared to the others.

"We had a few technical problems although they didn't have a significant effect on the way we got through our planned programme for the day."

Source: GP Update

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Glock misses top spot by slim margin

Sixteen thousandths of a second was all there was between Timo Glock and fastest driver Lewis Hamilton at Spa on Friday as the Toyota driver rounded out practice in a surprise second place. The German admits, however, that the Cologne team has work to do in order to hold such a place for the rest of the weekend.

With World Champion Hamilton surprised to be fastest, Glock also expected a lower position but understands that conditions influenced the outcome of proceedings. "Whenever you come back to Spa it is a nice experience to do your first laps of the weekend and that was the case again today," said Timo on a day which the field experienced driving on a damp, fully wet, drying and fully dry track surface.

"It's a great circuit and very satisfying for a driver, especially when you have a competitive car. It's hard to draw any conclusions from the wet session this morning but I am pleased to be second in the afternoon - that is very encouraging.

"The car felt pretty good and the lap times show that. Still, there are a couple of areas to improve on, so we will work on those before qualifying and try to find the perfect aerodynamic balance. I am happy with how things went today and I'm interested to see where we are tomorrow."

Source: GP Update

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Grosjean inside top five on first Spa outing

Formula One rookie Romain Grosjean continued to impress on only his second weekend in the sport by finishing fifth in the second free practice session in Belgium on Friday. With team-mate Fernando Alonso fourteenth, the Frenchman is the leading Renault driver heading into final practice on Saturday morning.

Incredibly, Grosjean continued to combine his racing with a banking job in Geneva on Tuesday in order to 'keen in touch with reality' although the Frenchman's transactions in F1 have paid off handsomely so far. "Today was very interesting as we had wet and dry conditions, as is quite normal for Spa," he explained.

"Once again, Fernando has been very helpful and comparing my data with his data really helped me today as I could see where I needed to improve. In the afternoon session we concentrated on testing the two types of tyre and I managed to do over thirty laps so I think we are quite well prepared for tomorrow."

"We did quite a few laps today, especially in P2," Fernando added. "In P1 we were affected quite a lot by the rain but in the afternoon we were able to concentrate on evaluating the tyres and we are happy with the balance we have with the car. Tomorrow it will be an important qualifying session because we are all determined to get a good result this weekend - so most importantly we would like a good grid position tomorrow."

Source: GP Update

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Practice result deceptive, say Brawn

The Brawn team unusually wound up in only seventeenth and eighteenth positions at Spa on Friday after a difficult start to the Belgian Grand Prix weekend for championship contenders Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello. The Brackley team is hoping to improve its car's stability around the turbulent Spa circuit on Saturday.

With the championship leader amongst the bottom four cars, it was a surprising sight for readers of the session's final classification on Friday afternoon. "It was a tough session this morning as we weren't able to get much done apart from some wet running at the end," Button explained. "However, that experience is good here just in case it rains over the weekend, which is always possible at Spa.

"The second session this afternoon was much more useful. We worked through a few aero and downforce comparisons as well as looking at the tyres. We collected a lot of information but obviously at the moment we're not as quick as we would like to be. There are a few areas that we do need to improve on with the balance but the potential is there to do that ahead of qualifying."

With Button having complained of an unstable right-rear through Eau Rouge, Barrichello is confident that the BGP 001 is quicker than it showed. "We got through a lot of work today which sets the weekend up nicely," continued the winner of last weekend's European Grand Prix. "There is still some way to go to realise the full potential of the car but, as always on a Friday, the lap times don't tell the whole story.

"The car doesn't feel as competitive as it did in Valencia last weekend but we're going to be in a good position to fight hard in qualifying tomorrow."

Source: GP Update

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Hamilton surprised by Friday result

Lewis Hamilton has admitted that he was pleasantly surprised to see his name at the top of the timesheets following the conclusion of practice in Belgium on Friday. On a circuit which McLaren had predicted not to be quickest on, the World Champion set the best lap time, albeit by only sixteen thousandths of a second.

With Timo Glock second to Hamilton, it is fair to say that Friday's results were not as predicted in Belgium as McLaren - which had tipped Red Bull as favourites - led the way from Toyota. "I'm happier today than I expected," Hamilton confessed. "We don't have as much downforce as some of the other teams so we're not as quick as we'd like to be, especially in the middle sector.

"Fortunately, however, we have KERS (Kinetic Energy Recovery System) and can use it to our advantage in the first and third sectors; the car didn't feel fantastic today but we only really had one session to find a setup so we've got some changes to make overnight. Still, this is a massive improvement compared with Turkey or Silverstone and we look competitive, which is important, so we're not unhappy."

