European Qualifying: Rosberg seventh

Qualifying for the 2009 European Grand Prix would see Alguersuari, Buemi, Nico Rosberg, Kazuki Nakajima, and Fisichella all come out. With five minutes of the period completed it would be Sutil, 1m:41.22, from Alguersuari, Nico, Glock, Fisichella, Trulli, Kazuki, Badoer, and Raikkonen. Kazuki would go fastest with a 1m:40.339 but was beaten by Buemi and then Raikkonen. Buemi was fastest with a 1m:40.203 while Nico moved into second and Webber third. Kovalainen was now fastest with a 1m:39.997.

Nico was now third and Kazuki sixth. Only Alonso was in the pit lane as Raikkonen went faste4st with a 1m:39.718. Barrichello was now fourth as Kovalainen returned to the top of the times with a 1m:39.562. Vettel was now second followed by Raikkonen and Kazuki who had improved with a 1m:39.795. Nico was able to improve seeing him fastest with a 1m:39.416. Fisichella was now second, 1m:39.531, with Kovalainen third. Now it was Hamilton's turn at the front with a 1m:39.198 but he was quickly passed by Barrichello who set a time of 1m:39.019.

As the track improved the changes were coming thick and fast as Kovalainen moved into second ahead of Hamilton. Nico had pitted currently in fourth. Kazuki was down in eleventh. On his next lap Hamilton would go fastest with a 1m:38.649. Sutil was fifth with six minutes remaining in the session. Alonso would move up to eighth, 1m:39.603. Buemi was in seventh. Kazuki was still running looking to improve from twelfth. Grosjean was able to put in a very
quick lap moving from seventeenth to fourth, 1m:39.322. Nico had left the pits as see had Button in fifteenth.

So with four minutes left the track was full with just two cars in the pit lane. Kazuki's session would come to an end when he pulled off the track. Kazuki was currently in thirteenth but was looking very much in danger of not making the cut. Hamilton was still in his pit as Grosjean pitted. Webber would move up to fifth, 1m:39.408. Kubica was now fourth but Button would move ahead just behind third placed Barrichello. Grosjean had returned to the track as the period came to an end. Buemi was now third as they all looked to complete their last lap.

Raikkonen was now third but Kubica would move into second behind Hamilton. But on his next lap Button would move to the top of the times with a 1m:38.531. Hamilton was second from Kubica, Kovalainen, Raikkonen, Buemi, Webber, Barrichello, Heidfeld, Nico, Sutil, Alonso, Vettel, Grosjean, and Glock. Those not making it through were Fisichella, Kazuki, Trulli, Alguersuari, and Badoer.

With Kazuki out of qualifying the second period would get underway with Raikkonen coming out first followed by Kubica. Nico was out early joined by both Brawn cars. Raikkonen and Kubica were both on the super soft tyres. With twelve minutes remaining only the Renault's had yet to come out. Raikkonen would seta time of 1m:38.823 while Kubica was off the pace with a 1m:41.995. Buemi was now second, 1m:39.961, as Barrichello went fastest but was beaten by Button with a time of 1m:38.601. Hamilton was now third but Webber would take this spot while we saw Kovalainen move to the top of the times with a 1M;38.579.

Button was now second while Vettel moved into third from Barrichello. But Barrichello would move fastest, 1m:38.231. Nico was second but everyone would drop down one place as Hamilton went fastest with a 1m:38.182. Barrichello was second from Kovalainen, Nico, Button, Webber, Vettel, Kubica, Raikkonen, and Heidfeld. As drivers started to pit we had both Renault's out on the track. Nico would pit while Grosjean could only manage fourteenth. Alonso had yet to set a time while Webber would return to the track joined by Raikkonen. Alonso would move up to eleventh while Grosjean would improve to be twelfth.

Four minutes to go and everyone was back out except Hamilton. Alonso would pit briefly as Grosjean also came in. Webber would remain sixth on a lap that saw his make a few mistakes including running wide at Turn fourteen. Raikkonen would improve to eighth. Button would drop to sixth as Vettel moved into third. Barrichello was still second while Kovalainen was fastest in sector one. Nico was also on a quick lap as the period came to an end. Barrichello was now fastest with a 1m:38.076. Nico would improve his time but remained in fifth.

So the order was Barrichello from Hamilton, Kovalainen, Vettel, Nico, Button, Webber, Alonso, Kubica, and in tenth Raikkonen. Those not making it through were Heidfeld, Sutil, Glock, Grosjean, and Buemi. Once again Nico had made it in the final period of qualifying, keeping up his good record.

The ten minute top ten shoot-out would get underway with Kovalainen and Kubica coming out of the pit lane. Raikkonen and Nico would also take to the track, joined by Hamilton and Alonso. Now everyone was out on the track with eight minutes left. The drivers would start their first timed laps while Vettel would run wide at Turn two. Kubica's time was a 1m:41.381 followed by Kovalainen with a 1m:41.571. Raikkonen was now fastest, 1m:40.857, followed by Nico. But Hamilton would go fastest with a 1m:39.498. Alonso was now third from Nico as Button moved into second, 1m:39.905. Nico was now fifth and would pit joining several other drivers. Webber, Vettel, and Barrichello had yet to set a time. Button would pit taking on tyres.

Everyone was on the super soft tyres. Hamilton would pit with just over two minutes left in the period. He was back out after a quick stop as Kovalainen went fastest in sector one. One minute remaining and Barrichello was up to second, 1m:39.563, and Webber was fourth.

Kovalainen was now second from Hamilton. Nico was down in sixth as Vettel improved to be fourth. Button was only fifth as Kovalainen went even faster in sector one. Nico's time was a 1m:40.185. Kovalainen would go fastest in sector two. He would lose time in the last two corners moving into second. Raikkonen was now sixth seeing Nico drop to seventh. So with the end of the period the order was Hamilton from Kovalainen, Barrichello, Vettel, Button, Raikkonen, Nico, Alonso, Webber, and Kubica in tenth.

Not the greatest of results for the Williams team with Nico started Sunday's race in seventh while Kazuki would start from the back of the grid in seventeenth. Kazuki just can't seem to get a break again hitting a problem that saw him drop out of qualifying in the first period. Nico has a good chance of securing more points for the Williams team but for Kazuki it is again going to be a long race for him with not a great chance of securing a good result.