Mixed result for Williams in Turkish Qualifying

With Nico Rosberg finishing the final practice in fifth and Alex Wurz in eleventh there was the prospect of a good result in qualifying for the 2007 Turkish Grand Prix. It was another hot day with a track temperature of 50 degrees. The first fifteen minute period would get underway with Sato first out joined by Liuzzi and Yamamoto. Sutil would join his team-mate out on the track. The harder Bridgestone tyre has been the preferred tyre so far this weekend. Alex would leave the pit lane followed by Vettel. Nico would also come out as well as both the Toyota's.

Next out came both the Renault's. Liuzzi would go fastest, 1m:29.451 followed by Yamamoto and Sutil. Sato would pit. Alex was on a quick lap that would see him fastest with a 1m:28.550. Both Red Bull cars were now out on the track. Vettel was now third, 1m:29.547, as Liuzzi pitted. Both Spyker's were now in the pits. Nico's first lap would see him fastest with a 1m:28.275. Hamilton had left the pit lane. Alex would pit while Fisichella moved into third, 1m:28.845. Team-mate Kovalainen was now second, 1m:28.332. Both BMW's were out on the track. Alex would return to the track while Button moved in fourth, 1m:28.776. Nico would pit. Coulthard was now third and Trulli fifth.

Everyone was now out on the track, including both Ferrari's and Alonso. Nico was still fastest and Alex in fourth Hamilton would push Nico into second when he set a time of 1m:27.513 to move to the top of the times. But he was quickly beaten by Raikkonen, 1m:27.294. The BMW's of Kubica and Heidfeld would move into third and fourth. Alex was on the track looking to improve on seventh. Alonso's first lap would see him second, 1m:27.328. Massa was now third, 1m:27.488. Hamilton was now in fourth. There were now only a handful of drivers out on the track, including the top three with three minutes remaining. Alex would pit seeing Nico and Alex now in seventh and ninth. Yamamoto would spin his car at Turn ten but was able to continue.

Raikkonen and Alonso would pit as the majority of the bottom half of the grid returned to the track for their final laps. With the end of the period Nico or Alex had comfortably made it into the next period. Davidson had moved into eighth on his last lap. Those not to make the cut were Liuzzi, Schumacher, Sato, Vettel, Sutil, and Yamamoto. At the front the order was Raikkonen from Alonso, Massa, Hamilton, Kubica, Heidfeld, Kovalainen, Nico, Davidson, Fisichella, Trulli, Alex, Button, Coulthard, Webber, and Barrichello. Alex had been pushed down the order by the likes of Fisichella and Davidson.

Would be Williams drivers be able to make it through into Q3? Q2 would start with no one leaving the pit lane, even after several minutes. Alex would be the first driver to leave the pit lane. Alex was on the softer tyre. Trulli was next out, followed by Webber and Davidson. Nico would join Alex on the track. Both Renault's would leave the pit lane. Alex would run wide at Turn ten and would abandon his lap returning to his pit. The first timed lap would be set by Trulli with a 1m:28.368. Webber would move ahead of the Toyota with a 1m:28.013. Hamilton and both Ferrari's were out on the track.

Only the BMW's had yet to join the period. Kovalainen was now fastest with a 1m:27.824. But in a stunning lap Raikkonen would go fastest, 1m:26.902. Fisichella was now fourth followed by Coulthard. Hamilton was now in second, 1m:26.936, and Massa third, 1m:27.039. Nico was now in twelfth and Alex fifteenth. Alex was back out on the track while Nico had pitted. Kimi would pit. Nico's lap was slowest at this point. Alex would improve to now be twelfth, 1m:28.390. Nico was still in his pit.

Alonso had moved to the top of the times with a 1m:26.841. Hamilton was now third. Kubica and Heidfeld were now in fifth and sixth. With three minutes remaining both Alex and Nico weer in their pits getting ready for their final laps. Only one driver was on the track, Davidson. But both Renault's would come out, joined by a rush of other drivers. The top six were sill in their pits. Alex and Nico were in fourteenth and sixteenth. They would have to really pull out a quick lap in the dying moments of the period. Nico was on the softer tyre while Alex was ion the harder one.

Davidson would improve to now be eighth. Nico was on a quick lap and would move up to seventh, 1m:27.750. With the end of the period Alex was slowest as Trulli moved into ninth. Alex would fail to improve and did not make it into the final period. Joining him were Davidson, Webber, Coulthard, Barrichello, and Button. The top ten was Alonso from Raikkonen, Hamilton, Massa, Kubica, Heidfeld, Nico, Kovalainen, Trulli and Fisichella.

The final ten, including Nico, would wait at the end of the pit lane with Raikkonen getting in front of Hamilton. With their race fuel onboard they would leave the pit lane and start the process of burning off fuel. Alonso waited in his garage as Nico was told by his engineer that he would have "three fuel burn laps but that they would have to be quick one's." Kimi would set the initial fastest time with a 1m;28.585, followed by Hamilton and Heidfeld. Nico was running behind Fisichella, with the Renault on the softer tyre.

Kovalainen and Trulli would pit. The next lap and the majority of the top ten would come in. Kimi and Hamilton would take on the softer tyre. Alonso would pit last. All ten were now back on the track. Kimi was on a quick lap as Trulli moved into fourth. Kimi's lap was a 1m:27.546. Hamilton was still second with a 1m:27.931. Massa was now fastest with a 1m:27.520. Alonso was now third pushing Hamilton to fourth. Nico was in seventh, 1m:28.512. Raikkonen and Hamilton would pit> Massa and both BMW's would also pit. Both Kimi and Hamilton would take the softer tyre.

Alonso would pit as everyone starting their final laps. Alonso was on the harder tyre as Kimi started his flying lap. Kimi was fastest in sector one, as Hamilton asked where he was losing time. He was answered, " a tenth in the last sector." Massa would beat his team-mate time in sector one. Hamilton would go fastest, 1m:27.373, but Massa would pass him with a 1m:27.329. Alonso was in fourth, having failed to improve on his time. The period would come to an end with Nico down in eighth. So Massa has pole from Hamilton, Raikkonen, Alonso, Kubica, Heidfeld, Kovalainen, Nico, Trulli, and Fisichella.