Abu Ahabi GP: Barrichello seventh in qualifying

After the final practice session for the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix the AT&T Williams team would find their drivers still off the pace with neither Nico Hulkenberg or Rubens Barrichello making it into the top ten., Now it was qualifying and the big question was whether or not either driver would be able to make it into Q3. Of the championship contenders it was the Red Bull's of Vettel and Webber who would lead the practice times. With the start of the first twenty minutes period the Torro Rosso's would be first out. Both Nico and Rubens would come out early but it would be Alguersuari who would set the first time with a 1m:43.428 followed by Buemi, Glock, and Di Grassi. Nico would go to the top of the times with a 1m:43.221 but he was beaten by Hamilton and then by Button. Hamilton's time was a 1m:41.245 and Button's a 1m:42.229. Nico had dropped to fifth while Alguersuari and Buemi were third and fourth.

Rubens was down in fourteenth, 1m:53.379, as Petrov moved into second. But Rubens would find pace on his next lap to go second with a time of 1m:41.667. Vettel was now in third but Schumacher would move ahead of the Red Bull with a time of 1m:41.679. Nico had dropped to thirteenth but on his next lap he would jump up to third, 1m:41.288. Alonso was now in second, 1m:40.991, while Hamilton had improved his time with a 1m:40.743. Massa was now up to fourth followed by Nico, Button, Rubens, and Webber in eighth. Nico had pitted followed by Rubens. At the front Vettel would move to the top of the times with a 1m:40.617, joined by team-mate Webber who was in third, 1m:40.842. Rosberg was now in fourth and Alonso fifth.

Nico and Rubens were now in eighth and tenth. Hamilton would go even faster with a time of 1m:40.335 but Vettel would match him with a 1m:40.318. Webber had also improved with a 1m:40.690 as Alonso was on a quicker lap while both the Williams cars would return to the track. Kubica was now in thirteenth, 1m:41.718. Vettel and Hamilton would pit joined by Webber. There was five minutes remaining with both Williams cars in the top ten. Alonso's quick lap would see him fastest with a time of 1m:40.170. Rosberg was now sixth followed by Schumacher, Nico, Button, and Rubens. Petrov was now in eleventh, 1m:41.589, as the final minutes started to count down. Kobayashi would move from seventeenth to twelfth, 1m:41.621, but he would drop down to fourteenth as Heidfeld and Petrov improved.

Rubens was able to find time moving up to seventh, 1m:41.181, but this would become ninth as Button moved up to fifth and Petrov eighth. Nico would also improve taking eighth from Petrov with a 1m:41.015. Rubens was now in tenth while the top four remained in their pits. Alonso was still fastest from Vettel, Hamilton, and Webber. The period would come to an end with Kobayashi pushing Rubens down to eleventh as the Sauber driver went tenth. Rubens final lap would see him jump up the order to be sixth but again he would be pushed down the order when Rosberg moved into second, 1m:40.231. Rubens was now seventh, 1m:40.904, while Nico was in ninth, 1m:41.015. Those not making the cut were Buemi, Trulli, Kovalainen, Glock, Di Grassi, Senna, and Klien. The end of the period would see both Williams drivers in the top ten.

The second fifteen minute period would see the Ferrari's come out first joined by both of the
Mercedes cars. Nico was out early followed by Rubens with thirteen minutes remaining. Both Ferrari's were on the harder tyres along with both McLaren's. Massa would set the first time with a 1m:40.906 but he was beaten by Alonso with a 1m:40.475. Sutil was in third but he was passed by team-mate Liuzzi. Schumacher and Rosberg were slowest as Nico move dup to third, 1m:41.572. Button was now fastest with a 1m:40.267. Rubens was seventh with a slow2 time of 1m:45.278. Nico was now fourth from Liuzzi and Sutil who had pitted. Both Schumacher and Rosberg would improve jumping up to third and fourth on their next flying laps.

Petrov was now third in his Renault while team-mate Kubica was in sixth, 1m:40.780. Nico was back in his pit, currently in ninth. Rubens would again find time moving up to third, 1m:40.548. Massa was down in eighth as the Red Bull's of Vettel and Webber were in twelfth and thirteenth. But they would quickly show their pace with Webber moving up to third, 1m:40.450, while team-mate Vettel would go fastest with a time of 1m:39.874. Rubens was now in fifth and Nico, who was back out on the track, eleventh. Rubens had pitted while Hamilton was slowest with a time of 1m:47.137. Hamilton had made a mistake at Turn eight returning to his pit. He had also been involved in a moment with Massa where Hamilton would appear to lose sight of the Ferrari going over one of the trackside bollards. But he was back out with four minutes remaining. Only Kubica was still in his pit as Nico dropped to thirteenth.

The drivers were now out on the softer tyre with Sutil moving up to eleventh. Rubens was on the track and looking to improve. Vettel had pitted as Rubens continued a quick lap. Massa would move up to fourth but Hamilton would move into second, 1m:40.119. Button was now second, 1m:40.014, as the period came to an end. Webber was now in third, 1m:40.074, with Rubens in seventh but again on an improved lap. Nico had dropped to fifteenth as Rosberg moved up to third, 1m:40.060. Webber was fourth followed by Hamilton, Alonso, Massa, Schumacher, Rubens, and Petrov in tenth. Those not making the cut were Kubica, Kobayashi, Sutil, Heidfeld, Nico, Liuzzi, and Alguersuari. The top ten
was Vettel from Button, Rosberg, Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, Massa, Schumacher, Rubens, and Petrov.

It was disappointing to see Nico not making it into Q3 but the Williams team should feel great about Rubens performance getting his car into the final period. The final period would get under way with the McLaren and Ferrari's coming out. Rubens was also out on the track along with Webber. Neither Mercedes cars were out on the track along with Vettel and Petrov. But both Schumacher and Rosberg would leave the pits. The softer tyre was on Hamilton's car as Vettel took to the track.

Rubens was fastest with a 1m:41.092 but he was quickly beaten with Hamilton ending up fastest, 1m:39.482, from Button, Alonso, Massa, and Rubens. Neither of the Mercedes or Red Bull cars had set a time but Webber would only manage a 1m:48.117 while both McLaren's and Rubens would pit. They were joined by the Ferrari's as Rosberg moved into sixth with Webber now seventh. Vettel was on a good lap as Webber moved up to third, 1m:40.004. Vettel would go fastest with a 1m:39.448. Rubens was back out currently in seventh. Both Red Bull's continued out on the track as the rest of the top ten rejoined the track. Both Webber and Vettel were on quicker laps but Webber could only mange fourth. Vettel would improve with a 1m:39.394 to remain fastest.

Rubens had dropped to ninth. Hamilton and Button were still in second and third. The period would come to an end with Webber not been able to improve only finishing fourth. Vettel also did not improve but Hamilton was on a quicker lap. Rubens was also flying joined by Rosberg. Rubens would move up to seventh, 1m:40.203. Hamilton would not move ahead of Vettel remaining in second. But Alonso would move up to third, 1m:39.792, seeing Button fourth. Webber was now fifth while Rubens would do a very solid job finishing in seventh. Schumacher was eighth from Rosberg and Petrov in tenth.

So the AT&T Williams team will start the 2010 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from seventh and fifteenth. Their Constructors championship rivals Force India were down in thirteenth and sixteenth. So long as Rubens can bring his car home in the points sixth in the championship is looking good.