Alonso takes pole amidst more McLaren drama
September 9th 2007 12:09
Pole for Alonso
It was a timely performance from the Spaniard, who was serene behind the wheel of his MP4-22, during a tumultuous weekend for the Woking squad.
Several of Milan’s finest payed visit to McLaren’s hulking technology centre in the Monza paddock, and slapped five senior McLaren employees, including team boss Ron Dennis, with writs.
The all-McLaren front row has been somewhat overshadowed by the re-emergence of the Nigel Stepney/Mike Coughlan espionage scandal, with news that new evidence has come to light, and the sports governing body, the FIA are left to consider penalising the team with exclusion.
The team escaped punishment in July after the World Motor Sport Council declared insufficient evidence was available to apply sanction, when rival team Ferrari alleged that the 780 pages of technical information found in Coughlan’s home was used by McLaren for competitive gain.
However, new evidence has re-sparked the controversial investigation, and emails, telephone calls and other forms of communication from McLaren employees are being examined
Alonso himself came into the spotlight, when leaked emails between himself and McLaren third driver, Pedro de la Rosa apparently referred to how Stepney divulged Ferrari’s tyre-related secrets to Coughlan.
So, with the sun smiling down upon the historic circuit, Ron Dennis refused to let his boys get distracted by the enormous legal cloud that is beginning to envelope McLaren’s garages.
It certainly didn’t slow down Alonso, who was serene as he launched himself over the kerbs and beat home teammate, and title leader, Lewis Hamilton for pole.
The McLaren duo dominated the session, and ended the day with laps over half a second faster that third placed man, Felipe Massa, who was unable wring out enough pace from his Ferrari to trouble the McLarens.
Nick Heidfeld piloted his BMW into fourth on the grid, ahead of Kimi Raikkonen who clearly suffered from time lost after his enormous shunt in morning practice.
Heidfeld’s teammate Robert Kubica was fifth fastest, followed by fellow young guns Heikki Kovalainen (Renault) and Nico Rosberg (Williams).
Qualifying specialist, Jarno Trulli was ninth in his Toyota, while Jenson Button spearheaded an improved Honda outfit with tenth place.
Elswhere on the grid, Renault’s Giancarlo Fisichella slammed Honda’s Rubens Barricello for holding him up and costing him a place in the top ten, while David Coulthard suffered problems with his Red Bull and will start 20th, ahead only of the two Spyker’s, whose B-Spec car failed to deliver the increased performance they hoped for.
Interest right now might lay primarily with the unfolding espionage drama involving McLaren, but should Fernando convert his pole into a win, the chase for the title will recapture imaginations – as we edge closer to the season’s end. It’s sure to be a thriller.
01 F. Alonso McLaren 1:21.997
02 L. Hamilton McLaren 1:22.034
03 F. Massa Ferrari 1:22.549
04 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:23.174
05 K. Räikkönen Ferrari 1:23.183
06 R. Kubica BMW 1:23.446
07 H. Kovalainen Renault 1:24.102
08 N. Rosberg Williams 1:24.382
09 J. Trulli Toyota 1:24.555
10 J. Button Honda 1:25.165
11 M. Webber Red Bull 1:23.166
12 R. Barrichello Honda 1:23.176
13 A. Wurz Williams 1:23.209
14 A. Davidson Super Aguri 1:23.274
15 G. Fisichella Renault 1:23.325
16 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:23.351
17 T. Sato Super Aguri 1:23.749
18 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:23.787
19 V. Liuzzi Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:23.886
20 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:24.019
21 A. Sutil Spyker F1 1:24.699
22 S. Yamamoto Spyker F1 1:25.084
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