Saturday: Red Bull happy and frustrated

The important point of the day for Red Bull is, of course, Sebastian Vettel’s elimination in the first part of the qualifying session. The young German’s chances of clinching the title were already slim before this turn of events, but now they are infinitesimal. Indeed, to stay in the title race, Sebastian Vettel must finish on the podium, starting from 17th place. Vettel was literally furious with himself for not securing a sufficient time before the rain intensified and dashed his hopes of advancing to Q2. Nonetheless, as Enzo Ferrari said, “it’s not over until the checkered flag waves,” and Sebastian Vettel will do everything in his power to attempt a spectacular comeback in the race. He can count on unpredictable weather tomorrow.

Mark Webber dominates his young teammate this weekend and recently stated that he would think of him before Vettel. Additionally, the increasingly persistent rumors that Kimi Räikkönen might take his seat push him to show everything he’s capable of (article to come). Mark Webber will start from the front row in second position alongside the hero of the day, Rubens Barrichello, unbeatable this Saturday in front of his home crowd. The Australian had to deal with extra pressure due to his status as the president of the GPDA (Grand Prix Drivers’ Association). He indeed had to consult with the other drivers and make the right decisions for their safety. However, this did not prevent him from competing for pole position, and Mark Webber is determined to contest the victory with Rubens Barrichello.

Mark Webber – 10th and 2nd:

This was a very delicate session, particularly in Q1 when the conditions were really very poor. The car was difficult to drive, but we got through it. When qualifying restarted, the track was a bit more manageable, and I was able to be more competitive. It really wasn’t easy on the track at the beginning, but then the grip reappeared, and the lap times were quite good. In Q3, I kept fighting in the top three positions, moving from pole to third place… I really would have liked to be on pole again, but I made a mistake. I think it wasn’t easy to line up six perfect laps in these conditions, but I’m really satisfied with how I drove, and the guys in the pit did a great job. Congratulations to Rubens [Barrichello] for his pole at home, we’ll race him tomorrow.

Sebastian Vettel – 15th and 15th (16th fastest):

«I am not happy, it’s very disappointing. It could have been better, but it was difficult under these conditions. There was a short window where the track was faster, but I couldn’t take advantage because I was stuck in traffic. Then, when the track was finally clear for me at the end of the session, it started raining heavily again. So it was impossible for me to improve my time. It’s not the best starting position, we aimed much higher, but that’s life and we have to accept it. We did the right things today, and it wasn’t a speed issue but rather a timing issue.»

Christian Horner – Team Principal:

«First of all, it’s really frustrating for Sebastian [Vettel] to miss Q2. Unfortunately, during the window when the track was at its optimum, traffic or off-track excursions by other drivers cost him dearly and he wasn’t in a position to set a good lap at the right time. Later in Q1, the conditions were atrocious and he couldn’t make it to Q2. It’s frustrating, after the interruption, to see how competitive the cars could be once the water cleared. Mark [Webber] was very competitive and missed pole position by less than a tenth of a second. It was a solid performance on his part and he’s well positioned for an exciting race tomorrow.»