Malaysian GP: Super Aguri Saturday qualifying notes

Super Aguri F1 Team has maintained its performance momentum from the opening race of the 2007 season and once again made the cut in to Q2 of today's Qualifying Session. In Q1, Anthony encountered traffic on his quick laps, but was still able to finish in 18th position.

Takuma made it into Q2 by ending the first session in 16th position, however he was able to improve on his fastest lap time and will start the Malaysian Grand Prix tomorrow in 14th position on the grid.

Takuma Sato:

"It was a tough Qualifying. Having had a difficult free practice session, I missed the opportunity to do the soft tyre run properly in FP3. Going into Qualifying you really need to focus, and I did the best I could but unfortunately, as a team, we made a mistake for the tyre choice in the first session which knocked my confidence, rhythm and lap time."

"It was very hard to go through Q1, however I re-focussed and we just made it through to Q2. We improved in the second session, but the whole of Qualifying was tough. We should be happy with our result today, but it could have possibly been better. We are where we expected to be because this is such a demanding circuit, so even though I am slightly disappointed, at the same time I am happy and looking forward to tomorrow with hope."

Anthony Davidson:

"I'm a bit frustrated with Qualifying because I had traffic on my lap on the soft tyre. The first run was okay, my banker lap on the harder tyre gave me P12 at that time, so I was confident I could improve on that easily in my second run. But the Toro Rosso held me up on his out lap and my flying lap and that was enough to ensure that I didn't improve on my time and didn't make it out of the first session, which is a shame."

Graham Taylor, Sporting Director:

"It's quite strange having a disappointed feeling when you've got a car through to Q2. We did not enjoy the best run in Q1 from a traffic prospective, especially for Anthony. He's annoyed at one or two of the other drivers who did not pay enough attention to their mirrors when he was on his performance lap and that cost him time."

"We got Takuma through into Q2, which is fantastic, and it's where we believe a Super Aguri car should be. We are a young team and we are all growing up and need to take this on the chin and move forward."

Takuma Sato
Chassis: SA07-04
Grid Position: 14th
Lap Time: 1:36.430

Anthony Davidson
Chassis: SA07-02
Grid Position: 18th
Lap Time: 1:36.816

-credit: super aguri