Team urges Davo to qualify better
Linked from http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?PO_ID=40029
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Super Aguri technical director Mark Preston says it is vital for Anthony Davidson to start qualifying better if the team is to keep scoring points.
He believes the team and driver must share responsibility for Davidson's fluctuating grid positions.
Davidson has often set extremely rapid times in practice before dropping down the order in qualifying.
He has made it through the first qualifying segment four times this season, but Preston feels Davidson and the car are fast enough to reach Q2 at every grand prix - and that it is crucial for him to do so.
"It has become fairly obvious to us that unless you start in the Q2 section of the grid, in a position between eleven and fourteen to be exact, there is not much chance of scoring points unless there is an act of God," he said.
"However, from this position on the grid a number of teams have proved that it is possible.
"Part of that process is working with Anthony to achieve a more consistent qualifying position.
"He has the speed to get through into Q2 and various mistakes made on both sides of the pit wall have meant that we have not delivered every time.
"This is an important focus."
Honours are virtually even in the Super Aguri qualifying battle, with Takuma Sato starting ahead of Davidson five times out of nine.
But the Japanese driver has scored all the team's points so far - coming from 13th to eighth in Spain and 11th to sixth in Canada.
Davidson's best qualifying result remains 11th in Melbourne, and he has finished in that position three times.
Despite his desire for better qualifying form, Preston said Super Aguri was very happy with Davidson's first full year on the Formula 1 grid.
"Obviously it has been a big step going from testing to racing; we saw this last year with Franck Montagny when he joined our team," he said.
"He is fitting in with the team well, which takes time as the majority of us have been working together for a year."
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Super Aguri technical director Mark Preston says it is vital for Anthony Davidson to start qualifying better if the team is to keep scoring points.
He believes the team and driver must share responsibility for Davidson's fluctuating grid positions.
Davidson has often set extremely rapid times in practice before dropping down the order in qualifying.
He has made it through the first qualifying segment four times this season, but Preston feels Davidson and the car are fast enough to reach Q2 at every grand prix - and that it is crucial for him to do so.
"It has become fairly obvious to us that unless you start in the Q2 section of the grid, in a position between eleven and fourteen to be exact, there is not much chance of scoring points unless there is an act of God," he said.
"However, from this position on the grid a number of teams have proved that it is possible.
"Part of that process is working with Anthony to achieve a more consistent qualifying position.
"He has the speed to get through into Q2 and various mistakes made on both sides of the pit wall have meant that we have not delivered every time.
"This is an important focus."
Honours are virtually even in the Super Aguri qualifying battle, with Takuma Sato starting ahead of Davidson five times out of nine.
But the Japanese driver has scored all the team's points so far - coming from 13th to eighth in Spain and 11th to sixth in Canada.
Davidson's best qualifying result remains 11th in Melbourne, and he has finished in that position three times.
Despite his desire for better qualifying form, Preston said Super Aguri was very happy with Davidson's first full year on the Formula 1 grid.
"Obviously it has been a big step going from testing to racing; we saw this last year with Franck Montagny when he joined our team," he said.
"He is fitting in with the team well, which takes time as the majority of us have been working together for a year."
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