Silverstone Quali - what is it with Finns and this circuit?

Congrats Heikki for his first ever pole position.. And just before he did it, I was really happy for Webber, for the brief two or three seconds that he held that elusive pole before Heikki snatched it away. I would have been very happy also for Red Bull to get their first ever pole position.

But what is it with Finns and this circuit, and in particular the qualifying at Silverstone. Actually, looking at the history, we've had 3 world champions (in four seasons) and only twice the winner of Silverstone's Formula One Grand Prix has been a Finnish driver, with Mika Hakkinen for McLaren in 2001, and Kimi Raikkonen last year when he won it for Ferrari. One might say "below par" performance for the Finnish grand prix champions over the years.

But look at the qualifying at Silverstone, and it tells of a different story. Silverstone is one of the fastest race tracks, requiring that banzai lap mentality, like Monza in Italy and Spa in Belgium, truly maddening speed. And for that qualifying, you need to be at your best. In the most demanding racing series, in their fastest races, and in that qualifying moment, when you need to be at your utmost best.

So, back in the 1980s, the British Grand Prix alternated between Brand's Hatch and Silverstone. The first Finnish world champion, Keke Rosberg was driving for Williams-Honda in 1985 at Silverstone, when he put that Williams on pole position. The first time ever a Finn had taken the pole at Silverstone (Keke had also taken pole at Brand's Hatch in 1982). Keke did not manage to turn it into points, he did not finish the race in 1985. But the record books showed him as the first Finnish pole sitter for the Silverstone GP.

But what a lap it was. Not only the fastest lap of the Silverstone weekend. It was not only the fastest lap of 1985. It was not only the fastest lap ever recorded at Silverstone, it stood to remain the fastest lap ever in any race in Formula One, for the next 16 years.. What is it about Silverstone and the Finnish race drivers?

Mika Hakkinen, our two-time world champion won at Silverstone in 2001, for McLaren-Mercedes. He did not win it from pole but from second on the grid. But prior to that, he had taken the pole position at Silverstone twice before, in 1998 (finishing 2nd) and 1999 (did not finish).

Kimi Raikkonen our third world champ won it finally at Silversone last year 2007 from second on the grid, but he had finished on the pole three years earlier, in 2004.

Now Heikki Kovalainen took his first ever pole position of his F1 career, yes at Silverstone. What is it with Finnish race drivers and that challenge of the speed of Silverstone?

Its not just these top drivers. We've had other drivers in F1 who didn't win races, but who somehow managed to do well at Silverstone. JJ Lehto drove in 1991 for a backmarker team, Dallara-Judd. At Silverstone he totally outclassed his partner and put the Dallara on 11th on the grid. He finished the race 13th.

Mika Salo, early on his career drove for backmarker Tyrrell-Yamaha (a dog of a car) and when he came to Silverstone, he managed to qualify that car on 14th, ahead of his team mate.

Mika Salo late in his career drove for Toyota, which was a pale version of Toyota today, but could perhaps with a lot of generosity, be called a mid-field team in 2002. Came Silverstone, and Salo qualified his Toyota 8th, yes, ahead of his team mate, but was unable to finish the race.

And last year, when Heikki was with the underpowered Renault, he was under fire early in the season outshadowed by Fisichella, but at Silverstone, Heikki pulled it off, qualifying the Renault at 7th ahead of his successful team mate, and better yet, he finished also 7th, ahead of Fisi.

So what is it about Silverstone that brings out this banzai lap out of the Finnish drivers..

Actually, we can go back even further for a bit of trivia. In 1972 the British GP was held at Brand's Hatch. But that year there was a GP at Silverstone as well, not part of Formula One, but there was a Finnish winner of Silverstone that year, by the first-ever Finnish F1 driver. Not driving an F1 car that year, he was the reigning champion of the Interserie class of prototype sportscars (we know them as the Le Mans cars today) Leo won the Silverstone event as one of his six wins in the 9 race season, finishing with a massive lead over the runner-up, to take his second of three consecutive Interserie championships. What is it about Silverstone and Finnish drivers.

Now, as there have been 21 races at Silverstone since 1985 (1986 was held at Brand's Hatch), and there have been 5 pole positions by Finns - and not by one dominating driver like Michael Schumacher of Germany, by four different Finns - that is almost one in four pole positions since 1985 at Silverstone held by Finns. Something quite special about that circuit. And if not on pole, we've seen Mika and Kimi right up there, second or third several times as well. Yes, what is it about Silverstone and Finns?

Must be the speed...

Now, after this celebration of Finnishness, ha-ha, lets get to today's qualifying.

Was an exciting hour. Shame about David Coulthard, would have liked him in the final 10 especially as the Red Bull was more competitive than one could have expected. As this is his last home GP, too bad.. We'll miss the old "square-head" (DC's head looks almost exactly square, very unusual shape, I always wonder about his helmets ha-ha..)

Heikki, great job. Truly great. I honestly hope for him to turn it now into his first GP win of his career. Would be great for him and the team.

Hamilton. What was with it, that he did not even congratulate his team mate when they were waiting for the weigh-in. Lewis seems very heavily overburdened by expectations and pressure. I hope his head is straight for the race. But as to strategy, judging by Hamilton's sour expression, Heikki should be very well fuelled for a good strategy.

Webber. Great front row, would have loved for him to get the pole position. But I'm pretty sure he is fuelled very lightly, will not be in contention for the win. Points yes, but not for the win. The race has been sacrificed for the glory of the front row start.

Kimi at third, he fought hard but didn't quite make it. I think it will be very much up to Kimi vs Heikki - and wouldn't all of Finland love that - and of course the beautiful ending would be a 1-2 finish with Heikki getting his first win. But McLaren has seemed stronger this weekend, so I don't seriously think Kimi has the chance to win, but he might easily run Heikki hard most of the way. As Silverstone is a circuit where overtaking happens, I expect Kimi to get past Webber early on..

Hamilton. Has not seemed happy with his car and setup all weekend. Heikki has gotten the better of this track (ha-ha, Finns and Silverstone). Yes, podium perhaps, but unless an incident or rain changes things, he is the supporing McLaren driver this race.

Alonso. doing well, Renault often do better at this circuit - their home race - than the average. Kubica, couldn't get into it at all for the final Qualifying. Heidfeld will need to lead BMW this race.

But Massa, where was Massa in the last minutes of Qualifying? He didn't seem to be on the track at all. What happened to him?

But yes, we're set for a very entertaining and exciting race at Silverstone, and I do hope it won't rain, as this is well set up for a good race with the pack mixed up a bit, the two championship leaders in mid-field (Massa and Kubica), and with Lewis and Kimi on the second row, chasing Heikki on pole (sorry Webber, you're really not in it). And judging by some of the speed of Alonso, I would not be surprised to see Fernando even in the mix if the strategy is just right and a little bit of luck comes his way.

And as to Donington, it will be a shame to lose Silverstone after next year - especially as it has been so kind to Finnish drivers in its qualifying. Lets see if they do as well in years to come at Donington.

But for now, I can't wait for tomorrow for Silverstone 2008. Go Heikki !!