French GP: Positive qualifying for Williams racing

Team Summary:
The opening eighteen minute period of qualifying for the 2021 French Grand prix would commence with Giovinazzi out first but more drivers took to the session including the first of the Williams with everyone running on the soft tyre. More cars would come out including the second Williams. And before a time could be set Tsunoda would crash his car spinning backwards and into the barrier seeing a Red Flag come out. Tsunoda's qualifying was over as he got out of his car and his car was removed. The period was stopped but for some drivers including both Williams their early time on the track was ruined.

The period would restart with a rush of drivers coming out led by the Ferrari's. It would include both Williams along with the rest of the field. The first time would be Leclerc but Sainz would move ahead as Russell went second. As others went quicker Bottas was fastest with a 1m:31.669 followed by Hamilton. But Verstappen would go quickest with a 1m:31.001 followed by Perez and Bottas. Hamilton was now fourth followed by Gasly, Norris, Vettel, Ocon, Alonso, and Ricciardo tenth. The Williams pair were 15th and 16th while Hamilton was able to move into second behind Verstappen.

Both Williams drivers would return for a second run as we had the final minutes of the period. The top five cars were still in their pits as the rest of the started their preparation lap. But Schumacher would crash his car seeing another Red Flag come out ending the period so drivers would not be able to complete their laps. Schumacher had crashed his Haas while in 13th in the period. This would see one of the Williams fail to make it past Q1 and the other one was by just 0.002 from his team-mate with the Williams cars 15th and 16th at the end of the period. Schumacher would not be able to take part in the second period with his car wrecked.

The second period would commence with a rush of drivers coming out including the remaining Williams. The Williams was the only car on the soft tyre the rest on the medium. A 1m:31.353 from Gasly with Norris second. But Sainz would go quickest with Bottas second from Gasly and Hamilton. Sainz had set a 1m:31.146. Verstappen was quickest but Perez would move ahead with a 1m:30.971. Verstappen was second followed by Bottas, Gasly, Hamilton, Leclerc, Vettel, Ricciardo, and Giovinazzi tenth. The Williams remained 11th but as others cars set times the car would drop to 14th. Hamilton was now quickest with a 1m:30.959 followed by Perez, Verstappen, Sainz, Bottas, Gasly, Norris, Alonso, Ricciardo, and Leclerc tenth.

Giovinazzi would return this time on the soft tyre and he would be joined by the other thirteen cars including the Williams. Bottas was now quickest with a 1m:30.735 from Hamilton, Perez, Verstappen, Sainz, Gasly, Norris, Alonso, Leclerc and Ricciardo tenth with the end of the period. The Williams team would see their cars finish in 14th and 16th. The final period would see the first runs completed and it would be Verstappen quickest with a 1m:30.325 from Hamilton, Perez, Bottas, Sainz, Norris, Alonso, Leclerc, and Ricciardo. Gasly has yet to set a time. Verstappen remaining on pole with a 1m:29.990 followed by Hamilton, Bottas, and Perez fourth. Sainz was fifth followed by Gasly, Leclerc, The cars would come out for their second Q3 runs all on the soft tyre and with the end it would be Verstappen on pole with a 1m:29.990 followed by Hamilton and Bottas third. Perez was fourth followed by Sainz, Gasly, Leclerc, Norris, Alonso and Ricciardo tenth.

For Williams they will start the race from 14th and 16th. Pretty much based on their recent form and their performances in practice where they really would be expected to be. Now it will come down to strategy and the usual element of luck in Sundays race.

George Russell:
After a short delay George would follow Nicholas out for the period. He would pit with no time as a result of a  Red Flag. With the restart he would return and would set a 1m:33.060 to be second dropping to sixth. This would quickly become 14th and he would pit after a quick two lap run. He would return on a new set of soft tyres but with another Red Flag he would not be able to set a time as a result of the Red Flag. But he had set a time good enough for Q2 and he would return to the track for this second period. He was the only driver on the soft tyre out of the early runners. He would set a 1m:32.350 to be seventh but would drop to 11th. He would pit after a two lap run. In the pits he would drop to 14th with six minutes remaining. Upon his return he was on the medium tyre. He would improve with a 1m:32.065 to be 13th but would drop to 14th and out of qualifying.

Nicholas Latifi:
Nicholas would be first out in the opening period for Williams running on the soft tyre. Nicholas would also have to pit with a Red Flag and after a short delay he would return. He would set a 1m:33.062 to be right behind his team-mate currently 15th. He would also pit after a short two lap run. Upon his return for his next run he was on an improved lap but it was all for nothing as the period would be Red Flagged and so would his chance of setting a better time. This would see him finish 16th only 0.002 behind his team-mate but even so he was out of qualifying.