Turkish Qualifying: Rosberg to start from ninth

Qualifying for the 2009 Turkish Grand Prix would be run under sunny conditions with questions as to which tyres the teams will use to set their quickest times. The harder tyre has been proving to be the more favourable over the softer option. For the AT&T Williams team the lead-up to qualifying was encouraging with both drivers near the front over the practice sessions. Kazuki Nakajima had been able to keep in front of team-mate Nico Rosberg in the two practice sessions
prior to qualifying.

The opening twenty minutes period would commence with Fisichella first out onto the track. He was joined by team-mate Sutil and Buemi. Fisichella would start his flying lap while Heidfeld left the pit lane. Fisichella was on the softer tyre for his run as Raikkonen left the pits. Both Toyota's were next out as Fisichella set a time of 1m:30.004. Kovalainen was also out on the track. Sutil would go faster with a 1m:29.393. Kazuki would leave the pits as Buemi went into second, 1m:29.646. Massa, Webber, Nico, Vettel, Hamilton and several other drivers would take to the track. Fisichella was second with a 1m:29.565. Heidfeld would go into the 1m:28's with a 1m:28.794.

Raikkonen was now fastest with a 1m:28.687. Trulli would move ahead with a 1m:28.267, while Glock went into second. Raikkonen was now third. Kovalainen was fifth while Fisichella would pit. Only Kubica and Piquet had yet to take to the track. Kazuki would go fastest with a 1m:28.190. Massa would move ahead with a 1m:28.144. But just as quickly Nico would move to the top with a 1m:27.980 but he was passed by Vettel with a 1m:27.784. It was all changing rapidly Kazuki on the harder tyre would move to the top with a 1m:27.758. Raikkonen would improve with a 1m:27.687 but Trulli's next alp would see him fastest with a 1m:27.529. Vettel would take the top spit with a 1m:27.330.

Vettel was fastest as Nico improved to be second, 1m:27.517, followed by Trulli, Button, Massa, Webber, Barrichello, and Raikkonen. Barrichello would improve to now be in second, 1m:27.371. Kazuki was down in ninth as many of the drivers returned to their pits with seven minutes remaining. Hamilton was down in fifteenth. Kubica would improve to be tenth, running on the softer tyre. Drivers would start to return to the track, including Kazuki. Nico would also come back out as Heidfeld moved up to twelfth. Piquet would spin at Turn eight but he quickly recovered. Vettel was still in his pit as the final three minutes commenced.

Webber would improve to be third, 1m:27.466 as Nico went fastest in sector one. But Nico would not improve remaining in fourth as the period came to an end. Button would move up to second, 1m:27.355. Massa was able to move ahead of Nico to see Nico drop to sixth. Kazuki was still ninth with the order being Vettel from Button, Barrichello, Webber, Massa, Nico, Trulli, Raikkonen, Kazuki, and Kubica in tenth. Those not making the cut were Hamilton, Piquet, Buemi, Fisichella, and Bourdais. Piquet had spun again this time into the gravel.

The second fifteen minute period would get underway with Kazuki first out. he was joined by Raikkonen and Nico. Kovalainen and Massa would also come out along with both Toyota's. Both Brawn cars would come out for their runs. Kazuki was on the harder tyre and would set a time of 1m:29.220 on his first lap. Raikkonen was now fastest with a 1m:27.685 but Nico would move ahead with a 1m:27.672. Kovalainen was now third, 1m:28.318. Massa was now fastest with a 1m:27.462. Massa was on the softer tyre while Trulli would move ahead of Nico with a 1m:27.527.

Barrichello was now fastest with a 1m:27.418. Nico was now fifth and Kazuki eighth. Kazuki would run wide at Turn eight. Kazuki was able to improve to be fifth, 1m:27.629. Button was now fastest with a 1m:27.322. Barrichello was now second from Massa. Vettel was now in second as team-mate Webber would have a moment at Turn eight. Nico was now sixth and Kazuki ninth. Vettel was on a quicker lap but would not move ahead of Button taking to the pits instead. Nico had pitted while Kazuki was still out on the track. Vettel was on the softer tyre. Heidfeld would move up to sixth, 1m:27.521, running on the softer tyre.

Kubica was now fourth, 1m:27.455., while Nico had dropped to eighth and Kazuki eleventh. Four minutes to go and Nico was back out while Kazuki continued to use the harder tyre. Kazuki was not able to find anytime and would remain eleventh. Nico was also on the harder tyre as the final two minutes counted down. Webber was on a quicker lap while Nico failed to improve. Webber would move up to third seeing Nico drop to ninth and Kazuki twelfth. Vettel was back out on the softer tyre as the period came to an end. Raikkonen would move up to third, 1m:27.387. But Trulli would pull out a quick lap going fastest, 1m:27.195, but he was passed by Vettel with a 1m:27.016.

Nico was able to improve to be eighth, 1m:27.418, while Kazuki would finish the period in twelfth, 1m:27.629. The top ten was Vettel from Trulli, Button, Massa, Raikkonen, Webber, Barrichello, Nico, Kubica, and Alonso. Nico would maintain his record of making into the final period in every race. Those not making the cut were Heidfeld, Kazuki, Glock, Kovalainen, and Sutil.

It would be surprising to see Nico make it near the front of the grid the final period would commence. The light would go green and Raikkonen was first out and with seven minutes remaining only Barrichello had yet to take to the track. Raikkonen was on the harder tyre setting a time of 1m:29.405 to go fastest. Trulli was now fastest with a 1m:28.858. Massa was in third with a 1m:30.183. Nico would move ahead of Massa with a time of 1m:29.880. Button was on a quick lap running on the softer tyre. He would move into second with a 1m:28.868. Webber was now third from Raikkonen, Kubica, and Nico. Vettel was now fastest with a 1m:28.801 running on the softer tyre.

Trulli was third from Button, Webber, Alonso, Raikkonen, Massa, Kubica, and Nico. Barrichello would start his flying lap as the final three minutes started. Barrichello would pass Nico with the Williams driver moving off line for the Brawn car. Barrichello was only in eighth, 1m:29.713. He was on the harder tyre while Alonso would have a half spin at Turn eighth. He would recover while Barrichello would move into seventh, 1m:29.623. Nico was now tenth, 1m:29.880. Webber was on a quick lap, joined by Button. Webber would move to the top of the times with a 1m:28.613 but Button would move ahead with a 1m:28.421. Barrichello was now in second, 1m:28.579.

But Vettel would have the last word going fastest with a 1m:28.316. Nico had improved but was only in ninth. Vettel was on the softer tyre for his lap. The top ten was Vettel from Button, Barrichello, Webber, Trulli, Raikkonen, Massa, Alonso, Nico, and Kubica. Not the result that the Williams team had hoped for but it will come down to strategy and the car weights will show exactly when Nico and Kazuki are relative to the other drivers. Nico should be happy with his efforts again making it into the top ten.