The Mercedes of Michael Schumacher played out a strategic qualifying session earlier today, as the 7-time World Champion failed to set a time in Q3 with the aim of saving tyres for tomorrows 66 lap race.
After three weeks of negativity against the Pirelli tyre, Schumacher opted to only run one installation lap towards the end of the qualifying session. With his team-mate Nico Rosberg setting a 01:23.005, Schumacher decided against a timed lap with the intention to not only save tyres but to also secure a grid position on the cleaner side of the track. However, this plan has now been thwarted after the penalty of Lewis Hamilton, which has subsequently moved Schumacher up a place and therefore onto the dirtier side of the grid for the start.
“We wanted to save tyres this afternoon, which dictated how we managed Q3.” Explained the 7-time World Champion, “I did not complete a timed lap, and now I still have the choice of what tyres to start on tomorrow. Equally, I thought it was better to start from ninth on the grid than eighth, and be on the clean side. It’s clear that some teams have taken a step forward after the three-week break. And I would also say that the field is now even closer together. It’s going to be a tight race tomorrow, although the forecast says it should be cooler, and it will be interesting to see if our choices today pay off at the end of the race.”
Michael Schumacher holds the record for the most amount of victories around the Circuit de Catalunya, however stepping on the top step of the podium for a seventh time tomorrow looks like a difficult prospect for F1’s most accomplished driver.
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