Frentzen Encouraged Despite Error

German Heinz-Harald Frentzen was encouraged ahead of his home Grand Prix after finishing in 13th position in today's first qualifying session at the Hockenheim circuit.

Despite a driving error at the first corner of his flying lap, the Sauber driver managed to post a promising time ahead of tomorrow's final session.

"Today I made my first mistake of the season in qualifying," said the German. "In the first turn I went off track and lost quite a lot of time. The rest of my lap was fantastic. I think this track suits us, because without that mistake we'd have been close to the top 10."

Compatriot and teammate Nick Heidfeld finished right behind Frentzen, his progress hampered by an error in the practice session that saw him damaging the bottom of his car ahead of qualifying.

"I think my lap was okay," said Heidfeld. "I didn't get the best out of the car because in the free practice this morning I destroyed the floor when I ran wide in the first corner, and also I didn't run with a low fuel load so I didn't really know what to expect from the car this afternoon.

"Beside this, the front tyres began graining from the middle of the lap, generating understeer."