Austrian GP Saturday McLaren notes

AUSTRIAN GRAND PRIX 1998 - QUALIFYING

Chassis Numbers: David Coulthard MP4 - 13 04 Mika Hakkinen MP4 -13 06 T Car MP4 - 13 03

Treacherous conditions caused by heavy rain prior to qualifying meant that the majority of teams waited until the second half hour of qualifying before going out. On a drying track the tyre choice became paramount, as all the teams tried to assess the optimum moment at which to run on the right set of tyres and as close to the end of the session as possible. The West McLaren Mercedes drivers finished qualifying with Mika setting his best time on his final lap with a 1:30.517 whilst David Coulthard finished fourteenth with a 1:32.399 following an off on his last attempt.

MIKA HAKKINEN 'The conditions were more difficult than I had expected them to be especially as it was so very slippery. Therefore, it was hard to find the confidence under braking as it was so easy to loose the rear end. As for tomorrow, it is always difficult to overtake but I shall be aiming for a win.'

DAVID COULTHARD 'I didn't manage to do a [good] time in the qualifying session today partly because initially I had difficulty getting the intermediates to come in and then I kept locking the rear axle on the entry to the corners. Finally, I ran wide on my way round my last full timed lap. So, that kind of performance puts me fourteenth on the grid.'

RON DENNIS 'I am very disappointed not to be on pole. It was something we could have achieved if it had not been for the traffic which Mika encountered on his last lap. David made a mistake which has given him a very difficult grid position, but in these conditions if you don't try you don't succeed.'

NORBERT HAUG 'It was a very good drive by Mika and he is ahead of Michael Schumacher under the same circumstances, both on intermediate tyres. David unfortunately went wide on his last quick lap, which ruined his lap time. I am pleased for Giancarlo, who was a good competitor in the DTM days, as well as for the Benetton guys who deserved the pole. A very good job from Jean Alesi and the Sauber team too. We should be in good shape for the race