Mercedes struggle on in qualifying
Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher qualified in 17th and 13th places respectively today at the Hungaroring. Both drivers progressed smoothly through Q1 using one set of primes and one set of option tyres but then both failed to progress to Q3.
Michael Schumacher did not get a clean lap at the end of the session, whilst Nico Rosberg was two-tenths away from going through
Nico Rosberg, F1 W03 / 07, P13:
That was a difficult qualifying for us today, and we need to analyse why it turned out like that. Qualifying is always a compromise and I was focused on finding a good race set-up for tomorrow as we may have more tyre degradation on our car than others, but it is still disappointing not to make Q3 by two-tenths.
Michael Schumacher, F1 W03 / 09, P17:
It was quite a tough and difficult day for us. We have to clearly see that we did not have the pace to be in the front. I could have done a faster lap probably, without the dust having been brought to the track by Maldonado, but then I still do not think it would have brought me into Q3. I don't think we could have done much more. This morning we practised for long runs as yesterday we could not do that due to the rain but I don't think it compromised our performance. You have to accept the gap is quite big. We know the combination of track layout and temperature does not suit us too much, and we will try to make the best out of it tomorrow.
Ross Brawn , Team Principal:
A very disappointing qualifying for us today. The car hasn't been great so far this weekend, and with the margins being so tight, it didn't help us today. We didn't quite get it together with the balance and the tyres, and with the times being so close, this is where we have ended up on the grid as a consequence. Michael was especially unfortunate not to get a proper clean lap with his new tyres in Q2. We are working very hard to improve our position and will continue to do so.
Norbert Haug, VP of Mercedes HighPerformanceEngines:
We made changes to both cars after P3 which lead us in the right direction. However we certainly have not been sorted out like we should and had to pay the price. In Q2, Nico was two-tenths down to P10, and half a second to P2.
Temperatures: Air: 30-31°C / Air: 38-46°C
