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Team Summary:
Q1: For the Williams Martini team the results of the practice sessions
leading up to qualifying indicated that it was going to be a difficult
session for the team. With the start of the eighteen minute period there
would be a rush of drivers coming out with the majority on the ultrasoft
tyre. A 1m:45.316 from Rosberg to go quickest but Hamilton would move ahead
with a 1m:45.167. Grosjean was third but Button would take this spot. Only
Ricciardo had yet to come out while after their first runs the Williams
drivers were sixth and eighth. At the front Raikkonen would go quickest with
a 1m:44.964 while Verstappen was now second and Hamilton third. Ricciardo
was on a quick lap and would finish with a 1m:44.255 to be quickest. Vettel
was slowest having reported an issue with just four minutes left in the
session.
Both Williams drivers would come out for a second run. Sainz was eighth
having set his time on the supersoft tyre. Button and Kvyat would jump up to
fifth and sixth as the period ended. Perez would move up to fifth as both
Williams drivers pitted having aborted their runs. Ricciardo was fastest
followed by Raikkonen, Verstappen, Hamilton, Perez, Button, Kvyat, Rosberg,
Alonso, and Gutierrez tenth. Vettel had failed to make it into the second
period qualifying last.
Q2: With the start of the second fifteen minute period both Mercedes cars
were out early running on the ultrasoft tyre. Both Red Bull cars were on the
supersoft tyre looking to start the race on this tyre. Rosberg would set a
1m:43.020 with Hamilton only managing a 1m:43.471. Sainz was third followed
by Kvyat, Button, and Alonso. Raikkonen was up in third, 1m:44.159, but
Ricciardo and Verstappen would go third and fourth. After their first runs
the Williams drivers were eighth and tenth. The top five would remain in the
pits as the rest of the field came out for their second runs. Alonso would
move up to seventh as Grosjean crashed and the period came to an end.
Kvyat would move up to sixth and Sainz seventh. Perez and Hulkenberg were
ninth and tenth while both Williams drivers would drop out of the top ten
ending in eleventh and twelfth as a result of the yellow flags with
Grosjean's accident. But there was discussion on the Williams pit wall as to
whether Perez had set the lap that put him in ninth while there were yellow
flags. So for Sunday's race the Williams drivers will start from eleventh
and twelfth with the choice of tyres which should help with strategy.
The top ten would be Rosberg from Ricciardo, Hamilton Verstappen,
Raikkonen, Sainz, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Alonso, and Perez tenth. Both Williams
drivers would be just behind their Force India rivals on the start grid so
Sunday's race will be very interesting. Hopefully strategy will allow the
Williams drivers to move ahead of their championship rivals. |
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Felipe Massa:
Q1: Felipe would be first out for Williams running on the ultrasoft tyre.
Felipe would finish with a 1m:46.056 to be third but 0.889 off the time of
Hamilton. Felipe would drop to fifth to be behind Alonso and Sainz. Felipe
would drop to seventh with eight minutes remaining. Felipe would also pit
and while in his pit would drop to tenth. Felipe would join Valtteri would
for a second run on new ultrasoft tyres. Felipe would also abort his lap and
would pit finishing thirteenth.
Q2: Felipe would join his team-mate also on the ultrasoft tyre. After his
run, 1m:44.991, Felipe would find himself tenth. He would also pit with just
over five minutes remaining. Felipe was close to the cut off so he would
come back out on new ultrasoft tyres. Felipe was not able to improve as a
result of Grosjean's accident. Felipe would say that it is not an easy track
for them but at least he will get to choose his tyres for the race. |
