Monaco GP: Improved qualifying from Williams

The big news to come out from Monaco prior to qualifying was the news that Alonso would not take part in this session. His car was too badly damaged in his final practice session accident. How much of a role traffic will play is yet to be seen with twenty three drivers coming out for the first period. As for the AT&T Williams team the final practice session would see Nico Hulkenberg lead Rubens Barrichello. Both drivers were outside the top ten with Nico thirteenth and Rubens fourteenth. Clouds were still overhead but was expected to remain fine. Chandhok would be the first driver to come out running on the softer tyre. He was joined by Petrov, Kubica, Senna, Webber, and Glock. More drivers would leave the pit lane including both McLaren's, both Mercedes cars, both Lotus cars. It was going to be a very busy session as Nico would be the first Williams to come out.

Rubens was now out on the track as Chandhok seta time of 1m:23.478 to be beaten by Glock with a 1m:20.362. Kubica was now fastest with a 1m:16.629 from Glock, Webber, and Chandhok. Hamilton was now second from Rosberg and Vettel. As the drivers put in more laps the times will come down as all twenty three cars were out on the track. Webber was now third from Rosberg and Vettel. Nico was in thirteenth as Hamilton went fastest with a time of 1m:16.547. But Massa was able to go faster with a 1m:16.013 while Rubens was now twelfth but he would drop to fourteenth with a 1m:19.911. Nico was now twenty fifth but on his next alp he was up to eighth, 1m:17.895.

Rubens was now seventeenth as Massa went faster with a 1m:15.660 from Vettel with a 1m:15.902. Barrichello was now third with a 1m:15.967, from Schumacher, Petrov, and Hamilton. Vettel was now in third from Rubens but Rubens would improve to be back in third, 1m:15.876. Hamilton would also improve to be third, 1m:15.676, while Button was now fastest with a 1m:15.623. Massa was now second but would improve to be fastest with a 1m:14.757, from Vettel, Rosberg, Button, Schumacher, Hamilton, and Rubens. Sutil would move up to seventh seeing Rubens now eighth. Nico was down in fifteenth, 1m:16.748.

Drivers would start to pit including both Williams cars. With eight and a half minutes remaining Massa was fastest from Vettel, Rosberg, Button, Schumacher, Hamilton, Sutil, Rubens, and Kubica. Webber would move into second with a time of 1m:15.035. Liuzzi was now ninth, 1m:15.874, seeing Rubens now in tenth. Sutil's next lap would see him in fifth, 1m:15.445. Nico was back out looking to move away from the drop zone. Liuzzi would move ahead of Sutil and into fifth, 1m:15.397.

Rubens was back out for his next run as Alguersuari move dup to twelfth, 1m:16.021. In seventeenth Nico was under pressure to improve with booth Lotus cars right behind him. Button would come back out, currently in seventh. He was joined by Hamilton while the top six were still in their pits with four minutes remaining.

Petrov was now seventh, 1m:15.482, while Kubica was back out currently in sixth. Petrov would drop to eighth while Rubens was now twelfth, 1m:15.876. Nico had found some time and was now fifteenth, 1m:16.030. Kovalainen would spin at Mirabeau losing it under breaking. He was able to continue with one minute remaining. Hamilton was on a quick lap going fastest in sector one. De la Rosa was up to thirteenth as Hamilton lost time in the middle sector as the period came to an end. Kubica was now up to third, 1m:15.045. Nico was now sixteenth and Rubens twelfth.

So with the end of the period those not making the cut were Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, Di Grassi, Senna, Chandhok and of course Alonso who did not run in the period. At the front it was Massa fastest from Webber, Kubica, Vettel, Rosberg, Liuzzi, Sutil, Petrov, Rubens, Button, Schumacher, Hamilton, De la Rosa, Buemi, Alguersuari, Nico, and Kobayashi in seventeenth. Rubens was able to put in a quick lap right at the end of the period seeing him move up to ninth, 1m:15.590.

