NewsOnF1 - 22 June News

22-June: At the post Qualifying press conference for the European Grand Prix, Juan Pablo Montoya was pleased to grab Pole after having trouble with the set-up of his car and said "I've got to say I'm very pleased. I think that after all the problems we had this morning we didn't really have any good set-up information or anything, so we came into the qualifying a bit wondering what was going to happen. On the first run I made a mistake, the second run was a bit better, the third run, you know, was the pole run, and it got better and better and better. Between we two drivers there's nothing in it really. It's a matter luck and I've got to say I was very lucky to get it. It's great for the team."
As for the race tomorrow, Montoya expects a tough one with tyres playing a crucial role and said "I think it is going to be a tough race and I have got to say for qualifying we were honestly looking to try to be in the second row and not in the third row. I thought it was going to be a much harder qualifying and it was really close with Ralf and it was really hard from that perspective. When you are fighting for pole it is a whole lot easier than when you are fighting for fifth or sixth, so I am very pleased that the team actually pulled it off."
Asked if he was worried about engine failures tomorrow, Juan Pablo said "I've got to say that we are pretty confident we are going to get to the end of the race."

Ralf Schumacher admitted that the decision to go for only 3 runs instead of 4 may have cost him Pole but was happy for the team for both cars qualifying on the front row and said "It was never planned to have four runs. After being on pole, we decided to stay on three runs. We were in the lead and when you are in the lead you just wait a while. We lost pole because of this, but this was in the team and it is so tight you can't do anything about it and in the end we have the first row, so that doesn't really matter too much. It was a bit unlucky, or whatever. He (Montoya) was simply strong and that's why he went quicker. But for the team in general it's perfect to be on the first row. We didn't expect it to be honest after this morning, we thought we have to watch ourselves to be on the second row and not to be past but it turned out to be not so good. It was a bit surprising but the team did a great job."
When asked is it better to have your brother or your team-mate ahead of you (last year it was his brother in Pole and Ralf in second), Ralf said "It doesn't really matter I guess, but for the team it is certainly nice that the two of us are in front, which makes it hopefully more difficult for Michael to get past."

Michael Schumacher admitted that he could have won Pole had he not pushed too much on his final run and said "Obviously there is no excuse. We could have done it and if I had not had the two last mistakes then I should have done it, but that is not the case. Honestly, just pushed a bit too hard and overdid it. That's it."
As for his chances tomorrow starting from 3rd on the grid, he said "Well, we have had worse situations in the past and it's certainly tougher than being up front but that is the way it is so we have to deal with it and we will see whether we can."
Michael isn't too worried about the 2 McLarens behind him despite their seemingly superior launch control system and said "I think, again, if you look at Monte Carlo, everybody who was on the left hand side was strongest. If you look at Canada, we took off about the same and I think we are pretty much sorted. But I think whoever is on a better line and in a better position will get the advantage."

22-June: What the teams and drivers said following the Qualifying session at the Nurburgring ... Report

22-June: The Quali-flyer looks at the 'Real Race' at the Nurburgring and hands the 'Also Ran' award to ?? ... Report

22-June: European GP – Qualifying Session: Juan Pablo Montoya grabs his third Pole of the season ahead of Ralf Schumacher and Michael Schumacher. Rubens Barrichello, David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen make the top 6 ... Timed Results ... Report ... Notes

22-June: European GP – 2nd Saturday Practice Session: Michael Schumacher sets the fastest time of the session ahead of Kimi Raikkonen and Rubens Barrichello. Nick Heidfeld, Ralf Schumacher and Mika Salo make the top 6 ... Timed Results ... Report ... Notes

22-June: European GP – 1st Saturday Practice Session: Michael Schumacher sets the fastest time of the session ahead of Rubens Barrichello and Ralf Schumacher. Juan Pablo Montoya, Nick Heidfeld and Kimi Raikkonen make the top 6 ... Timed Results ... Report ... Notes.

European Formula 1 Grand Prix Schedule:

Session	Time (Local / GMT) - Current local time
Friday Practice Session 1 Friday Practice Session 2 Saturday Practice Session 1 Saturday Practice Session 2 Qualifying Session Warm-up Session Race	11 AM Nurburg Time / 9 AM GMT 1 PM Nurburg Time / 11 AM GMT 8:15 AM Nurburg Time / 6:15 AM GMT 9:30 AM Nurburg Time / 7:30 AM GMT 12:15 PM Nurburg Time / 10:15 PM GMT 9:30 AM Nurburg Time / 7:30 AM GMT 2 PM Nurburg Time / 12 PM GMT
Go to the European GP Page