Comparison of Friday and Saturday qualifying times

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For each driver their Friday qualifying time is given, then their Saturday qualifying time and then the difference between the two.

M Schumacher : Fri 1:27.103, Sat 1:27.173, diff +0.070
R Schumacher : Fri 1:28.266, Sat 1:28.830, diff +0.564
J-P Montoya : Fri 1:27.450, Sat 1:28.101, diff +0.651
H-H Frentzen : Fri 1:27.563, Sat 1:28.274, diff +0.711
O Panis : Fri 1:27.352, Sat 1:28.288, diff +0.936
N Heidfeld : Fri 1:27.510, Sat 1:28.464, diff +0.954
R Barrichello: Fri 1:26.372, Sat 1:27.418, diff +1.046
R Firman : Fri 1:29.977, Sat 1:31.242, diff +1.265
J Button : Fri 1:27.159, Sat 1:28.682, diff +1.523
J Villeneuve : Fri 1:26.832, Sat 1:28.420, diff +1.588
A Pizzonia : Fri 1:30.092, Sat 1:31.723, diff +1.631
F Alonso : Fri 1:27.255, Sat 1:28.928, diff +1.673
D Coulthard : Fri 1:27.242, Sat 1:28.928, diff +1.686
M Webber : Fri 1:27.675, Sat 1:29.367, diff +1.692
G Fisichella : Fri 1:27.633, Sat 1:29.344, diff +1.711
J Trulli : Fri 1:27.411, Sat 1:29.136, diff +1.725
C da Matta : Fri 1:27.478, Sat 1:29.538, diff +2.060
K Räikkönen : Fri 1:26.551, Sat 1:29.470, diff +2.919
(Wilson, Verstappen no Sat qual time set)

Everyone was slower in the Saturday session though that was expected given the heavier Saturday fuel loads. Raikkonen made a mistake on Saturday so no conclusion can be drawn there. Michael Schumacher was obviously affected by going out first on Friday.

Nevertheless can we draw from these comparisons any idea as to what fuel loads were being run in today's session? The Renaults, for example, were slower today by over 1.5secs - heavy fuel loads? Williams and Sauber running lighter and intending to stop earlier tomorrow? Draw whatever conclusions you will.

[Adam43]

There are a couple of errors you have to consider.

1) Statistical errors. On a one lap qualifying lap how consistent can each driver be. Some made big errors and these are noticed. Some small (a couple of tenths?) that weren't noticed.

2) Systematic. How different was the track for each driver between Friday and Saturday? The trac will be different on both days (surface/weather/etc...). Also som went out near the end on Saturday and near the begining on Friday.

3) Another systematic. They have had more practice time since Q1. So the cars should all be set-up better.

Thro all that into the pot and it is very difficult to know what is going on.

But those comparisons are the only thing we have to give us an idea of what qualifying represents.