Spanish GP: Qualifying sees Bottas 4th for Williams Martini

Team Summary:
The final practice had seen Williams Martini drivers Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa finish in fourth and seventh. The opening eighteen minute period would commence with no one rushing out. With four minutes of Q1 complete we had more cars out on the track including both Mercedes. A 1m:32.038s for Merhi for the first lap time. But Hulkenberg would do a 1m:28.677 running on the medium tyre. Perez was second while Sainz would go quickest with a 1m:28.492. Rosberg was now fastest with a 1m:27.677 running on the medium tyre. Hamilton would go quicker with a 1m:27.322. After their first runs the Williams drivers were fourth and thirteenth with Felipe the quicker. It was looking like they would go to the option tyre for their next runs.

More drivers were coming back out on the option tyre but others, like Hamilton and Rosberg, continued on the hard tyre. Both Felipe and Valtteri were back out on the medium tyre. Both drivers would get just the one lap as the period drew to a close. A 1m:26.382 from Hamilton on the hard tyre with Raikkonen now second on the medium. Rosberg would take second with a 1m:26.490 also on the hard tyre, such was the dominance of the Mercedes cars. With the end of the period Felipe was fifth and Valtteri sixth.

With close to three minutes of Q2 completed only one car was out on the track. But both Williams drivers would come out with ten minutes remaining in the period. A 1m:28.986 from Nasr running on used medium tyres. Both Williams drivers wre out on new medium tyres and were fifth and sixth. Hamilton would go quickest with a 1m:25.740 but Rosberg would go quicker with a 1m:25.166 to be ahead by 0.574s. As everyone pitted Valtteri and Felipe were fifth and seventh. As the final minutes counted down Felipe was back out on a new set of medium tyres. After his run he would move up to fourth while Valtteri dropped one place to sixth.

With the start of the final twelve minute period it would be several min utes before the first car took to the track. Valtteri would be first out for Williams running on new medium tyres. A 1m:25.880 from Valtteri to be quickest but would drop to fourth as others went quicker. Hamilton was now fastest with a 1m:24.948 but Rosberg would go quicker with a 1m:24.681. Vettel was third followed by Valtteri.

Both Valtteri and Felipe would come out for their next runs with Felipe looking to do a single lap in qualifying. With the end of the period Valtteri would finish in fourth while Felipe was not able to match his team-mate finishing in ninth. Rosberg would take pole position from Hamilton and Vettel.

Valtteri Bottas:
Q1: Valtteri would be first out for Williams running on the hard compound. His first lap was a slow 1m:42.954. On his next lap Valtteri would set a 1m:28.759 to be fifth. Valtteri would drop to tenth and would pit. He would drop down to thirteenth behind Ericsson. Valtteri would follow Felipe out on the medium tyre for his second run. Valtteri was now fifteenth but his lap would see him set a 1m:27.262 to be sixth.

Q2: Valtteri would follow Felipe out and on his first lap would set a 1m:26.197 to be quickest. But he would drop to third and then fifth. He would pit after his first run and would not return to the track as the period came to an end. He would finish the period in sixth.

Q3: Out for his first run running on a set of new medium tyres, and would set a 1m:25.880 to go quickest. He would drop to fourth prior to pitting. Valtteri was told that it was possible to get third but it would be difficult. Valtteri would be first out giving him good track position as he came back out on a new set of medium tyres. he would not improve his time but would remain fourth.