Formula One news

STR drivers closely matched at Spa

Scuderia Toro Rosso lines up sixteenth and seventeenth ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix after the first qualifying sessions at the circuit for 2009 newcomers Sébastien Buemi and Jaime Alguersuari. The pairing hopes that failures of others could assist a climb of positions on Sunday.

With neither driver having driven the renowned track in a Formula One car before Friday, Switzerland's Buemi led the way in qualifying by only 81 thousandths of a second from his Spanish team-mate.

Buemi is the leading Toro Rosso contender

"I had a good first run on the Option tyre (softer compound of tyre available on a Grand Prix weekend - this weekend Soft - and marked by a green sidewall) but with my second set I had a bit of traffic on my warm-up lap and didn't get my flying lap together," Buemi explained. "Then, at the final braking point, I locked up my rear wheels and so the lap was spoilt."

"It was always going to be tough to get into Q2," teenager Alguersuari admitted. "We were lacking speed on the main straight in Sector 1 and Sector 3 but I did a good time in Sector 2. The main thing for me is that I am making progress: in Hungary I was last on the grid, then Valencia 19th and today I am 17th, so it's getting better. Hopefully, I can work my way up to pole one day! I still need to build up more confidence with the car and the tyres in the quick corners."

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