• Korean Grand Prix - Qualifying

Kubica insists he pushed to the limit

ESPNF1 Staff
October 23, 2010 « Button blames tyre temperature for qualifying struggle | »
Robert Kubica failed to live up to his practice pace © Getty Images
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Robert Kubica insists he pushed his Renault to the limit to take eighth place on the grid at the Korean Grand Prix.

Kubica topped the final practice session but couldn't match the front-running cars in qualifying after he struggled to find the same levels of grip in qualifying.

"The car had more oversteer than during free practice and I wasn't completely comfortable," he said. "If we had got everything perfect, we could probably have been a couple of tenths quicker, but we're right on the limit here."

He said starting from the unused and dirty side of the grid could be a significant disadvantage and he is hoping for rain to even things up.

"Unfortunately, starting eighth also means that I will start from the dirty side of the grid," he said. "This morning, in the dry, there was a huge difference between the two sides, but if it rains tomorrow perhaps it won't be such a disadvantage. It's not going to be an easy race, because everybody is very close together in terms of performance, but I will try to do my best tomorrow afternoon."

The pressure continued to mount on team-mate Vitaly Petrov after he spun his Renault during Q2 and will start 20th once his penalty from Japan has been applied.

"I was hoping to get into the top 10 today, to minimise the effect of the grid penalty, and it looked reasonable after Q1," Petrov said. "During the second part of qualifying, I made a mistake by pushing too hard, touched the kerb and spun. The tyres were then so dirty that I couldn't set a proper competitive lap time afterwards. It's a pity, but I must now focus on the race, and take every opportunity that comes to me."

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