Team-mate Kovalainen was not quite in touch with his team leader and eventually dropped down to twelfth place after being eighth in the morning session. "I think slower speed corners suit our car better than high-speed stuff," Heikki said. "I guess we are still losing a bit of time in the high-speed corners compared to the fastest cars but we've definitely made some good improvements in this area and the car feels positive to drive and seems to be working quite well around here."

Source: GP Update

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Kubica resting after busy Friday

Robert Kubica was able to move his BMW up to eighth place in Belgium's second free practice session on Friday afternoon. After rain lost the teams approximately an hour and a quarter of dry running time in the morning, the Pole spent the second session playing a game of catch-up.

With rain falling early on in the morning session, teams made the most of a warm second practice in which a drying track became a dry one as runs progressed. "The conditions today were quite changeable," Kubica explained. "We started the first practice session on dry tyres but it started to rain pretty soon as we were only able to do one timed lap on dry tyres at the start of the session.

"We took advantage of the weather conditions and did a couple of laps on full wet tyres, just to see how the car behaved in case of rain. We had to squeeze quite a lot into the second free practice session and, on top of that, we evaluated the tyres and worked on the setup. It was quite difficult as we had to cram several things into a very tight programme. We even had to mix several evaluations in one run. We also have a couple of new components on the car."

With Robert winding up in the same position where he finished the European Grand Prix to collect a point last Sunday, team-mate Nick Heidfeld's day ended in 16th spot.

Source: GP Update

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Hamilton fastest in afternoon practice

Lewis Hamilton has finished on top of the second free practice session in Belgium as the rain went away from the circuit on Friday afternoon. The World Champion led the way from the Toyota of Timo Glock and the Ferrari of Kimi Räikkönen which, like Jaime Alguersuari, stopped on track in the final minute.

With rain having hit Spa-Francorchamps early on in the first 90-minute session on Friday morning, the crowd was able to enjoy sunshine and blue skies in the afternoon as air temperatures rose to a pleasant 18°C (64°F) and the track to 29°C (84°C), almost double that of earlier on in the day.

Hamilton's quickest lap of the session and the best of the weekend so far came in the form of 1:47.201 as the World Champion hopes to retrieve the win he lost last year this weekend. Toyota's pace improved dramatically from that witnessed in Valencia last weekend, to confirm second and seventh places for Glock and Jarno Trulli respectively.

Kimi Räikkönen's day was one of mixed emotions; despite the triple Belgian Grand Prix winner setting the third best time in practice two, the Finn's Ferrari ran off the track at the Fagnes chicane on its final run before coasting its way off the circuit on the inside of Paul Frère curve. Hamilton was also caught out, taking the same line as the Ferrari driver due to spilt oil being dropped onto the race track from the stranded Toro Rosso of Jaime Alguersuari, which set a time quick enough for ninth place.

Mark Webber was the leading Red Bull in fourth position and, more significantly, the highest-placed championship contender as team-mate Sebastian Vettel completed his day tenth - with an engine used earlier in the season - and the two Brawn GP cars of championship-leading Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello wound up way down in 17th and 18th positions respectively.

Two stars in the top ten were F1 new boy Romain Grosjean, who was the leading Renault driver in fifth place, and the Force India of Giancarlo Fisichella in sixth. Nico Rosberg was uncharacteristically off the pace and the penultimate of the runners as the Ferrari of Luca Badoer wound up in 20th and last position once again, just over two seconds down on Hamilton's effort.

The third and final practice session at Spa will begin at 11am local time on Saturday (BST +1 / GMT +2) and can be followed live on GPUpdate.net.

Source: GP Update

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Trulli tops wet first practice at Spa

Jarno Trulli was the man at the top of the timesheets when the chequered flag fell for the first practice session in Belgium on Friday. Times are very much inaccurate, however, after an early rain shower continued for the remainder of the one and half hour period. Championship leader Jenson Button finished in second position.

With only a one-week break between the European and Belgian Grands Prix, first free practice kicked off in the Ardennes forests on Friday morning as the crucial twelfth weekend of the 2009 championship began. With rain coming approximately 15 minutes in, even lap times set in the scarce dry conditions available are still off the expected pace of Saturday.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel completed just one installation lap at the beginning of the session as the German, who has only two new engines remaining for the final six races of the season, ran with a previously used Renault powerplant; the rain was good news for the fourth placed driver in the championship, however, as the lack of dry running for the rest of the field could play into his hands on a circuit which Red Bull is tipped to be quickest on.

