Belgian GP: Toro Rosso qualifying report

DRIVER RUMOURS?...

Young Belgian racer, Mannequin Pis in running to replace Vettel in 2009

Sebastien Bourdais (STR3-04)

"A qualifying session when I can get out of the car and say that I drove well and that the team, as usual did a good job. The car worked well even if we couldn't mix it too much with those ahead of us. But let's see what strategies the others are on in terms of fuel loads tomorrow. A couple of tenths is all that separated us from sixth or seventh. It's beginning to come together and it's been a good weekend so far. I feel this track and its corners suit me better. It was nice to see my name at the top of a time sheet in Q1. It's been a long time!"

Third Practice Session: Best lap 1.49.256, pos.14th, 19 laps
Qualifying Session: Best lap 1.48.951, Pos.9th

Sebastian Vettel (STR3-03)

"I'm quite happy and we can be satisfied to get both cars in Q3, which we did not expect at this track. It was a strong qualifying performance. I was struggling a bit on those sections where the driver doesn't have to do much. I could not find the pace my team- mate had. I messed up my last run a bit but it didn't affect the result in the end. I think we have a good strategy for both cars so let's see what happens. At the moment, I'm starting on the dirty side of the track but if it rains for the race it becomes the clean side."

Third Practice Session: Best lap 1.48.768, pos.6th, 16 laps
Qualifying Session: Best lap 1.50.319, pos.10th

Giorgio Ascanelli: "Better than expected, as I'd predicted tenth and thirteenth. It is the second race in a row that we get both cars into Q3 and they have run reliably. Clearly our guys are on two different strategies, so Vettel didn't get the full potential out of the car as he is clearly heavier and he didn't have the benefit of a first sighting run in Q3. Anything can happen at this track and for the race we wanted to have our cars positioned differently: the fastest driver and today that was Bourdais, gets the fastest strategy in Q3. Overall, it was a strong performance."

-credit: toro rosso