04/07/2003

French Grand Prix - First Qualifying Report

For the second successive race weather has played a decisive role in the first qualifying session for a Grand Prix this time round 10 of the world championship at Magny Cours.

With the session starting in wet weather and drying throughout the running order was the most influential factor. To illustrate the point world champion Michael Schumacher first out as leader of the championship ended up only 12th fastest while quickest in the session was the penultimate runner Minardi runner Jos Verstappen one-tenth in front of his team-mate Justin Wilson!

For Panasonic Toyota Racing it was a fortunate break but it could have been better still. Cristiano da Matta with his three points on the championship scoreboard was 13th of the 20-car field to take to the track. His 1m26.975s lap on intermediate tyres was good enough for 4th position overall.

Olivier Panis was on the circuit three cars later when the decision between grooved dry tyres and intermediates was even more marginal. The Frenchman opted for the intermediates and his lap 1m24.175s put him fifth quickest overall.

"Mixed conditions are always quite tricky Da Matta said. The circuit was drying but still wet especially in the second sector and we had also been warned that the kerbs could be slippery. As at Nrburgring the variable conditions have played a key role on Friday but we expect that there should be a level playing field for everyone tomorrow."

Panis added: "I think there could have been a case for dry tyres but there was still a fair bit of water on the circuit in the second sector of the lap. I knew almost immediately that slicks would have been the better option nevertheless we are starting 17th in the running order tomorrow and that could be highly advantageous in securing a strong top ten grid position."

Following a Minardi 1-2 in qualifying third was Ralph Firman's Jordan Ford which even had time to go off on the grass and still set third quickest time. Nick Heidfeld's Sauber Petronas entry was fourth quickest and behind Panis with Pizzonia's Jaguar Racing entry completed the top six.

Team principal Ove Andersson said: "Again as at Nrburgring a week ago we have had rain in morning practice and a wet track for Friday qualifying. It is hard to come to meaningful conclusions about your performance level in such circumstances and we expect that tomorrow will tell us more although I am confident of a good day."

Post-qualifying session checks by the FIA revealed Justin Wilson's Minardy to be 2.5kg underweight (an F1 car must weigh minimum 600kg including driver) and consequently the Englishman's time has been deleted promoting Olivier to 4th and Cristiano to 9th. This means the Brazilian will go out 12th in tomorrow's qualifying and his team-mate Panis 17th.