Track temperatures reached lows of just 17°C (63°F) as the rain fell, less than half of those witnessed five days ago in Valencia, with ambient numbers two down on that. Trulli's Toyota led the way with a lap time of 1:49.675, four and a half seconds off Kimi Räikkönen's official 2004 lap record, as those who ventured out after the rain started failed to come near the 2-minute barrier.

Behind Trulli at the top was championship leader Jenson Button on another crucial weekend for Brawn GP as former double World Champion Fernando Alonso rounded out the top three. The two Toro Rossos of Buemi and Alguersuari made the top five with the second Brawn of Barrichello ahead of Räikkönen and Kovalainen, the latter of which narrowly avoided the Rivage barriers after a trip through the gravel trap.

Buemi's Toro Rosso had the largest moment of the session after running out wide onto the Pouhon kerbs with a resultant spin causing an impromptu trip into the barriers; the Swiss driver was able to recover to the pits with a damaged front wing but no other major worries.

Robert Kubica was the leading BMW in ninth as the Ferrari of Luca Badoer placed tenth despite his own small off-track moment at Les Combes on the Italian's first flying lap. Both Vettel and World Champion Lewis Hamilton chose not to set lap times and remained in the pit lane for most of the 90 minutes.

More rain could fall in the afternoon session, which begins at 2pm local time (BST +1 / GMT +2) and can be followed as it happens courtesy of GPUpdate.net's live report.


Source: GP Update

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Grosjean: Difficult to follow cars in F1

With governing body the FIA having imposed a raft of changes in order to boost chances of overtaking in Formula One this year, new boy Romain Grosjean has admitted that the possibilities of doing so in an F1 car compared to those of GP2 are highly difficult as the former still finds it difficult to follow another closely.

For 2009, the reintroduction of non-grooved, slick racing tyres was put into action as well as radical new aerodynamics; however, with some having made better use of the regulations than others - with only three teams developing double diffusers earlier in the year, for example - the ability to follow other cars closely has been somewhat negated.

"Well, to be honest I was quite surprised how difficult it is to follow a car in Formula One," explained Grosjean, who made the step up the ladder from GP2 to his F1 debut with Renault in Valencia last weekend. "I don't know from where it came but, for sure, I was behind Luca Badoer for quite a long time in the first stint and I couldn't get closer than eight tenths because you lose most of the downforce and the car goes much faster and this makes your life quite hard when you follow another car."

With an F1 car being, in principal, an upside-down aeroplane, the discarded, turbulent air left in the wake of the car is the reason that the pursuer's vehicle cannot close up in the manner a driver would want to.

"I think there's a different spirit of building the car," the Frenchman continued. "In GP2, all of the cars are the same and the ground effect is quite big compared to the aero and in Formula One we are using more aerodynamic downforce than ground effect, so in the end it makes the race much harder to fight and to get close to another car."

Source: GP Update

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Contracts under wraps for Kovalainen

Heikki Kovalainen is currently not prepared to discuss his Formula One future as speculation continues to circulate surrounding his drive with the McLaren team in 2010. With Nico Rosberg constantly tipped as a new team-mate to World Champion Lewis Hamilton, Kovalainen advises all to remain patient.

McLaren Team Principal Martin Whitmarsh made no secrets last week in Valencia that, whilst Kovalainen remains a super team player, on-track performances must improve in races in order to keep his McLaren hopes alive for next season. With German Nico Rosberg seemingly number one in the media's list for taking the second Woking seat, however, its current occupant is remaining silent over details of the matter.

"Well, first of all I will not talk about the contractual situation here in public," Heikki said politely but firmly in Thursday's press conference at Spa. "I did once that year, which I regret; I think that, apart from that, the most important thing now is to focus on performance and that's what I'm here to do.

"I had a great weekend last weekend with the updated car; I was on the front row and could have been on pole and the race could have been better without the last stint troubles, so I'm quite looking forward to building on that and I feel I'm in great form. Here we are at Spa, a fantastic circuit, so that's what I'm focussing on at the moment."

Source: GP Update

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Friday will be day of reckoning – Button

Jenson Button says Friday practice at Spa will take on an unusual significance for Brawn GP as the team should find out whether it has resolved the tyre temperature issues that have blunted its competitiveness in recent races.

The Brackley-based squad ended a run of Red Bull and McLaren wins with Rubens Barrichello’s victory in Valencia last Sunday, but the sweltering weather meant Brawn did not have the same difficulty in generating tyre temperature that it had experienced in earlier races.

