Abu Dhabi GP: Qualifying sees Williams Martini 6th & 8th

Team Summary:
Q1: Having lacked pace in the practice sessions leading up to qualifying there was a big question as to how the Williams Martini team drivers would fare. With the start of the eighteen minute period there would be a mix of prime and option tyres being used. Both Mercedes cars were out on the option super soft tyre. Both Williams cars were out on the soft tyre as Ricciardo set a 1m:43.401 on the soft tyre. Felipe was second followed by Kvyat. Hamilton would go quickest by a big margin with a 1m:40.974 with Rosberg second, 1m:41.111. Perez was third on the soft tyre followed by Verstappen. Grosjean was now third, 1m:42.700, also using the option tyre. Raikkonen was able to move into third using the prime tyre with a 1m:42.700 with Maldonado now fourth ahead of Grosjean. Alonso was in eighth using the option tyre followed by Vettel and Verstappen.

Vettel would improve to be fifth with a 1m:42.941 continuing to run on the soft tyre. Raikkonen would improve with a 1m:42.500 continuing on the soft tyre. After there fi9rst runs both Williams drivers were back out on the option super soft tyre. Perez and Hulkenberg were now third and fourth also set on the option tyre. The only driver yet to use the option tyre was Raikkonen who was currently seventh. With the end of the period the Williams drivers were sixth and eleventh. The top ten was Hamilton, Rosberg, Perez, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Felipe, Raikkonen, Kvyat, Button, and Grosjean tenth. But Vettel would fail to make it past the first period ending in sixteenth. Both Williams cars were safely into the second period.

Q2: The start of the second period would see both Williams drivers come back out on used option tyres. Both Mercedes cars were out on new option tyres. Felipe would go quickest but Hamilton would set a 1m:40.758 to move ahead. Rosberg was now second followed by Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Perez, and Felipe. Both Williams cars would pit currently sixth and eighth with eight minutes remaining. Kvyat would move up to sixth with Sainz tenth. Raikkonen and Grosjean had yet to set a time with five minute remaining. Raikkonen would move up to third with a 1m:41.612. With the end of the period Valtteri would finish in fifth and Felipe ninth. The top ten would be Hamilton, Rosberg, Perez, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Valtteri, Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Felipe and Sainz in tenth. Both Williams drivers had made it into the final period.

Q3: Valtteri was out early in the final period with Felipe waiting a further few minutes. With nine minutes remaining Sainz was yet to come out. A 1m:41.184 from Perez to go quickest with Hulkenberg second. Ricciardo would move in to second as Hamilton went fastest with a 1m:41.016. Valtteri was fourth as Rosberg went quickest with a 1m:40.738. Perez was third with Raikkonen fourth followed by Ricciardo and Valtteri. Hulkenberg was eighth followed by Kvyat as everyone pitted. After a short break all ten drivers would come back out all on new super soft tyres. With the end of the period it was all going to come down to that final lap. Hamilton had gone quickest with a 1m:40.614 but Rosberg would improve with a 1m:40.237 to remain quickest. Raikkonen was third followed by Perez, Ricciardo, Valtteri, Hulkenberg, Felipe, Kvyat, and Sainz tenth. Valtteri and Felipe would finish sixth and eighth which was about where there previous pace had indicated.

Felipe Massa:
Q1: Felipe would be first out for Williams running on the soft tyre and would set a 1m:43.405 to go second. He would drop to sixth. As other drivers set their times Felipe would drop to twelfth. Felipe would pit briefly coming back out on the option tyre, currently in thirteenth. Felipe would set a 1m:42.303 to be sixth, behind Ricciardo. 

Q2: Felipe would be first out for the Williams team in the second period running on used option tyres. His first time was a 1m:42.362 to be quickest. But Felipe would drop to sixth and he would pit after running wide ruining his lap. Like Valtteri Felipe would drop a further place to be seventh. Felipe would also come back out on new super soft tyres and would also go quicker in his first sector. Felipe would set a 1m:42.349 which would see him fail to move up from ninth. But drivers behind him were also going quicker but they would not beat his time seeing Felipe make it into the final period.

Q3: Felipe would wait before coming out for his first run. After his firs run Felipe would set a 1m:42.105 currently in seventh, behind his team-mate. Felipe would follow Valtteri back out for his second run. Felipe would set a 1m:41.759 finishing eighth.

Valtteri Bottas:
Q1: Valtteri would follow Felipe out also on the soft tyre for his first run. A slow 1m:53.556 from Valtteri but his next lap would see him set a 1m:43.150 to be seventh. Valtteri would return to his pit after his first run. His second run was on the option tyre with the Finn in thirteenth. Valtteri would set a 1m:42.608 to be ninth. He would fall to eleventh with the end of the period.

Q2: Valtteri would follow Felipe out also doing his first run on used option tyres. He would set a 1m:42.741 to be third but he would dropt o seventh. Valtteri would also pit currently eighth behind Verstappen. This would become ninth as he came back out this time on new option tyres. He would go quicker in sector one and he would finish with a 1m:41.868 to be fifth. He would finish the period in sixth.

Q3: Valtteri would be first out on new option tyres and would set a 1m:41.766 to be fourth but he would drop to sixth. Valtteri would pit and come back out again on new option tyres. A 1m:41.656 from Valtteri would see him finish in sixth.