Bahrain GP: Williams Martini locks out third row

Team Summary:
First time in Q1 was from Raikkonen with a 1m:36.731. Rosberg was now quickest with a 1m:35.657 with Hamilton second seeing Valtteri third and Felipe now fourth. But both Williams drivers would drop down the order was more drivers changed onto the soft tyre. Valtteri and Felipe were sixth and seventh with ten minutes of the period remaining. Both Williams drivers would pit as they dropped to seventh and eighth with six minutes remaining. Vettel was now fastest with a 1m:34.919 with three minutes remaining. Rosberg and Raikkonen would move into first and second with Rosberg's new quickest time a 1m:34.398. But Hamilton would move to the
top of the times with a 1m:33.928. After their soft tyre runs both Williams drivers were ahead of the Ferrari's, a good start to qualifying.

Neither of the Williams drivers were keen to come out with the start of the second fifteen minute period. But they would come out on the option tyre while it would be Rosberg who would set the early quickest time with a 1m:33.878 only to be beaten by Hamilton with a 1m:32.669. As the final minutes counted down Felipe and Valtteri were now third and sixth. The period would end with both Williams drivers maintaining their positions and into the top ten.

With the final period getting underway Valtteri would come out early on a used set of soft tyres. Felipe was also out on a used set of soft tyres. Early quickest time was from Vettel with a 1m:34.522 but Ricciardo would go quicker on a set of new soft tyres, 1m:33.850. Hamilton would go quickest with a 1m:33.522 followed by Ricciardo and Rosberg. The opening laps would see Valtteri reverse the previous positions being ahead of Felipe. Both Williams drivers would pit. Now it would come down to their next runs on new soft tyres. With the end of the period drivers till had to complete their laps. Vettel was now quickest with a 1m:32.982 followed by Raikkonen. Rosberg would go second but Hamilton would go quickest with
a 1m:32.571. With the end of the period the Williams pair would lock out the third row.

Felipe Massa:
Q1: Felipe would follow Valtteri out also on the medium tyre for his first run. Felipe was down in fourth with a 1m:36.341. Currently in eighth Felipe would also come back out on the soft tyre. Felipe would follow his team-mate back up to the top of the times setting a 1m:34.488 to be fourth. Felipe would come on his radio complaining of traffic.

Q2: Felipe would also use new soft tyres for his first run. Felipe's first lap would see him go second fastest with a 1m:33.551. Felipe would also pit with five minutes remaining. Felipe would drop to third as Raikkonen went second.

Q3: Felipe was down in seventh with a 1m:34.942. Felipe was also back out on a new set of soft tyres for his final lap. Felipe was one place back in sixth, 1m:33.744.

Valtteri Bottas:
Q1: Out early in the first eighteen minute period running on the medium. Valtteri would go quickest with a 1m:36.268. Valtteri would come back out on the soft tyre. On his soft tyre lap Valtteri would set a 1m:34.161 to be second.

Q2: Valtteri would come out on a new set of soft tyres and would set a 1m:33.897 to be third behind the Mercedes pair. This would become fourth as his team-mate went second. Valtteri would pit with five and a half minutes remaining. Valtteri would say that the car felt OK but the lap time was now there. Valtteri was now sixth with the Ferrari's setting times quicker than the Williams drivers.

Q3: Valtteri's first timed lap was a 1m:34.230 to be third but he would drop to fourth
courtesy of Rosberg. Valtteri was first out for Williams on a new set of soft tyres.
Valtteri's lap would see him second but he would drop down to fifth, 1m:33.381.

Valtteri Bottas:
Q1: Valtteri was out with fourteen minutes remaining in the eighteen minute period, also running on the medium tyre. On the soft tyre Raikkonen would set a 1m:30.188 as Valtteri started his flying lap. He would complete his lap and would finish with a 1m:30.305 to be third, ahead of Rosberg. Valtteri sets a 1m:29.641 to now be second. Valtteri would drop to third as Vettel set a 1m:29.307 to be second.

Quickest was now Rosberg with a 1m:28.906. But Hamilton would go fastest with a 1m:28.586. Valtteri was now fourth and back in his pit. Valtteri was one of the four cars that had set their quickest times on the medium tyre, along with team-mate Felipe. Valtteri was still in his pit but having dropped to seventh which would become eighth as the period ended, but Valtteri had saved a set of soft tyres.

Q2: Valtteri first out for Williams running on the soft tyre for the first time. Valtteri would go fastest in sector tow and would complete his lap setting a 1m:28.012 to be quickest. Hamilton would set a 1m:26.894 to move ahead of Valtteri. Valtteri would drop to third as we now had Hamilton and Rosberg at the front. Valtteri would pit having dropped to fifth. Valtteri was now 0.770 ahead of Felipe. Valtteri would come back out with new soft tyres fitted. Valtteri was on a better lap as the period came to an end. Valtteri was now sixth but he would move up to fourth, 1m:27.796.

Q3: Valtteri would be first out running on new soft tyres. Valtteri's first lap was messy locking brakes after having gone quickest in sector one. Valtteri would come on the radio complaining about the bite of the brakes. Valtteri had yet to set a time with Valtteri returning to the pits after his troubled first run. Valtteri would be first back out for Williams for his second run. Valtteri was now fourth after a big moment coming onto the main straight. Valtteri would finish in sixth and on his walk back to be weighed looked less than happy.