News briefs from Spa: Saturday

Fernando Alonso on Saturday said he is not worried after qualifying just tenth for the Belgian GP.
“This was the least important qualifying of the year because of the weather. Anything can happen so our goal is still the podium and victory,” the Ferrari driver told Spanish media.

Timo Glock has lost his impressive 17th on the Belgian GP grid with a five-place penalty for impeding HRT’s Sakon Yamamoto in qualifying.

“Can anyone explain why Timo gets a penalty for holding up Yamamoto but Trulli gets nothing for hitting Lucas (di Grassi) under yellows?!” said the Virgin team on Twitter.

Lotus’ Jarno Trulli was, however, fined EUR 4,400 for pitlane speeding.

There are few smiles in the Mercedes camp this weekend.

Michael Schumacher’s ten-place grid penalty for his Rubens Barrichello duel in Hungary drops him to 21st, and teammate Nico Rosberg is demoted to 17th due to an unscheduled gearbox change.

Neither W01 was fast enough to make the Q3 cut in Spa-Francorchamps qualifying.

“A few of the new parts we have here did not work,” Rosberg is quoted by the German media. “I am very much hoping for rain tomorrow.”

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