Team Summary:
With both Williams cars having a positive final practice qualifying for the
2017 Malaysian Grand Prix would commence. For Ferrari they would be able to
finish off an engine replacement on Vettel's car as the first eighteen
minute period would get underway. The majority of drivers were on the super
soft tyre except both Ferrari's and Mercedes cars who were on the soft. As
the times started to come Hamilton would go quickest with a 1m:32.380 but
Raikkonen would go quicker with a 1m:32.277. Ocon and Perez were in third
and fourth but Bottas would move up to third. Vettel would be forced to slow
pitting without having set a time. Hamilton would go quickest with a
1m:31.605 with Ricciardo now fourth.
After their runs the Williams drivers were in ninth and fifteenth.
Verstappen was now in second ahead of Bottas and Raikkonen. The top four
times were all set of the soft tyre. Vettel was not able to get back despite
sitting in his car in the garage waiting to come out but he would not seta
time seeing him qualifying last. With the end of the period the top ten was
Hamilton, Verstappen, Bottas, Raikkonen, Felipe, Ricciardo, Ocon, Gasly,
Palmer and Hulkenberg. After their second runs the Williams etam would see
their drivers in fifth and fourteenth.
The second fifteen minute period would get underway with all the drivers on
the super soft tyre. As times wee set Bottas would set a 1m:31.272 but
Hamilton would go ahead with a 1m:31.009. Raikkonen would move ahead of both
Mercedes setting a 1m:30.926. Verstappen would go second and Ricciardo
fifth. With four minutes remaining the top ten was Raikkonen, Verstappen,
Hamilton, Bottas, Ricciardo, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Felipe, Alonso and Palmer.
The track was empty as drivers got ready for their second runs in the
period. But this would quickly change with everyone except the top two
coming back out. The only big change was Bottas going quickest with a
1m:30.803. Raikkonen and Verstappen would be second and third. Hamilton was
fourth followed by Ricciardo, Perez, Ocon, Hulkenberg, Vandoorne and Alonso.
Both Williams cars would fail to make the cut ending their qualifying in
eleventh and thirteenth after the second period.
The final period would see Hamilton fastest after his first run with a
1m:30.076 with Raikkonen second. Ricciardo was third followed by Verstappen
and Bottas. Perez was sixth followed by Ocon, Vandoorne, Alonso and
Hulkenberg not setting a time. The second runs would see Hamilton fail to
improve his time but Raikkonen could not move ahead remaining second.
Verstappen was now third followed by Ricciardo, Bottas, Ocon, Vandoorne,
Hulkenberg, Perez and Alonso tenth. For Williams both drivers are just
outside the top ten so there is a good chance that they can come away with
points come Sunday. |
Felipe Massa:
Felipe would be first out for Williams running on new super soft tyres.
Felipe would commence his flying lap and would end with a 1m:32.848 to be
sixth. He would drop to eighth. Felipe would pit currently ninth behind
Vandoorne. As the period drew to a close Felipe would return with a new set
of super soft tyres and was on a better lap. Felipe was able to set a
1m:32.267 to now be fifth. Felipe would be first out for Williams in the
second period again on the super soft tyre. Felipe would set a 1m:32.195 to
be eighth behind Hulkenberg. Felipe was back out on a new set of super soft
tyres. He had dropped to eleventh as others went quicker despite having set
a 1m:32.034 which had originally been ninth.
Lance
Stroll:
Lance would follow his team-mate out also on new super soft tyres. Lance
would complete his lap finishing with a 1m:33.709 seeing him drop down to
fifteenth. But Lance was able to improve slightly seeing him thirteenth with
a 1m:33.442 but he would drop to fourteenth. Lance would pit after a five
lap run. Lance was also out on new tyres and was able to set a 1m:33.000 to
be fourteenth. Lance would follow Felipe out in the second period. Lance
would complete his lap setting a 1m:32.611 but this was only good enough for
fourteenth. This would become fifteenth and he was facing not making the
cut. Lance would return for his second run again on super soft tyres. Lance
would set a 1m:32.307 but would finish in thirteenth. |