Formula One news

Alonso on top in qualifying

Fernando Alonso took pole position for the Chinese Grand Prix while championship rival Michael Schumacher could only manage sixth in a very dramatic qualifying session at Shanghai. Giancarlo Fisichella made it an all-Renault front row.

With rain falling at the start of the session there were pleny of spins: Barrichello went round in his Honda having put a wheel on the grass, Raikkonen slid off, but recovered and Mark Webber had a harmless spin all in the first session. The session was red flagged when Tiago Monteiro's Spyker ground to a halt with a technical problem. After marshals removed the stricken car, the session was back on and Ralf Schumacher, Trulli, Albers, Monteiro, Sato and Yamamoto dropped out.

The second session was a bit calmer but it claimed the scalps of Speed, Coulthard, Massa, Liuzzi, Webber and Rosberg. Massa's struggle is not what Ferrari needed - especially since he will lose another ten places due to an engine change and start from the back of the field. 

The rain then eased for the final pole knock-out. There was drama when a mirror fell off of Raikkonen's car and Jenson Button ran over it. The Honda driver dived into the pits to chance his front wing. 

The session ended with Alonso dominating - 0.6s ahead of Fisichella. Barrichello and Button were third and fourth on a good day for Honda. Raikkonen edged Michael Schumacher out for fifth by 0.02s. The German starts from the third row, but with no team mate to help him out.

De la Rosa, Heidfeld, Kubica and Doornbos rounded off the top ten.

more news

• 07 Jan.
  • Ecclestone reveals September deadline for Donington
  • Ferrari willing to supply 'Honda' with engines
  • Brawn says Honda won't test before season
• 06 Jan.
  • Ferrari to use electronic pitstop system in 2009
  • Kubica to start karting team
  • Webber's recovery going well
  • Ferrari to reveal new car next week
  • Stewart hits out at Ecclestone and Mosley
• 05 Jan.
  • Red Bull's RB5 to debut in February
  • Suspended sentence and fine for Verstappen
  • Berger confirms Buemi for STR
• 04 Jan.
  • Kubica expecting more accidents
• 03 Jan.
  • Encouraging news for Donington
• 02 Jan.
  • Di Resta still hopeful of F1 drive
  • "Title loss would have damaged Hamilton's reputation"
• 01 Jan.
  • Hakkinen supports medals system
• 31 Dec. '08
  • Kubica: Next year is a big challenge
  • Hakkinen: Vettel will soon be a Formula 1 champion
  • Hamilton receives MBE award
  • Heidfeld expects more accidents in 2009
• 30 Dec. '08
  • Hamilton to join Madame Tussauds
  • Ecclestone: Button should take a sabbatical
  • Manager: Alonso would love to join Ferrari one day
  • Changes at Toro Rosso
• 29 Dec. '08
  • Hamilton to miss victory parade in Woking
  • Alonso to join Ferrari in 2011?
  • Mexican billionaire denies Honda bid
• 28 Dec. '08
  • Mexican buyer for Honda?
• 27 Dec. '08
  • F1 drivers positive on Algarve circuit
• 26 Dec. '08
  • Montezemolo says KERS introduction is a mistake
• 25 Dec. '08
  • Season's greetings from GPUpdate.net
• 24 Dec. '08
  • Massa against proposed pay cut
  • Ferrari undecided over Schumacher future
  • Karthikeyan not interested in joining Force India
  • Mosley: Finding a successor won't be easy
  • Ecclestone won't split teams - Howett
  • Mosley may still try to continue
• 23 Dec. '08
  • WSR team Draco teams up with Force India
  • Howett: Ecclestone not able to split FOTA
  • Toyota committed to Formula 1

Homepage