Fernando Alonso should - in theory - be the first driver to pit for fuel in tomorrow's 66-lap Spanish Grand Prix as his eighth position on the grid was achieved with the lightest fuel load of the 20 car field. While the Renault driver is running slightly light on fuel, so is pole sitter and championship leader Jenson Button in his Brawn Mercedes.

Button, along with team-mate Rubens Barrichello, who starts third, have traditionally carried more fuel into the race than their immediate rivals, but this weekend in Spain it is Sebastian Vettel in the leading Red Bull Renault who should, in theory, gain the advantage in the first round of pitstops from second position on the grid.

Ten KG of fuel around Circuit de Catalunya are said to worth just over three-tenths of a second and taking this into account, Vettel could have claimed the pole had the German racer had taken the same fuel into the final round of qualifying. Vettel was just over a tenth off the pace of Button this afternoon.

As it is, there is not a huge disparity amongst the front runners while those outside of the top ten have - generally - gone for a long first stint in the hope of making up places when other pit.

Thankfully for the 2010 season all of this fuel corrected nonsense will finally be consigned to the history books and the fastest driver in qualifying will be the fastest driver. Until then, we're stuck with a system that frankly continues to make a mockery of qualifying.

Barcelona - Qualifying Weight (kg)
1 . F. Alonso - Renault R29 - 645.0
2 . J.Button - Brawn Mercedes BGP 001 - 646.0
3 . T. Glock - Toyota TF109 - 646.5
4 . R. Barrichello - Brawn Mercedes BGP 001 - 649.5
5 . M. Webber - Red Bull Renault RB5 - 651.5
6 . S. Vettel - Red Bull Renault RB5 - 651.5
7 . F. Massa - Ferrari F60 - 655.0
8 . J. Trulli - Toyota TF109 - 655.5
9 . G. Fisichella - Force India Mercedes VJM02 - 656.0 *
10 . H. Kovalainen - McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 - 657.0 *
11 . R. Kubica - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 660.0
12 . N. Rosberg - Williams Toyota FW31 - 668.0
13 . S. Bourdais - Toro Rosso Ferrari STR4 - 669.0 *
14 . K. Raikkonen - Ferrari F60 - 673.0 *
15 . A. Sutil - Force India Mercedes VJM02 - 675.0 *
16 . N. Heidfeld - BMW Sauber F1.09 - 676.3 *
17 . K. Nakajima - Williams Toyota FW31 - 676.6 *
18 . N. Piquet - Renault R29 - 677.4 *
19 . S. Buemi - Toro Rosso Ferrari STR4 - 678.0 *
20 . L. Hamilton - McLaren Mercedes MP4-24 - 683.0 *

* Declared weight (outside of top ten)

Earl ALEXANDER
© CAPSIS International

 

Very interesting! So Lewis was heaviest and Kimi was way up there in weight as well. They both have crappy cars. But I am betting that strategy can get them into the points tomorrow - even from there terrible grid positions.

 

Massa is looking good for his position

 

I think Hamilton might have some tricks up his sleeve still.