• Monaco Grand Prix

Kubica sacrificed qualifying time for strong race

Robert Kubica has sacrificed qualifying pace for a strong race performance © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• Race:
• Monaco Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Robert Kubica

• Teams:
• Renault

Robert Kubica has revealed that his outstanding second-place qualifying lap in Monaco was clocked in a car set-up to be fast in the race rather than over one lap.

Kubica said he had erred on the side of caution to ensure his Renault, which was 0.3 seconds off the pace of Webber in pole position, will perform in the race.

"This morning [in final practice] I felt the car was a bit better with changes more for the race," he said. "I was scared with a lot of fuel we would have a lot of bottoming, we raised the car a bit so a bit of disadvantage for qualifying but for the race it should be better.

"Of course in Monaco the race is a bit different, it is not about race pace but bringing car home, pitting at the right moment, getting out of pitstop without traffic. The race pace helps but even if you are one second quicker it doesn't matter, you have to pit at the right moment, and get out ahead of everybody. That is how it works in Monaco."

He said his team had done a great job to get the car close to the Red Bulls after being such a long way behind a week ago in Spain.

"If the same car is 1.5 seconds quicker in Barcelona there is no reason why we should qualify in front of them," said Kubica. "I was surprised by the pace in practice but miracles don't happen in F1. Normally when you are very close there is a bit of upset but we have to be realistic, the team has done a great job."

He added that he was not concerned about missing out on pole position after coming so close.

"I am not disappointed, of course I am here to qualify as best I can and today we achieved it," said Kubica. "The first position is what counts but second or third is still good. We have to be realistic, for me, for us, it is a great achievement and we hope for good points tomorrow."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.