Kobayashi will start in seventh position at Suzuka
Ranked tenth initially, Kamui Kobayashi will finally start from seventh place on the grid thanks to his attempted flying lap at the end of the session.
Initially placed in tenth position on the starting grid by the FIA’s computer system, the Japanese driver will eventually start from seventh place, contrary to the initial ranking, which placed the drivers who hadn’t completed a timed lap in the order of their numbers, namely M. Schumacher ahead of B. Senna, V. Petrov, and K. Kobayashi.
It turns out that the regulation on this point is very clear. The order of the drivers who have not set a time is defined as follows: first the drivers who attempted a timed lap, then the drivers who drove without setting a time, and finally the drivers who did not go out. It is only in the event of a tie that priority is given to those who went out first, then, if they did not go out, the ranking is established based on the car number.
However, it turns out that Kobayashi is the only one of the four drivers who tried to set off for a timed lap. This “risk-taking” is therefore rewarded, since despite the absence of a time in Q3 for the Sauber driver, he finds himself just behind the three top teams and on the favorable side of the grid, at home no less. This is good news that will be welcomed with joy by the Japanese crowd, always present during this event in Suzuka.
