Force India lands just ouside of Q2
The Force India Formula One Team again got within touching distance of making it through to Q2 in the qualifying session for tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix. Giancarlo Fisichella, the 2006 Malaysian Grand Prix winner, was just 0.05secs from making it into the top 16 and just over one second off the fastest time of the session.
Encouragingly, while other teams' fastest lap times in qualifying have remained the same as 2007, Force India has improved its quickest lap by over two seconds.
In changeable weather conditions with the threat of rain breaking at any moment, Giancarlo and Adrian both completed three runs in the 20 minute session. Giancarlo featured strongly throughout but was pipped at the last corner by Rubens Barrichello.
Adrian Sutil had a more difficult day, struggling to get the car balance on the softer tyres. The German will start his second Malaysian Grand Prix from 21st position.
Adrian Sutil: "It was not a good qualifying, but to be honest I was expecting this as we had not had a great practice in the morning. We had problems again trying to get the soft tyres to work, my car is just not behaving how it should be with them and I even tried a hard set. The car felt much better but for sure with them I can't race the other cars. In the race and over longer runs I think we are better. In Melbourne it was OK and I have a good feeling there is more in the car."
Giancarlo Fisichella: "Just five hundredths away from Q2, it was very close! I am a little disappointed with not getting there, but I did my best and did a fantastic lap. Let's say it's very encouragaing - just five hundredths from the top 16 and Q2, and just under a second from the quickest lap time of that session - it is very promising for the future. The team has done a fantastic job so far. Of course we have a lot of work to do but looking forward we are going in the right direction, which is just great."
Mike Gascoyne, chief technical officer: "Ultimately it was very disappointing to have missed out on Q2 with Giancarlo by only five hundredths of a second. It is also frustrating to have been within a second of the quickest time in the first session and to still be 17th on the grid, but that shows just how close and exciting Formula One is at the moment. Giancarlo has done a good job all day, Adrian struggling with the balance, but overall I think we have a car that can be competitive with those in front of us and I think the new parts we have had on the car here have increased our performance from Melbourne. We have to look to the strategy to have a good race here tomorrow."
