Australian GP: Barrichello eighth in qualifying

Qualifying for the 2010 Australian Grand Prix would get underway with the Liuzzi coming out first in the first period. There was a rush of other drivers coming out including both Ferrari's and Mercedes Benz cars. With all twenty four cars out on the track traffic will most likely play a part. Rubens would be the first of the Williams drivers to come out. Liuzzi would set the first time with a 1m:28.848 to be beaten by Sutil with a 1m:28.031. Nico Hulkenberg was also out on the track with just only the McLaren's yet to come out. Massa set a time of 1m:31.306 to be third. Alonso was now fastest with a 1m:26.162.

Kubica was up to second with a 1m:26.582. Massa would move up to third, 1m:26.774, but this became fourth as Webber went fastest with a 1m:25.951. But he was quickly passed by Alonso with a 1m:25.522. Rubens was in tenth, 1m:27.208, while Nico was down in thirteenth with a 1m:28.532. Schumacher would move up to third, 1m:26.218, but Vettel would join his team-mate at the front going third, 1m:25.736. Rosberg was now second, 1m:25.562, with Rubens and Nico down in fifteenth and sixteenth. Rubens would put in a very quick lap going fourth with a time of 1m:25.766 while Webber moved up to be fastest again, 1m:25.286, but Alonso went ahead with a 1m:25.082. Rubens was now fifth while
Nico had improved to be tenth, 1m:26.201.

Button was now third, 1m:25.461, but again the order charged rapidly with Vettel going fastest with a 1m:24.774. Rubens was now in seventh while Nico remained tenth. Hamilton was down in ninth but was on a quick lap with nine minutes remaining. Button would improve on his next lap going second, 1m:24.897, while Hamilton moved in third, 1m:25.046. Most drivers had pitted including both Williams cars. Massa was down in fourteenth and was back out looking to improve as Hamilton pitted. Both Rosberg and Schumacher had left the pits while Rubens was complaining about how other drivers did not pay attention in particular one of the Torro Rosso drivers. Rubens was in eighth and Nico tenth, 1m:25.766 and 1m:26.201. Both Williams drivers were back out with five minutes left in the period. Massa would improve to be seventh, 1m:25.635.

Nico was running on the softer tyre with only the top five not out on the track. Both Rosberg and Schumacher were on improved laps, as was Massa. Massa was now sixth, 1m:25.548, but he was passed by Sutil. Nico was now fifteen but on a quicker lap while Rubens was now ninth, 1m:25.702. He had moved ahead of Schumacher. Nico had improved to be eleventh, 1m:25.866. Schumacher was now in sixth, 1m:25.351 but this would be seventh as Rosberg moved up to second, 1m:24.788. Rosberg was on the harder tyre. Rubens and Nico were now eleventh and twelfth with the end of the period. So the order was Vettel from Rosberg, Button, Hamilton, Alonso, Webber, Schumacher, Sutil, Massa, Kubica, Rubens, Nico, Buemi, De la Rosa, Alguersuari, Liuzzi, and Kobayashi. Those not making the cut were Petrov, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, Di Grassi, Senna, Chandhok.

For the Williams team there was a question mark over whether they will make it past the second period. The fifteen minute period would get underway with a rush of drivers taking to the circuit. Both Williams drivers had left their pits with the dark clouds overhead. The Red Bull cars were on the harder tyres while those from the Mercedes team had gone straight onto the softer tyre. With twelve minutes remaining all drivers were out on the circuit as Webber set a time of 1m:24.797 with Alonso going faster with a 1m:24.459. Rosberg was third from Button and Schumacher. Massa was up to third from Vettel. Nico's first lap saw him eleventh but he would drop down the order to be twelfth while Rubens was thirteenth.

Alonso was on the softer tyre, 1m:24.459, while Vettel moved up to third, 1m:24.693. Rosberg was now fourth from Massa, Button, Schumacher, and Rubens now in eighth. Nico was down in fifteenth. Webber was again fastest with a time of 1m:24.276. Button was able to move up to third, 1m:24.531. Hamilton was slowest with a 1m:28.586 and was back in his pit. Rubens time was a 1m:25.502 while Nico was on a 1m:26.343. With seven minutes remaining the track was now empty as the drivers prepared for their final run. Hamilton was first back out on the softer tyres, joined by Alonso. Rosberg and Schumacher had left the pits as more drivers started their final runs. Rubens and Nico were
amongst them with only the Sauber's yet to come out. Hamilton's lap would see him up to seventh, 1m:25.251.

All seventeen cars were on the circuit with two minutes left. Rubens was on an improved lap as was Nico, who was now seventeenth. Vettel was up to second, 1m:24.312. Rubens would set a 1m:25.085 to be ninth. Sutil was up to eighth while Nico could only manage sixteenth. Vettel would put in a quick lap going fastest with a 1m:24.096 to be ahead of Webber as the period came to an end. Alonso was third from Button, Rosberg, Schumacher, Massa, Sutil, Rubens, and Kubica in tenth. Those not making it though were Hamilton, Buemi, Liuzzi, De la Rosa, Nico, Kobayashi, and Alguersuari. A good job by Rubens to get himself into the final period.

The final period would see Webber first out while team-mate Vettel remained in his pit. Rubens was also out early as Vettel also took to the track. Alonso was on the softer tyre while Kubica and Sutil had yet to leave their pits with eight minutes remaining. Kubica was now out Alonso would set a time of 1m:24.606 but Webber went fastest with a 1m:24.035. Rosberg was third but this became fourth as Vettel went fastest with a 1m:23.919. Button was now fifth from Schumacher, Rubens, and Massa. Alonso would improve to be third, 1m:24.225. Rubens time was a 1m:25.217 to see him seventh.

Kubica was ninth, 1m:26.181, while both red Bull cars had pitted. Rubens would pit while Webber was back out while Button was up to fourth, 1m:24.675, while Vettel also returned to the track. Only Rubens was not out on the track with two minutes left in the period. Massa would improve to be fifth, 1m:24.837. Both Rosberg and Schumacher had returned on the harder tyre. Rubens was still in his pit while Webber was not able to beat Vettel's time. The period would come to an end with Vettel on pole from Webber, Alonso, Button, Massa, Rosberg, Schumacher, Rubens, Kubica, and Sutil in tenth. So Sunday's race will see the Williams drivers start from eighth and fifteenth, with Rubens Barrichello leading his team-mate Nico Hulkenberg. A great performance from Rubens to firstly get into the final period and also to finish in eighth.