Belgian GP: HRT qualifying report

Hispania Racing, HRT F1 Team achieved its best qualifying result of the season

It was a positive day for Hispania Racing, HRT F1 Team as both drivers, Bruno Senna and Sakon Yamamoto, were able to achieve their best results of the season in a qualifying session, where the team chose the right strategy at the right time. The Brazilian is going to start the race in 18th position (2.03.612) and the Japanese in 19th (2.03.941). The rain made it a very tricky and challenging session. Before, the third practice session started under dry conditions and the drivers of the Spanish team clocked their fastest lap times of 1.51.133 for Bruno Senna (20th) and 1.52.001 for Sakon Yamamoto (24th).

Dr Colin Kolles, Team Principal:
"It was a thrilling qualifying and we were a bit unlucky not to get into the second part of the qualifying. Sakon Yamamoto and Bruno Senna achieved their best qualifying results this season and before the first rain showers, they were positioned 13th and 18th respectively. The team was prepared very well for the different conditions and we went out on the right tyres at the right time. We got good weather updates and we could inform the drivers very well about the possible rain and wet kerbs on the circuit. We are looking forward to another exciting race tomorrow and we are hoping for some rain again."

Sakon Yamamoto, Race driver #20:
"I am happy to have done my best qualifying result of the season today. We tried to set a lap time with dry tyres because we expected rain coming quickly, so we went out. As expected, during the dry tyre run the rain came and it was really difficult to manage it. Then, we set quite a good position for going into Q2. I think all of us prayed for the rain, but unfortunately it stopped, so we decided to go on intermediate tyres again. As I was blocked by another car on my first lap on the intermediates and maybe I could have done a better time. But there are going to be similar conditions tomorrow, so we will try to do our best and do a good race."

Bruno Senna, Race driver #21:
"Today was a good day to experience what a rain shower could do to the circuit. One part of the track was dry and the other one was wet. So, it was a bit of a difficult situation and a gamble to choose which tyres to use. Normally, you stay out with the dry tyres, but it's easy to go crash with cold tyres. We decided to go on intermediates and we did our fastest lap with these. All in all, I achieved my best qualifying result today and hopefully, there are some rain showers again tomorrow, which can bring some surprises."

-source: hrt