Korean GP: Difficult qualifying Williams

The final practice for the 2012 Korean Grand Prix had seen mixed results for the Williams F1 team with Pastor Maldonado finishing ninth but for team-mate Bruno Senna he was down the order in eighteenth. There was every chance that Pastor should make it into the final period but based on his practice Bruno will struggle to get past the first period. As for other teams Pic was going to receive a ten place grid penalty for a ninth engine change. With the start of the opening twenty minute period it would be Kovalainen first out running on the soft tyre. As Kovalainen started his timed lap more drivers would come out including Pastor and Bruno. Both Lotus cars were also out joined by both Force India cars.

A 1m:42.028 from Kovalainen as Alonso and Rosberg took to the track. The track was now very busy with only eight drivers still in their pits. Pastor would set a 1m:39.716 to go fastest with Di Resta second. Hamilton and Massa were out on the track as Raikkonen set a 1m:39.990 to take second. Vergne was now fourth from Kovalainen and Hulkenberg. Alonso would set a 1m:39.543 to move ahead of Pastor with twelve minutes remaining. Hulkenberg would improve to be third, 1m:39.830, with both Red Bull's still in their pits. Kovalainen would pit as Di Resta went second with a 1m:39.596. Massa would go fastest with a 1m:39.074 but he was quickly beaten by Raikkonen with a 1m:38.887. Bruno was down in twelfth with a time of 1m:41.048. Rosberg was now up to third, 1m:39.421, but Button would move past and into third with a 1m:39.239.

Pastor had pitted while both Red Bull's were out on the track. Ricciardo was up to sixth, 1m:39.590, but Schumacher would take this spot with a time of 1m:39.506. Hamilton's first quick lap would see him third, 1m:39.180, as Massa saw himself on a quick lap. But Vettel was even quicker setting a 1m:38.208 to be fastest. Bruno was now nineteenth and Pastor twelfth and now back out on the track. Button would improve to be second, 1m:39.615, as Webber took third with a 1m:38.628. Bruno was back out looking to get out of the cut off zone. Both Pastor and Bruno were on
the super soft tyre for their second run. Of the top ten only Webber was still out on the track and he would set a 1m:38.397 to go second. Bruno was really going to have to find pace in order to make sure he moved into the second period./ Bruno would finish with a 1m:39.443 to be eleventh. Pastor would have a big lock up ruining his lap but he would set a 1m:39.024 to be tenth. But with Perez and Kobayashi moving up to fourth and fifth Pastor would drop to twelfth. Bruno was now sixteenth.

Ricciardo would set a 1m:38.784 to be sixth with Pastor now thirteenth. Vergne would join Ricciardo near the front with a 1m:38.744 to be sixth. Schumacher would move up to eighth, 1m:38.808, while for Bruno he would make a mistake on his last lap puling into his pit his qualifying over. Pastor would finish the period in fifteenth. Those
not making the cut were Bruno, Petrov, Kovalainen, Pic, Glock, De la Rosa, and Karthikeyan. The top ten was Vettel followed by Webber, Button, Perez, Kobayashi, Vergne, Ricciardo, Schumacher, Grosjean, and Raikkonen tenth. Two drivers were were close to be knocked out were Alonso and Hamilton in sixteenth and seventeenth. If Bruno had set a better time on his last run Hamilton would have dropped out, very lucky for the McLaren driver.

The second fifteen minute period would commence with Perez first out. Kobayashi would follow him joined by Di Resta. Vergne and Webber were next out followed by Alonso. Pastor would leave the pit lane with just three cars now in the pits. Everyone was on the super soft tyre for this period as Hamilton came out. Pastor was on a set of used super soft's as Perez set a 1m:38.981. Kobayashi would go fastest with a 1m:38.594 as the final drivers came out. Di Resta was now second as Webber went fastest with a 1m:38.220. But Alonso would go fastest with a 1m:37.987.

