Alonso on Pole

[nichosnz 0]

Fernando Alonso is on Pole, the first time since Monaco 2001 a driver other than Williams or Ferrari has done it (and the first time since Britain that year that someone other than MS, RB or JPM). He may have been light on fuel, but I don't care, Alonso is on pole. First for a Spainard, and Renault's first since France 1984. I wish the subleague gave points for drivers on pole!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I don't care right now about anything other, this is simply fantastic! Simply Fantastic, extraordinary beyond belief, amazing!!!!

Suffice to say he was probably on a lighter load of fuel and had a hotter track to work with, but it doesn't matter, ALONSO TOOK POLE! FANTASTIC!

I found it a bit funny though when Schumi seemed to have a laugh in the press conference, he seemingly couldn't believe either that he'd been beat, or that the Renault's dared run ridiculously low on fuel. We'll see tomorrow, maybe Alonso just put together one hell of a lap!

And what about Ralf back in seventeenth?! And Juan behind both Mclarens and Ferraris, Renaults, and a Sauber. Great stuff, bloody fantastic!

[nichosnz 0]

It is possible, it was a brilliant lap, he has been in the top few in every session bar Friday qualifing, and the lap times are consistant with the rest of the day.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I'm still going to throw a bet that they're at least on a two stopper, admitting the fact that Pat Symonds is one of the most likely people to say three stops. But I don't think so, they were jus really fast today!

Pitstops by lap 10 as well!

[Rohan 0]

today qualifying was just spectacular....i am still hoping for those days when i get to see a Minardi on pole hahaha well who knows

JPM was awful....i am just hoping he is high on fuel.....Raikonnen was just spectacular....and i hate admitting that DC was not that bad either!!!!

Driver of the DAY: Ralf Schumacher hahahah i cant agree more that his seat should be emptied soon enough.....unless he starts performing soon!!!! well its good for JPM who then attracts all the attention instead

i am betting that before the end of the first lap its going to be MS leading the race considering he has no accidents of problems like with his gearbox as earlier....

JPM all the WAY!!!

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

I hope the Renaults follow up on this performance!!

As for Kimi, actually I think he was merely mediocre today, but it seems he has a one-stop fuel load... we'll see, can't really tell actually!

Ralf really is having trouble with one lap qualifying... he needs to get it together!

[DJC-Grafix 0]

great news for him very suprising

the Renaults are gonna be very quick off the line, as they have a l33t launch control system, and i rekon that they're lighter on fuel than most others. I wont attempt to guess their stratergy

gonna be a good race 2mrw

watch this guy

[nichosnz 0]

Renault have said that they did not compimise race stategy for this qualifing result. Sounds like someones been listening to R.Dennis. That is a nothing comment. Besides, Renault are on pole (and 2nd), Renault have the best launch control system and Renaults are fast on low tanks new tyres.

BTW Alonso scored the youngest F1 pole he is 21y 8m 21d beating Barrichello who was 22y 3m 5d.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

Well, they may be saying that to just psyche out the rest, but I for cannot believe they went for anything too crazy. I foresee their return to Benetton early 90's form in the near future, because you could see that was genuine celebration in the pits, not as if they knew that Sunday would be a different story. I guess we'll see when the race kicks off in roughly nine hours, but I hope they do good... Would be nice to see!!

Button must be really disappointed having been ousted now, but then, BAR isn't looking halfbad at all either...

[GaySchumi 0]

The Renaults were running on the Softer tyre compound, so they were bound to have a better grip, especially with the high temps. Conversely, the McLarens were on the harder compund.

I guess we could infer that the Renaults must be on a two stopper - judging from their qualifying pace, and choice of tyres(The softer ones degrade faster, especially with a heavy fuel load), and the Macs must be on a one-stop strategy (Harder compound, overall slower time, even taking their 'offs' into consideration). I must confess, I have no idea what the scarlet machines plan to do. I'd think they're on a 1-stop strategy, can't see how the underpowered Renaults(They're said to be around 80 hp's off Ferrari's 910 hp's) could be so far ahead otherwise ...

And with all that useless, time-wasting theorizing, I take leave

[nichosnz 0]

I foresee their return to Benetton early 90's form in the near future,

I hope so, Alonso is DWC material.

[TotalF1 Jens 0]

GS, then again, Renault has been fast all week, blindingly so. Especially in Saturday practice... so maybe indeed they are on a two stop but they could just pull it off

Mclaren are on a one stop, they traditionally have a larger gas tank and traditionally go for one-stop at certain races.. we'll see in two hours!