Formula 1 Jam

If anyone had predicted accurately the starting grid for the 2008 Spanish GP, they would have probably been laughed at. On a race track that was well known to every team and driver on the gird, came the most unexpected qualification sessions in a very long time.

Starting in the front row for the first time this season will be two champions. The man on the head of the grid would have been easily predictable but not the man that lines up next to him on row one. Fernando Alonso produced a magical evening of pace impressing in every session of qualification and finally producing something special to take P2.

The usual comment will be he was light on fuel and that explains his qualification. Well then consider that Renaults were never further than .3s away from the pack leading Ferraris. Renault have clearly been the Spanish surprise!

Renault how much ever you may disagree have done everything right so far. If there is a first corner incident tommorow, they will be happy they are in the head of the field.

The Grid for tommorow’s race:

1 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 1:20.701 1:20.784 1:21.813 17
2 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:21.347 1:20.804 1:21.904 18
3 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:21.528 1:20.584 1:22.058 16
4 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:21.423 1:20.597 1:22.065 13
5 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.366 1:20.825 1:22.096 14
6 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.430 1:20.817 1:22.231 15
7 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:21.494 1:20.984 1:22.429 19
8 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:21.158 1:20.907 1:22.529 19
9 Nick Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:21.466 1:20.815 1:22.542 20
10 Nelsinho Piquet Renault 1:21.409 1:20.894 1:22.699 18
11 Rubens Barrichello Honda 1:21.548 1:21.049 12
12 Kazuki Nakajima Williams-Toyota 1:21.690 1:21.117 15
13 Jenson Button Honda 1:21.757 1:21.211 12
14 Timo Glock Toyota 1:21.427 1:21.230 16
15 Nico Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:21.472 1:21.349 15
16 Sebastien Bourdais STR-Ferrari 1:21.540 1:21.724 15
17 David Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 1:21.810 6
18 Sebastian Vettel STR-Ferrari 1:22.108 10
19 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India-Ferrari 1:22.516 11
20 Adrian Sutil Force India-Ferrari 1:23.224 8
21 Anthony Davidson Super Aguri-Honda 1:23.318 9
22 Takuma Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:23.496 9

Ferrari have looked clearly strong all weekend and I wont be surprised with a 1-2 for them tommorow. But who will take that remaining podium position. Lots of contenders Robert Kubica, Lewis Hamilton, Heikki Kovalainen & Fernando Alonso. I would be wary of Lewis if I was starting next to him… god only knows if the simple system made for Lewis is simple enough to work But seriously, last year Lewis started 4th and finished 2nd. He will be the wild card but something tells me that the Mc Laren is not its usual self this weekend. That being said I would probably put my money on Heikki to put one over Lewis in the race. Robert looks strong but who knows what this weekend has in store!