The second part of qualifying would see many drivers come out early in what still would be a bust period. Both Williams cars would be out on the track for the fifteen minute session. Everyone was out on the track looking to make sure they can find a clear piece of road. Petrov would set the first time with a 1m:15.576. Liuzzi was second from Schumacher as Kubica went fastest with a 1M:14.942. Massa was third but would be passed by Buemi who was now third . Massa would improve to be second from Schumacher. Rosberg would improve to be second, 1m:14.880, from Massa and Schumacher. Nico was in tenth and Rubens eleventh. They would drop to twelfth and thirteenth as other drivers went faster.

Massa was now fastest with a 1m:14.613 but Rosberg would move ahead with a 1m:14.375. Webber was now second, 1m:14.462, while Vettel would move up to third. Massa was now fourth from Kubica, Schumacher, Hamilton, and Rubens had improved to be eighth, 1m:15.243. Nico was down in fourteenth, 1m:15.616. Button was down in eleventh as the drivers started to pit to take on new tyres. Hamilton was in seventh and Button had moved up to tenth. So with six and a half minutes remaining it was Rosberg, 1m:14.375, from Webber, Vettel, Massa, Kubica, Schumacher, Hamilton, Rubens, Sutil, and Button in tenth. Both Torro Rosso cars were back out joined by Vettel. Webber was also back out as the final five minutes counted down. The track was again very busy with Nico also coming back out. Only Rosberg was still in his pit and would remain in there for the rest of the period

Hamilton would improve to be sixth, 1m:14.681. No one was really improving on their times while Petrov spun his car at Sainte Devote hitting the barrier. His car was craned away while Nico was able to improve to be eleventh, 1m:15.317. Nico had improved in sector one but so had tenth placed Button. Massa was quickest in sector one while Nico was again faster in sector two. The period would come to an end as Button moved up to eighth seeing Rubens ninth. Liuzzi was now eighth as Hamilton move dup to fourth, 1m:14.527. Rubens would find some pace seeing him up to ninth, 1m:15.083. Nico was not able to improve but would finish in an encouraging eleventh. Joining Nico in not making the cut were Sutil, Buemi, Petrov, De la Rosa, Kobayashi, and Alguersuari. The top ten was Rosberg from Massa, Webber, Hamilton, Kubica, Vettel, Schumacher, Liuzzi, Rubens, and Button.

It was a great effort from Rubens to make it into the top ten but his second period time was seven tenths off the quickest time from Rosberg. With the final ten minute period commencing Liuzzi would be first out with Rubens and Kubica also taking to the track. Hamilton was next out with Liuzzi running on the softer tyre. Kubica was also on the softer tyre. Schumacher, Rosberg, Vettel and Webber were still in the pits with Button next out. The first time would be set by Kubica with a 1m:14.712. Rubens would set a slow 1m:16.064 as more came out. All ten drivers were out as Hamilton moved into second with a 1m:15.352. Kubica would improve with a 1m:14.284. as Rubens pitted.

Rubens was back out as we waited to see the next driver to set a time. Kubica would pit as Button set a slow 1m:20.396. Webber was fourth, 1m:17.352, while Liuzzi was in fifth. Rubens was still in third as Massa moved into fifth, 1m:17.738. Vettel was slowest while Kubica returned to the track as Hamilton was on a quick lap going fastest in sector one. Hamilton would set a 1m:14.461 to remain in second. Schumacher was now third, 1m:15.403, with Rubens in fourth. Vettel was up to third, 1m:14.505, with Massa slowest with a 1m:17.738. Kubica was again fastest with a 1m:14.120 while Webber would come from no where to set the quickest time with a 1m:14.104.

Massa was third from Hamilton, Vettel, Button, Ruben's, Liuzzi, and Schumacher. Webber was able to improve to set a 1m:13.826 with Kubica second, 1m:14.120, while Rosberg would improve to be sixth, 1m:14.544. Rubens time was a 1m:14.901 while Vettel would go into third with a time of 1m:14.227. A great drive from Webber to take pole from Kubica and Vettel. The top ten was Webber from Kubica, Vettel, Massa, Hamilton, Rosberg, Schumacher, Button, Rubens, and in tenth Liuzzi. With Rubens in ninth the Williams team will see their drivers start the 2010 Monaco Grand Prix from ninth and eleventh. Certainly an improvement even if only a small one which could see them well placed to give the Williams team a chance of scoring points come Sundays race. For Nico it was his best dry weather qualifying effort.