But Vettel would move ahead with a 1m:37.767 to be fastest. Webber was now third with Massa fourth. Pastor had dropped to be thirteenth as Grosjean moved up to fifth, 1m:38.275. Hamilton would go third with a 1m:38.000 despite locking up his left front. Button was seventh and Raikkonen eighth. Pastor had dropped to sixteenth as Schumacher moved up to seventh, 1m:38.436. Team-mate Rosberg was down in twelfth. Bruno said that the team made some changes in the dark after his final practice session and that they did not go the right way. The track would empty with
four minutes remaining and it would be the Force India cars who would come back out first. Pastor was also back out with of the top six only Webber and Grosjean out. Hamilton would join them leaving just Vettel and Alonso in their pits. Pastor was out on a new set of super soft tyres as Alonso came out.

It was going to be hectic as drivers et their final times. Hulkenberg would improve to be seventh, 1m:38.428, as Pastor set a 1m:38.725 to be thirteenth. Button would cross the line setting a 1m:38.441 to be eleventh and out of qualifying. During this Ricciardo would pull off seeing yellow flags with Raikkonen improving to be fifth, 1m:38.227, having done a personal best in the final sector which is where Ricciardo had pulled off. Grosjean was up to seventh. Those not making the cut were Button, Perez, Kobayashi, Di Resta, Pastor, Ricciardo, and Vergne. The top ten was Vettel from Alonso, Hamilton, Webber, Raikkonen, Massa, Grosjean, Rosberg, Hulkenberg, and Schumacher. But there were some question marks over some drivers times based on their times in the final sector where Ricciardo had pulled off.

It was going to be hectic as drivers et their final times. Hulkenberg would improve to be seventh, 1m:38.428, as Pastor set a 1m:38.725 to be thirteenth. Button would cross the line setting a 1m:38.441 to be eleventh and out of qualifying. During this Ricciardo would pull off seeing yellow flags with Raikkonen improving to be fifth, 1m:38.227, having done a personal best in the final sector which is where Ricciardo had pulled off. Grosjean was up to seventh. Those not making the cut were Button, Perez, Kobayashi, Di Resta, Pastor, Ricciardo, and Vergne. The top ten was Vettel from Alonso, Hamilton, Webber, Raikkonen, Massa, Grosjean, Rosberg, Hulkenberg, and Schumacher. But there were some question marks over some drivers times based on their times in the final sector where Ricciardo had pulled off.

Ricciardo had a gearbox related issue that saw him pull off as the final ten minute period commenced. Rosberg would be the first out and very quickly all ten drivers were out on the track. All drivers were on the super soft tyre with some new and others used. The drivers would start their flying laps with Vettel fastest in sector one. Rosberg would pity without setting a time joined by Hulkenberg. As they completed their laps Alonso was fastest but Vettel would move ahead with a 1m:37.316. Alonso was second, 1m:37.667, followed by Webber, Massa, Hamilton, Raikkonen, and Grosjean. Schumacher had also pitted without setting a time. Everyone would pit after their first runs.

Hulkenberg would be first to come back out joined by Rosberg and Webber. Everyone was back out with Hamilton nearly hitting one of the Mercedes cars as he came down the pit lane. All cars were on new super soft tyres as Hulkenberg started his flying lap. The period would end with Grosjean and Vettel last to come out and would be last to complete their laps. A 1m:37.242 from Webber to fastest as Hamilton moved up to third, 1m:37.469. Alonso could only manage fourth fastest as Massa went sixth and as Vettel complete his lap he would set a 1m:37.316 to remain second behind Webber. The top ten would be Webber from Vettel, Hamilton, Alonso, Raikkonen, Massa, Grosjean, Hulkenberg, Rosberg, and Schumacher.

For the championship contenders Vettel was two places ahead of Alonso with Webber and Hamilton in amongst them. As for the Williams team their drivers will start from fifteenth and eighteenth with Pastor leading Bruno. A somewhat disappointing result for Pastor given his practice pace but Bruno's comments regarding how they went in the wrong direction with the setup for qualifying and that his lack of track time didn't help gives the impression that he is very frustrated with his situation at Williams in particular losing one practice session on Friday to Valtteri.