31/05/2003

Monaco Grand Prix Second Qualifying Report

Cristiano da Matta has boosted the Panasonic Toyota Racing team with a top 10 qualifying performance in his first Monaco Grand Prix. However the team is still keeping a realistic outlook knowing that the TF103s are still less than competitive around the track suffering from a lack of grip.

On the first day Thursday the 29-year-old Brazilian was feeling his way with just an hour before the first session of qualifying to learn about the unique nature of the Monte Carlo streets. With hindsight his decision to take a cautious approach not risking an accident has paid dividends. After another fully dry practice morning he was in a position to attack and give the team its fifth top 10 grid position in the seven races thus far this year. It was also Da Matta's own best qualifying effort eclipsing his 11th place in Malaysia.

Da Matta's qualifying lap was 1m16.744s just 1.5s away from Ralf Schumacher's pole position time of 1m15.259s for the BMW Williams F1 Team.

"I have to admit I did not envisage being in the top 10 here Da Matta admitted, never mind securing my best grid position of the year. There were still a few issues with the grip but I felt that the lap came together well and that I had a good rhythm. Everyone knows how difficult the race is here and the priority has to be to finish it. If I do that I'd like to think I can score points."

Olivier Panis one of only three men in the field who has previously won in Monte Carlo found that instability under braking and turn-in a characteristic that you definitely do not want in Monaco was still present in the Toyota TF103's handling in Saturday practice. Bearing that in mind he opted to concentrate on a race set-up and carry a heavier fuel load. Panis lapped in 1m17.464s and will start the race from 17th on the grid. Monaco used to be a one-stop race however so strategically it could be a smart move.

"We made some small improvements to the car from Thursday but still had the same problems with grip Panis explained. I am actually pleased with the lap and we will have to wait to see how things turn out in the race tomorrow."

Behind Ralf Schumacher Kimi Raikkonen (1m15.295s) set the second quickest time for the West McLaren Mercedes team ahead of Juan Pablo Montoya (1m15.415) in the second Williams-BMW. Jarno Trulli (1m15.500s) was fourth quickest for the Mild Seven Renault F1 Team as world champion Michael Schumacher (1m15.644) had to be content with fifth place in the quicker Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro car. David Coulthard (1m15.700s) was sixth ahead of Fernando Alonso (1m15.884s) and Rubens Barrichello (1m15.820s) in the second Ferrari entry.

Jenson Button took no part in the session for the BAR-Honda team after suffering a heavy accident in morning practice at the exit of the tunnel - the fastest part of the circuit. The Panasonic Toyota Racing team is pleased to learn that Button has no serious injuries.