Australian GP: Williams drivers in top ten after qualifying

The Williams team would be presented with a overcast sky as they waited for the start of the first eighteen period in qualifying for the 2014 Australian Grand Prix. The second period would now be fifteen minutes and the final period twelve minutes. Both Mercedes cars were waiting at the end of the grid for the start of the period. Grosjean would go straight out on the soft tyre as both Williams drivers took to the track. Button was also on the softer tyre as was both Williams also come out on the option tyre. Only Vettel had yet to come out with both Mercedes cars on the medium tyre. A 1m:31.699 from Hamilton as Vettel came out on the soft tyre. Felipe would go fastest with a 1m:31.549 using his soft tyre. Button was third and Valtteri fourth, 1m:32.183.

Magnussen goes fastest with a 1m:30.949 but Ricciardo would move ahead with a 1m:30.775. Felipe was now third and Valtteri sixth. Rosberg was down in eighth with a time of 1m:32.564. Drivers on the medium tyre would start to pit looking to change to the soft tyre. Valtteri would set a personal best in sector one as Ricciardo pitted as Vettel moved up to sixth, 1m:32.109. Valtteri would finish his lap with a 1m:31.601 to
be fifth. Felipe was third, 1m:31.228, as Hamilton went fastest in sector one.

Hamilton was still on the medium tyre as Valtteri pitted. Felipe would also come in with the order Ricciardo, Magnussen, Felipe, Button, Valtteri, Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Rosberg, and Vergne tenth. Alonso would go fourth fastest, 1m:31.388 as the rain started to fall. Maldonado would have several spins but was able to keep it going with six minutes remaining in the period. The rain was now heavier with the track now empty with three minutes left in the period.

Those not making the cut were Chilton, Bianchi, Gutierrez, Ericsson, Grosjean, and Maldonado. No real surprise to see both Lotus cars out. The order was the order Ricciardo, Magnussen, Felipe, Alonso, Button, Valtteri, Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, and Rosberg tenth.

As the rain continued to fall the drivers would come out for the final period. DRS was still disabled with everyone on the full wet tyre. The only one to be on the intermediate was Alonso as both Williams cars waited to come out. Felipe would take to the track but with ten minutes remaining Valtteri was still in his garage. He would come out running on the wet tyre. Rosberg was fastest with a 1m:45.550 followed by Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Vergne, Kvyat, Ricciardo, Magnussen, and Alonso eighth. But Hamilton would go fastest with a 1m:45.335.

Rosberg would pit taking on the full wet again as Felipe pitted. Felipe was currently tenth and Valtteri eighth with a 1m:48.147. Ricciardo would pit taking on intermediate tyres but Hamilton pitted taking on full wets. Felipe would also take on the intermediate tyre joined by Valtteri who had also pitted. Rosberg would go fastest in sector one but would lock up ruining his lap. Felipe looked unsteady on the intermediate tyre nearly hitting a wall. It was a real mix of tyre types as Felipe started his last flying lap. Rosberg was fastest in sector one and Hamilton fastest in sector two. Magnussen would go third fastest, 1m:45.745, as Ricciardo went fastest.

Hamilton went quickest with a 1m:44.762 but Rosberg would move ahead with a 1m:44.595. Felipe and Valtteri were now ninth and tenth as Ricciardo went fastest with a 1m:44.458. But Hamilton would snatch it from Red Bull with a 1m:44.231 to be quickest. Rosberg was third followed by Magnussen, Alonso, Vergne, Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Felipe, and Valtteri. But Valtteri would take a five place grid penalty seeing him starting from fifteenth. To see both Williams drivers start the final period and going to the intermediate tyre may have being a gamble but it was still a fantastic start to the race weekend.