Formula One: Weather disrupts qualifying
Only the first session was finished at the sodden Albert Park street circuit in Melbourne.
MELBOURNE:
Race officials postponed the final two sessions of qualifying at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix until Sunday’s race day after heavy rain led to treacherous track conditions.
Only the first session was finished at the sodden Albert Park street circuit in Melbourne with the start of the second session delayed twice before officials abandoned attempts to complete qualifying for grid positions.
Steady rain made for chaotic driving conditions in the first 20-minute session. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany was quickest in the challenging first session in a time of one minute and 43.380 seconds.
The second session will start six hours before the race gets under way. “It’s a shame because of the weather,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. “But absolutely the right decision was made to stop the qualifying and postpone it for today.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 17th, 2013.
Race officials postponed the final two sessions of qualifying at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix until Sunday’s race day after heavy rain led to treacherous track conditions.
Only the first session was finished at the sodden Albert Park street circuit in Melbourne with the start of the second session delayed twice before officials abandoned attempts to complete qualifying for grid positions.
Steady rain made for chaotic driving conditions in the first 20-minute session. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany was quickest in the challenging first session in a time of one minute and 43.380 seconds.
The second session will start six hours before the race gets under way. “It’s a shame because of the weather,” said Red Bull team principal Christian Horner. “But absolutely the right decision was made to stop the qualifying and postpone it for today.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 17th, 2013.