Austrian GP: McLaren Friday qualifying notes

West McLaren Mercedes drivers David Coulthard and Kimi Raikkonen set the seventh and eighth fastest times in today's one lap qualifying session. David set a time of 1:08.947 and Kimi did 1:08.978.

David Coulthard:

"Today's time is a bit disappointing as I was faster in this morning's practice with more fuel. At the first two corners I felt that I was not really on the limit and as a result at the third corner, I tried a bit more and ended up with lots of oversteer. However we will see what happens tomorrow as I know there is still a couple of more tenths to be found."

Kimi Raikkonen:

"Of course I would have liked to be further up the grid. I took it pretty easy in order to get a time and tomorrow we have more time to work on the set up and should be able to further improve the car. Today's qualifying is just a little practice before the real thing."

Ron Dennis, team principal:

"Inevitably on the first day of running the circuit cleans up throughout the session and the pace quickens, which coupled with a somewhat conservative approach to Friday's qualifying saw us finishing seventh and eighth. However as always it's tomorrow and the race that count."

Norbert Haug, Mercedes motorsport director:

"Friday's qualifying has not been our strong point so far this season and this is the case here in Austria as well. However more rubber and more grip on the track should help us tomorrow and on race day."

David Coulthard: MP4-17D 08
Kimi Raikkonen: MP4-17D 09
T-car (David): MP4-17D 07
Spare: MP4-17D 06

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