European GP Tyrrell Friday notes

September 29, 1995 European Grand Prix First Qualifying

Mika Salo and Gabriele Tarquini set the 15th and 19th fastest times in the first qualifying session of the European GP. Mika's best time was 1 min 23.058 sec and Gabriele's was 1 min 24.286 sec.

Mika Salo: "The balance of the car is fine. I had a good lap but we can't go faster. Everything feels OK but I don't know where we are losing time. I have a little problem with the traction but it is not the main reason for our lack of speed. My experience of the circuit helped a little bit in the morning when I was eighth quickest at the beginning of the private testing, but then the other drivers learnt it pretty quickly! they should put qualifying after two laps this morning!"

Gabriele Tarquini: "I went out twice at the wrong time in qualifying. AT the start of the session you couldn't use the kerbs which were wet. I set my first fastest lap on the third lap. Then it started to rain on my first flying lap with the second set of tyres and I spun at the exit of the hairpin. I am happy to drive a Formula 1 car again at a Grand Prix meeting. In the last two months I have driven mainly touring cars and the driving is completely different, especially the speed and the grip level in fast corners. This morning in the first session I was not very satisfied because I could not feel the car and I had to adapt to the fly-by-wire throttle. I am confident for tomorrow."

Harvey Postlethwaite, Managing Director - Engineering: "A difficult first qualifying for Gabriele because I am sure he would have got quicker and quicker towards the end of the session but unfortunately he got caught out by the rain and spun. Mika had his third run spoilt by the rain but did one timed lap right at the end and set his fastest lap. I am sure we haven't got the most out of the set up of the car."

Takaaki Kimura, Yamaha F1 Project Leader: "Today was little difficult, coping with the changeable weather during qualifying and learning a new circuit. Tomorrow we will be running new C spec engines in both cars and hoping for some improvements in our times."