Big step backwards for Ferrari
Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel will attempt to win the European Grand Prix from pole position for the third year in a row after setting the fastest time in qualifying yesterday.
The two-time defending Formula One champion set a lap of 1 minute, 38.086 seconds on Valencia’s 5.4-kilometre (3.3-mile) street circuit.
“I have had a very good weekend, every day I have felt comfortable in the car,” the German said. “We tried to give it our best shot at the end. I had a good feeling on the last lap and managed to pull everything together.”
F1 leader Lewis Hamilton of McLaren is also on the front row for today’s race. Pastor Maldonado of Williams will start third.
Romain Grosjean, the runner-up at the Montreal GP two weeks ago, continues to impress and qualified fourth in front of Lotus teammate Kimi Raikkonen.
After making strides in recent races, Ferrari took a big step backwards at qualifying for the European Grand Prix yesterday.
Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa both failed to reach the third qualifying session, and will start 11th and 13th in today’s race at the tight Valencia street circuit known for awarding front-runners.
“I am very disappointed because I was hoping for something better,” said Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo, who watched his team’s poor performance firsthand. “The positions on the starting grid definitely don’t reflect the worth of today’s Ferrari.”
The Italian team had improved its pace since starting the season with a qualifying session in Australia that left Alonso in 12th and Massa in 16th.
And while Massa struggled throughout yesterday’s qualifying session to make a strong flying lap, Alonso looked safe until Lotus’ Romain Grosjean ripped off a last-second run to better the Spaniard’s time and knock him out of contention for the top spots on the grid.
Vettel’s teammate, Mark Webber, was eliminated after the first period because of mechanical trouble. He is 19th on the grid.
Hamilton leads the standings by two points from Alonso and three from Vettel heading into the race.
Vettel’s has won here in Valencia the past two years after starting from the front of the grid en route to winning consecutive world titles.
If he makes it three from three, Vettel will break the unprecedented run this season in which seven different drivers have won the first seven races. His sole win this season was at Bahrain, also from pole.
The circuit that winds its way through the America’s Cup harbour with a series-high 25 turns and in a city known for high temperatures is notoriously hard on tires and for overtaking.
Even so, Vettel doesn’t believe victory is guaranteed by starting from the front of the grid despite the pole sitter winning three of the past four races in Valencia.
“We have seen too much this year to sit here and predict what is going to happen,” Vettel said. “It will be tough, hotter than today. There will be a lot of cars to look out for.”
After being knocked out in the second qualifying period at the last second by a great drive from Grosjean, Alonso said he doesn’t have much chance of winning in front of his native Spanish fans.
“You can sell the race however you want, but we will start 11th and try to take as many points as possible,” the former two-time champion said.
Webber had a bad day. After being limited to just four laps in the morning practice session due to brake problems, the Australian had trouble with his DRS, a flap on the rear wing that can help boost speed.
“DRS doesn’t work so the driver doesn’t have much of a chance,” Webber told Catalan television TV3.
Marussia driver Timo Glock did not participate in qualifying because of stomach flu. He finished the third practice with the slowest lap.