Belgian GP: Qualifying see Bottas 3rd for Williams Martini

Team Summary:
Q1: The final practice session had seen the Williams cars finish in ninth and tenth in the lead up to qualifying. It was reported that the car of Valtteri Bottas had an electronic issue in the final practice. Valtteri Bottas was quickest but Hamilton would go quicker with a1m:49.577. But Rosberg was able to move ahead with a 1m:49.498. Ten minutes into the period and Valtteri was fourth. Six minutes remaining and there were more drivers coming out for soft tyre runs. On the soft tyre Hulkenberg would go second but Perez and Raikkonen would go quicker with Perez quickest with a 1m:49.006 followed by Raikkonen. Felipe would go tenth but would drop to eleventh one place ahead of Valtteri.

Hamilton would go quickest still on the medium tyre setting a 1m:48.908. Rosberg was second with a 1m:48.923, such was the superiority of the Mercedes. With the end of the period we would see the Williams drivers separated by ten places with Valtteri fourth and Felipe fourteenth.

Q2: After their first runs Felipe and Valtteri were first and second but Hamilton and Rosberg would go quickest with Rosberg quickest with a 1m:47.955. Hamilton was second followed by Hulkenberg. Perez would move up to third but the period would be red flagged with Raikkonen stopped at the side of the track. With the stoppage Felipe and Valtteri were fifth and sixth. The period would restart with both Williams cars staying in the pits. But they would come back out with five minutes remaining. They would move up to third and fourth with Felipe ahead of Valtteri. With the end of the period they would finish in fifth and ninth with Felipe quickest of the pair. Rosberg was still quickest from Hamilton and Vettel.

Q3: Both Williams cars would make it into the final period. Both would come out on new soft tyres but there weer several drivers on used soft tyres. Valtteri would go quickest but Hamilton would set a 1m:47.449 to move ahead. Rosberg would go second seeing Valtteri third followed by Felipe. Vettel was fifth followed by Maldonado and Grosjean. All ten drivers were out for their second runs. Grosjean and Maldonado would go fourth and fifth with Perez moving into fifth. A 1m:49.197 from Hamilton with Rosberg still second. With the end of the period Valtteri would finish in third and Felipe seventh. But with Grosjean getting a five place grid penalty Felipe would start from sixth.

Felipe Massa:
Q1: Felipe was the last to come out for his first run. He was in his car waiting and would not come out until six minutes left in the period. He would go out on the soft tyre for his run. Felipe's first time was a 1m:49.688 to be tenth dropping to eleventh. Felipe would pit with the period coming to an end. Felipe would finish in fourteenth.

Q2: Felipe would follow his team-mate out early in the second period not waiting and he would also be on used soft tyres. Felipe would match his team-mate setting a 1m:49.645 to go quickest. He would drop to fifth and with the restart he would eventually come back out on a new set of soft tyres. Felipe would finish with a 1m:48.806 to again be ahead of Valtteri after their first run on the new soft tyre. Felipe would pit ending his run remaining in fifth.

Q3: Felipe was also running on new soft tyres in the final period. His first lap was a 1m:48.937 to be fourth. Felipe would pit take on a new set of soft tyres and would follow Valtteri back out. Felipe would drop to seventh with a 1m:48.685. he would finish the period in this position. Felipe would say to his team "We tried, but we keep trying again tomorrow."

Valtteri Bottas:
Q1: Valtteri would be first out with the start of the eighteen minute period. He would be running on the medium tyre. A 1m:50.195 on his first run seeing him fastest. He would drop to third behind the Mercedes. Valtteri would pit after one timed lap. He would drop to fourth with eleven minutes remaining. Five minutes left and Valtteri was still in his pit but would come out on the soft tyre currently in twelfth. He would drop to fifteenth having failed to improve his time. But he would finish his lap setting a 1m:49.026 to be fourth.

Q2: Valtteri would again be first out with the start of the second period. He was on a set of used soft tyres and would complete his lap with a 1m:49.678. He would pit after his one lap. Currently sixth with the restart after the red flag Valtteri would also come out on a set of new soft tyres. Valtteri was on a quicker lap setting a 1m:49.044 to move up to third. He would drop to fifth with Felipe and Ricciardo moving ahead. Valtteri would pit dropping to ninth.

Q3: Valtteri would be first out running on new soft tyres. His first time was a 1m:48.567 to be quickest. After his first run he would pit currently third. Valtteri would be quickly back out for his second run. Valtteri was still third with a 1m:48.537. Valtteri would pit after his run finishing third, a great effort. Valtteri would say to his enginerr "Thanks guys, really good job, that was good fun."