Australian GP: Massa finishes qualifying in 3rd

Team Summary:
Both drivers would make it through the first period with Felipe Massa finishing third, 1m:29.246, and Valtteri Bottas, eighth, 1m:29.641, but Valtteri was one of only three drivers to remain on the medium tyre. Fastest in the first period was Hamilton with a 1m:28.586. The second period would see Valtteri again lead Felipe with the pair fourth and sixth. Both drivers were around a second off the quickest time. It was starting to be a real fight with Ferrari with the Ferrari's third and fifth.

Both drivers were in the final top ten and the final period would see them finish in third and sixth with Felipe leading Valtteri. Valtteri had a big moment when he ran wide coming onto the main straight that saw him lose a big amount of time. In the post session interview Felipe would say: "It was a very tricky qualifying, four cars fighting for similar time all the time. The difference between me, Seb, Kimi and Valtteri is pretty small. But I'm happy that I did a good lap. It was my best lap of the day, the last one, which is never easy to do. Maybe I just prepared everything for the last try and it worked. "

Felipe Massa:
Q1: Prior to going out Felipe was told that track temperature had come down and that wind was down and not as bad as in FP3. First period would start with most drivers on the medium tyre except for the Ferrari's who were on the soft. Felipe would take to the track with the medium tyre. Felipe on his flying lap as Vettel set a 1m:29.307. First time was a 1m:31.045 for Felipe seeing him third but he would drop to sixth behind Verstappen. Nine minutes remaining and Felipe was now seventh. On his next lap Felipe would move up to fourth but this would become fifth as team-mate Valtteri went second. Felipe was now sixth with his time of 1m:30.289. Felipe would pit with five minutes remaining. Felipe would follow others in coming back out on the soft tyre. Felipe was now eleventh but using the soft tyre he would move up to third with a 1m:29.246.

Q2: Track temperatures continued to fall as Felipe came out for his first run also on used soft tyres. Felipe would set a slow 1m:38.076 on his first lap to be seventh. Felipe would improve with a 1m:28.782 to be fifth. Felipe was now sixth still on the used soft tyre. Felipe would pit with just over five minutes remaining. Felipe would be first back out for Williams running on new soft tyres. Felipe was told that he needed "a good traffic free lap". Felipe was on a quick lap and would finish in fifth, 1m:27.895. but he would drop to sixth with Raikkonen ahead in fifth.

Q3: Felipe would join Valtteri out on the track. Quickest was Hamilton with a 1m:26.419. Felipe's first lap was a 1m:28.389 to be third but he had lost time at the second last corner when the rear of the FW37 stepped out. Felipe would pit and would come back out on a new set of soft tyres. Felipe would finish his final lap with a 1m:27.718 to be third. Williams would congratulate Felipe on a "great lap", and he says it was difficult out there.

Valtteri Bottas:
Q1: Valtteri was out with fourteen minutes remaining in the eighteen minute period, also running on the medium tyre. On the soft tyre Raikkonen would set a 1m:30.188 as Valtteri started his flying lap. He would complete his lap and would finish with a 1m:30.305 to be third, ahead of Rosberg. Valtteri sets a 1m:29.641 to now be second. Valtteri would drop to third as Vettel set a 1m:29.307 to be second. Quickest was now Rosberg with a 1m:28.906. But Hamilton would go fastest with a 1m:28.586. Valtteri was now fourth and back in his pit. Valtteri was one of the four cars that had set their quickest times on the medium tyre, along with team-mate Felipe. Valtteri was still in his pit but having dropped to seventh which would become eighth as the period ended, but Valtteri had saved a set of soft tyres.

Q2: Valtteri first out for Williams running on the soft tyre for the first time. Valtteri would go fastest in sector tow and would complete his lap setting a 1m:28.012 to be quickest. Hamilton would set a 1m:26.894 to move ahead of Valtteri. Valtteri would drop to third as we now had Hamilton and Rosberg at the front. Valtteri would pit having dropped to fifth. Valtteri was now 0.770 ahead of Felipe. Valtteri would come back out with new soft tyres fitted. Valtteri was on a better lap as the period came to an end. Valtteri was now sixth but he would move up to fourth, 1m:27.796.

Q3: Valtteri would be first out running on new soft tyres. Valtteri's first lap was messy locking brakes after having gone quickest in sector one. Valtteri would come on the radio complaining about the bite of the brakes. Valtteri had yet to set a time with Valtteri returning to the pits after his troubled first run. Valtteri would be first back out for Williams for his second run. Valtteri was now fourth after a big moment coming onto the main straight. Valtteri would finish in sixth and on his walk back to be weighed looked less than happy.