Malaysian GP: Williams Sunday qualifying notes

Mark Webber will start this afternoon's Malaysian Grand Prix from the second row, having qualified fourth, whereas team-mate Nick Heidfeld will start a few rows behind, having achieved the 10th best aggregate time. The race will start at 15:00 local time (CET).

Mark Webber:

"It's obviously tricky for the drivers to come here and do the best they can on their first lap out with a very different fuel load from yesterday and consequently with a car which is 2 1/2 or even 3 seconds slower."

"Qualifying in Melbourne was atypical so today's result should reflect more the true situation. I am pleased with my lap time and it will be interesting to see how the race will unfold since, of course, fuel loads are different for everyone."

Nick Heidfeld:

"It wasn't the best lap for me today. I am not satisfied with it. I made a mistake on turn four, which cost me some time and therefore a few grid positions. On top of that, the balance of my car was quite different from what I had expected and my FW27 was hard to handle. Anyway, we'll see how the race goes, since our pace on Friday in the long runs was pretty good and we are therefore confident."

Sam Michael (Technical Director, WilliamsF1):

"It was a mixed qualifying session for us. Mark put himself in a good position for today's race. It is a shame about Nick's lap. He lost about half a second due to a mistake in sector two."

"It is going to be a long race in very hot conditions this afternoon. After the first clean and normal qualifying sessions of the season, we are now looking forward to see where the true pace of everyone in the race is."

Mario Theissen (BMW Motorsport Director):

"It was a second final qualifying with a mixed result for us. Mark gained two positions whereas Nick lost two in respect to Saturday's first qualifying. I think Mark's lap was very good."

"He'll start this demanding and hot race from the second row, which is a good grid position. After an outstanding first sector Nick went off track at turn four and he lost quite some time there together with the chance to get a better place on the grid."

Mark Webber
Chassis: FW27 03
Aggregate time: 3:08.904, 4th

Nick Heidfeld
Chassis: FW27 04
(T-car FW27 02)
Aggregate time: 3:09.917, 10th

-williams-