It does well know - Formula 1 is pinnacle of motorsport. There's no other such high-tech or blindingly fast form of motorsport, except for land speed records. But it's totally different story. It is also true, that qualifying - pinnacle of F1 week-end. Machine, driver and all men-power of the team put to hardest test over one final single lap. No mistakes, corrections or time to fix anything. We've got a rare chance to see it live, from ING Renault F1 team boxes.

Radio transmission between team and driver are rare, unlike other members of race drivers fraternity Fernando and Nelsinho don't need to chat with their engineers all time. As usual from the go Renault drivers don't hurry to put a mileage, drivers from down the grid leave pitlane to clean race trajectory while big teams wait to spare chances.

With only few minutes left until the end of Q1 all system are go. Mechanics put tires on, remove tire warmers, disconnect main data cables in cockpit and fire the engine. Both drivers leave to do two laps each - both use sets of new soft tires. Lap times give a good understanding of their place amongst rest of the field - Alonso 6-th, while Nelsinho Piquet-jr complain about brake problems and unfortunately later retire from qualifying, Pat Symonds executive director of engineering commented later, "Nelson dropped out of qualifying after loosing a brake duct which overheated his brakes and caused him to spin"

Piquet's teammate Alonso manages to set time in dying seconds of Q2 session that would allow him into Q2 and continue his battle to the top. From now on, team focuses only on their star, double world champion Fernando. Spaniard return to pits where team speak their very own language, "Please make sure to set 7.1.8". Few minutes of rest before his engineer start countdown and "Please, go" start next session for a ex-champion.

Two runs on a new set of tires and Alonso battle for survival but fortunately late attempts from other driver demote him only to 10th place = Q3 but Spaniard reply to team over his position was "This is the limit". During the third session drivers filled-up with fuel in regard to race strategy that was set by engineers and decided using predicted race development, tires data and fuel.

Final run is short, 10 minutes only and that's just enough to do two runs, again using sets of soft compound tires. First attempt give hope that Alonso can achieve a time within top 5 places but a little mistake at his final lap result in 8th starting position, "I have mixed feelings from this qualifying session. Q2 was really difficult and we only just made it through to Q3 in tenth position, but our level of performance and lack of pace meant we could only manage eighth on the grid, which is a bit disappointing. Unfortunately I will start from the dirty side of the track, which will make the start of the race difficult, but I still hope that I can challenge for some good points in the race."