Spanish GP: Williams struggles in Qualifying

After the final practice session the Williams F1 team would see their drivers in fifteenth and seventeenth with Pastor Maldonado leading team-mate Valtteri Bottas. Now it was time for qualifying and based on their practice times it was going to be a difficult time for Williams. The Barcelona track saw two DRS zones while on the tyre front the drivers would have the hard and medium tyre to use. The first twenty minute period would commence with no-one looking to come out early. It was very likely that the Williams drivers would be forced to use the medium tyre in this first period. With four minutes run Ricciardo would come out joined by Pastor. Vergne and Hulkenberg would also come out followed by Gutierrez.

Pastor was on the hard tyre as Valtteri came out. The others were also on the hard tyre as they started their timed laps. A 1m:24.100 from Ricciardo with Pastor setting a 1m:24.185. Valtteri would also be on the hard tyres as Hulkenberg set a 1m:23.760 to be fastest but Vergne would moved ahead with a 1m:23.467. Valtteri would set a 1m:23.507 to be second, with Pastor now fifth. More drivers would come out including both Lotus cars. A 1m:23.087 from Raikkonen also on the hard tyre. Both Torro Rosso cars would pit as Grosjean went second with a 1m:23.196. Alonso would come out on the track with Valtteri now fourth and Pastor seventh. Both Force India cars were on the track with Di Resta moving up to fourth, 1m:23.477. Pastor would pit as Alonso started a flying lap. Massa was also on the track as Alonso went fastest with a 1m:22.264 running on the hard tyre.

Several drivers would come out on the medium tyre including Button, Vettel, and Hamilton as Massa went second, 1m:22.492. Sutil was now fourth as Valtteri pitted. Perez were also on the medium tyre joined by Webber. Pastor and both Torro Rosso cars were back out with five minutes remaining as Rosberg went fastest on the mediums, 1m:21.913. Valtteri was also now back out as Button set a 1m:23.166 to be sixth. Vettel was now second with a 1m:22.158. This would become third as Hamilton went fastest with a 1m:21.728. Webber was now fifth as Pastor moved up to fourteenth with a 1m:23.318. Valtteri was now seventeenth as Pastor dropped to fifteenth. Vergne and Ricciardo were seventh and eighth as Raikkonen was on a quick lap with Hulkenberg moving up to tenth. Raikkonen would finish fourth, 1m:22.210, while with the end of the period Valtteri and Pastor were in seventeenth and eighteenth.

Pastor would pit seeing himself out of qualifying. He would be joined by Valtteri. For a team that won last year to see both cars out of qualifying must be very difficult to take. Also out of qualifying were Van der Gar, Bianchi, Chilton, and Pic. The top ten were Hamilton from Rosberg, Vettel, Raikkonen, Alonso, Webber, Massa, Grosjean, Di Resta, and Vergne tenth.

The second fifteen minute period would commence without either Williams making an appearance. The last time both Williams drivers did not make it past the first period was in 2009. The Sauber's would go out first followed by Ricciardo. The medium tyre was the choice for this period as more drivers came out seeing just the McLaren's yet to come out. A 1m:22.910 from Gutierrez while Hulkenberg would go faster with a 1m:22.708. Raikkonen would go fastest with a 1m:21.676 as Vettel moved into third, running on used medium tyres. Di Resta was sixth as Rosberg moved into second with a 1m:21.776 as the Sauber's pitted. Hamilton was now fourth as Alonso went fastest with a 1m:21.646. Grosjean was up to fourth, 1m:21.998, but Massa would take this spot. as most of the field returned to their pits.

Button was down in fifteenth and Perez twelfth with Vettel eighth and Webber tenth. With four minutes remaining only the two Red Bulls were on the track. More drivers were return for a second run as both Vettel and Webber started timed laps. Vettel would go fastest with a 1m:21.602. Webber would also improve to be fourth with a 1m:21.718. Di Resta would move into eighth as the period came to an end. Ricciardo moved into ninth and Vergne tenth. Hamilton would set a quick time going fastest with a 1m:21.001. Perez would move up to seventh as both Torro Rosso cars dropped out of the top ten. Those not making the cut were Ricciardo, Vergne, Sutil, Button, Hulkenberg and Gutierrez. The top ten were Hamilton from Vettel, Alonso, Raikkonen, Webber, Rosberg, Perez, Massa, Grosjean, and Di Resta.

It was reported that and incident in the second period between Massa and Webber was under investigation with Massa possibly having impeded Webber. Raikkonen would be the first driver out with the start of the final period. He would be joined by Rosberg and Alonso. Grosjean was next out joined by Massa. It was looking like several drivers would only come out for one run. A 1m:21.539 from Raikkonen followed by Rosberg with a 1m:20.824. Alonso was second with a 1m:21.228 as Grosjean went third, 1m:21.308. Massa would go third with a time of 1m:21.267.

Only five drivers had set a time with the others looking to do just one run. Three minutes remaining and Vettel would come out followed by Raikkonen. All ten drivers were out on the track with Raikkonen going fastest in sector one. Vettel would finish with a 1m:21.054 to be second with Raikkonen third, 1m:21.177. A 1m:20.718 from Rosberg to stretch his advantage. Hamilton would miss out by two tenths to be second. Vettel was now third with Raikkonen fourth. A Mercedes one-two followed by Vettel, Raikkonen, Alonso, Massa, Grosjean, Webber, Perez, and Di Resta tenth.

With their cars starting from seventeenth and eighteenth Sunday's race for the Williams team was going to be a very difficult time for the team and drivers. What a poor position the Williams team is in right now. Will they be able to come away with a result would be difficult. What a change in fortunes on one year.