The cooler conditions expected at Spa on Friday will enable Brawn to gauge the effectiveness of recent developments to its BGP 001.

“As a team it's a really important day for us,” Button told reporters on Thursday.

“It's warm today, but I don't think it's going to be as warm on the weekend. It’s expected to be about 19 to 20 degrees.

“That should be okay, plus this circuit has some high-speed corners and heavy braking, which is good for tyre temperature, and aggressive asphalt, which is good.

“And I think we know some of the reasons why we can't get tyre temp at cold circuits, and hopefully we've solved those issues.

“But we won't know until we drive the car tomorrow.”

Despite a poor race in Valencia that yielded only seventh place, Button extended his championship lead over Red Bull Racing drivers Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel.

RBR is expected to have the car to beat for Spa’s high-speed layout, but Button thinks it is unlikely to be as dominant as it was at Silverstone two months ago – and he believes a strong showing by Brawn could just break its rival’s title challenge.

“It is an important day for sure, to know if we can challenge the Red Bulls on a circuit like this,” he said.

“If we can then I think the Red Bulls are in a difficult position. I don't think it's us so much.

“They didn't have a very good weekend last weekend – they didn't get any points as a team. We haven't been in that situation this year.

“I'm sure they come here more positive than the last race, but I'm sure they are not arriving here thinking it's going to be exactly like Silverstone.

“There's going to be a lot more competition for them. It's not going to be a walk in the park.”

While admitting his Valencia performance was below par, Button denied he was feeling any added pressure because he has not won since the Turkish Grand Prix in early June.

“I know how I feel. [Valencia] was frustrating in that if certain things had gone slightly different we would have a great weekend.

“It's the first bad weekend I've had this season, I would say.

"But I’m in the best position of the four front-runners, so I am not feeling any pressure.”

Source: ITV

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James Allen: The big Spa questions

The Belgian Grand Prix at spectacular and historic Spa-Francorchamps is always one of the most eagerly awaited races of the season.

But as James Allen explains, Brawn GP will be going into Friday morning practice with a slight sense of trepidation, while Red Bull is in a serious strategic dilemma regarding Sebastian Vettel’s engine situation…


This is going to be a great weekend. I can just tell. The sun was shining when we arrived here this morning – it’s clouded over now, as is Spa custom – and there was a noticeable buzz in the air.

I think everyone in F1 gets up for this race; the drivers are following in the wheel tracks of the legends.

This is the track of Clark and Senna and Schumacher, and to add your name to the list of Spa winners must rank alongside the list of Monaco winners, certainly for any driver who has a sense of history.

There is a lot riding on this race for the two teams fighting for the world championship.

Jenson Button acknowledged today that the Friday practice session will be probably one of the most important of the season for Brawn, because the team will learn whether it has got on top of its problems with warming up the tyres which have hammered its competitiveness from June to early August.

In Valencia the car went very well, but it was stinking hot there. In these cooler ambient conditions, will the Brawn light up the tyres or not?

If the team is competitive here then it’s looking pretty good for Button’s championship (or maybe Rubens Barrichello’s).

If the weekend turns out to be a repeat of Silverstone, with the Red Bulls in another race from the others, then Brawn could suffer some more losses and will be looking ahead nervously to Monza and Suzuka.

Button said that he fears the KERS cars here, with their ability to shadow him through Eau Rouge and then push the button to pass on the long uphill straight to Les Combes.

He said that he would need to have more fuel in his car and pass the KERS cars using strategy.

But he contradicted that later when he said that his lesson from the start in Valencia, where he was boxed-in in midfield, was that he should change his strategy approach and get out front so he’s not caught up in it.

Red Bull suffered a massive set back in Valencia with the lack of competitiveness of Mark Webber and the double engine failure of Sebastian Vettel.

Now 25 points behind and having only two fresh engines for the rest of the season, Vettel is going to have to compromise his practice sessions and run extra miles on race engines, or take a 10-place grid drop somewhere.

This should be Red Bull’s race and for Webber in particular a win is a necessity.

The driver who is worth keeping an eye on is Kimi Raikkonen. He has really raised his game lately and has been on the podium at the past two races with very strong drives.

Spa is a special place for him; he won here in 2004, 2005 and 2007. He was in contention for the win last year before the crazy rain storm intervened in his battle with Lewis Hamilton.

Ferrari have stopped developing their car but this race is a bit of a one-off aerodynamically so everyone has brought new wings and so on, and in Raikkonen’s hands the Ferrari may well be able to get its first win of the season.

This would only increase the pressure on his temporary team-mate, Luca Badoer.

Source: ITV

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