1:40 pm: The track was dry but droplets of rain were starting to hit my windshield. I kept the slick tires for Q1 and finished 13th.
1:55 pm: The weather remained stable during Q2 and I was able to advance to Q3.
2:05 pm: The rain intensified and things were getting quite slippery after a few laps. I made a pit stop and the crew worked super fast to install the rain tires. I was 6th, so I needed to push even harder in hope of qualifying for the fourth and final session. As it turned out, I was the second fastest!
2:20 pm: Rain, rain, rain… I’m getting pretty used to it! I managed to complete a nice, clean lap (no mistakes) and was rewarded big time -- pole position! I thanked the entire crew for giving me such a competitive car, both on dry and wet tarmac. Then, the three fastest drivers went inside for the post-qualifying press conference. Boy, it was awesome to be sitting in the middle! The last time was following my pole position at Norisring in 2008.
5:30 pm: "Meet the Mercedes-Benz drivers". We answered a bunch of questions from fans and signed autographs. That was a pleasant hour.
6:30 pm: The engineers and I had a debriefing inside the Mercedes truck and prepared for Sunday’s race.
8 pm: We all had a great dinner thanks to Mercedes-Benz. Some race officials and marquee guests were in attendance, too. We watched a video of the season so far and then the drivers were introduced. This time, Maro Engel played host.
11 pm: Bed time. I began to wonder… what if I win?
Sunday, October 11
8 am: I had a good night’s sleep and a nice breakfast. Under a clearer sky, I arrived at the track. Some sections were still a bit wet, so I tried to stay cautious.
9:35 am: Fully geared, I began my warm-up. Some tuning had to be done, but the team’s main worry was choosing the right set of tires for the tough, high-speed corners of Dijon.
Noon: Following another debriefing at 10 am, I had lunch early and got inside the truck for a 20-minute siesta. I felt as ready as one can be!
1:30 pm: Tension built as we neared the start of the race. The crowd was huge and that got me excited. I could almost feel the bleachers shake from where I stood.
1:55 pm: The weather remained stable during Q2 and I was able to advance to Q3.
2:05 pm: The rain intensified and things were getting quite slippery after a few laps. I made a pit stop and the crew worked super fast to install the rain tires. I was 6th, so I needed to push even harder in hope of qualifying for the fourth and final session. As it turned out, I was the second fastest!
2:20 pm: Rain, rain, rain… I’m getting pretty used to it! I managed to complete a nice, clean lap (no mistakes) and was rewarded big time -- pole position! I thanked the entire crew for giving me such a competitive car, both on dry and wet tarmac. Then, the three fastest drivers went inside for the post-qualifying press conference. Boy, it was awesome to be sitting in the middle! The last time was following my pole position at Norisring in 2008.
5:30 pm: "Meet the Mercedes-Benz drivers". We answered a bunch of questions from fans and signed autographs. That was a pleasant hour.
6:30 pm: The engineers and I had a debriefing inside the Mercedes truck and prepared for Sunday’s race.
8 pm: We all had a great dinner thanks to Mercedes-Benz. Some race officials and marquee guests were in attendance, too. We watched a video of the season so far and then the drivers were introduced. This time, Maro Engel played host.
11 pm: Bed time. I began to wonder… what if I win?
 |
| Bruno Spengler is interviewed by the German journalists. |
Sunday, October 11
8 am: I had a good night’s sleep and a nice breakfast. Under a clearer sky, I arrived at the track. Some sections were still a bit wet, so I tried to stay cautious.
9:35 am: Fully geared, I began my warm-up. Some tuning had to be done, but the team’s main worry was choosing the right set of tires for the tough, high-speed corners of Dijon.
Noon: Following another debriefing at 10 am, I had lunch early and got inside the truck for a 20-minute siesta. I felt as ready as one can be!
1:30 pm: Tension built as we neared the start of the race. The crowd was huge and that got me excited. I could almost feel the bleachers shake from where I stood.