|
Team Summary:
Q1: The opening eighteen minute period for qualifying for the 2016 Russian
GP would get underway with the knowledge that Vettel would receive a five
place grid penalty for a gearbox change. Everyone was out on the supersoft
tyre except Perez who was on the soft tyre. Twelve cars on the track with
Gutierrez setting a 1m:38.891. Both Mercedes had done slow first laps as
Hulkenberg went quickest with a 1m:38.562. Rosberg would set a 1m:36.684
only to be beaten by Hamilton with a 1m:36.518. Rosberg was on a quicker lap
setting a 1m:36.119 to be quickest. More rivers were out on the track as
Hamilton also improved with a 1m:36.006 to move ahead of his team-mate.
Raikkonen was now third and Vettel fourth while for Williams Valtteri and
Felipe were fifth and sixth. Alonso was in seventh followed by Ricciardo,
Perez, and Button.
Vettel would move into third with a 1m:36.555 while both Mercedes cars were
in their pits. Hamilton was under investigation for not following rules in
regard to returning to the track having run wide at Turn two. Both Williams
cars would finish the period in fifth and sixth. Those out were Magnussen,
Palmer, Nasr, Wehrlein, Haryanto, and Ericsson. For Williams it was a
straight forward period with both cars easily into the second period.
Q2: With both Williams drivers comfortably into the second period the
fifteen minute period would commence with drivers coming out very early, all
on new supersoft tyres. A 1m:37.282 from Perez to be quickest. Both Mercedes
cars completed slow laps as they prepared their tyres. Rosberg would
commence his quick lap setting a 1m:35.337 with Hamilton second with a
1m:35.820. Perez was third followed by Verstappen and Ricciardo. The
Ferrari's would finally come out while Both Williams drivers would wait
until seven minutes before the end of the session before coming out. Vettel
would move into third with a 1m:36.623.
Hamilton had pitted but did come back out on a new set of supersoft tyres.
Raikkonen was now fourth as both Williams drivers did slow first laps. After
their quick laps the Williams drivers were fifth and sixth separated by just
0.09. With the end of the period those not making the cut were Sainz,
Button, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Grosjean, and Gutierrez. The top ten was Rosberg
from Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Valtteri, Felipe, Perez, Verstappen,
Ricciardo, and Kvyat. With everyone in the top ten on the supersoft the
start of the race would not see what happened in China.
Q3: Prior to the start of the final twelve minute period it would be
announced that Hamilton would not take part as a result of an issue with his
power unit. Both Valtteri ad Felipe would come out very early. Apart from
Hamilton the only driver yet to come out was Verstappen. A 1m:42.514 from
Raikkonen but Vettel would set a 1m:36.259 to be quickest. Perez was second
from Raikkonen and Ricciardo. Raikkonen was now second with a 1m:36.695 but
Rosberg would go quickest with a 1m:35.417. Valtteri was now third and
Felipe fifth. Rosberg was on an even quicker lap but he would run wide at
Turn Thirteen. Rosberg would pit as both Williams drivers returned to the
track.
Raikkonen was on a quick lap setting a 1m:36.663 but would remain fourth.
With the end of the period Rosberg would be quickest followed by Vettel,
Valtteri, Raikkonen, Felipe, Ricciardo, Perez, Kvyat, Verstappen, and
Hamilton tenth even though he had not taken part in the period. But there
was questions as to whether he would receive any penalty if the Mercedes
team changes parts in his engine. But for Sunday's race Valtteri would start
from second and Felipe fourth. A great result for the Williams team.
Valtteri Bottas:
Q1: Valtteri would be first out for Williams running on new supersoft tyres.
Valtteri would complete a slow first lap with a 1m:56.915 as he prepared his
tyres. Valtteri would start his first quick lap and would finish with a
1m:37.746 to be third but he would drop to fourth behind Vettel. Valtteri
would drop a further place going to fifth.
Q2: Valtteri would follow Felipe out also on new supersoft tyres. His first
lap was a 1m:53.998 as he prepared his tyres for the next quick lap.
Valtteri would push Felipe down one place going fifth with a 1m:37.140.
Q3: Valtteri would head out for the final period with new supersoft tyres.
His first lap would again be a slow one as he worked up for his first flying
lap. Valtteri would move up to second with a 1m:36.536 but would drop to
third. Valtteri would pit with five minutes remaining. With Vettel to
receive a five grid place penalty it was looking like Valtteri would have a
chance to get a front row grid position. Valtteri would return to the track
on a new set of supersoft tyres. Valtteri would not improve remaining in
third. |
