The fifth grid position for A1 Team Netherlands in the feature race offers the team perspective of leaving Malaysia with a good result. The team will have to start the Sprint race from tenth on the grid.
Jeroen Bleekemolen commented, "The first run actually started really well for us, we were in third. I though, this is looking much better than in free practice. This morning we just had many problems. The second run we also had new tyres, but suddenly we suffered from tremendous understeer. That was a bit strange because we did not change the car. It also was a shame, otherwise we could have well been in the top six for the sprint race grid. Qualifying for the Feature race just went well, we only had one set of new tyres left. On the old tyres it also went reasonably well. We were in tenth, but some teams had gone out on new tyres. In the final lap I pushed the car to it's maximum. During the qualifying we managed to improve quite a bit. The quys did a really good job, took the right steps. I am pleased that we are in fifth, then one podium is within direct reach. In the Sprint race we should try and take points. The good thing is that both New Zealand and South Africa are behind us, that could work out well for us in the Championship."
Team boss Jan Lammers added, "This morning it looked like it was going to be a weekend of damage control. Then it is not easy to turn the tide. Surprisingly we were closest to the front runners in the most technical mid section of the circuit, with the most turns and the most difficult part for the driver. In the first sector we had the most problems. That meant working hard. First you have to understand the problem. Jeroen does tell us what the car is or isn't doing, that you have to translate into something that works. The difficult part is making changes that bring improvement, certainly not making it worse. In the four short sessions everything has to be a direct hit. That the guys just did very well. Jeroen, Tim Wright and Erik Schuivens worked in harmony and fortunately we got the car close to the top just before the races tomorrow. It is not only the car inside the top five in the final session, it is also being inside the top five this weekend, with almost everyone going out on new tyres. It is a good feeling to be able to turn around a bad weekend this way. Tomorrow Jeroen will have to work hard in the Sprint race, we can't assist him there with pitstops. It is completely up to him to make the best of it. For the Feature race fortunately our onset is better."
