Abu Dhabi GP: Frustrating qualifying for Williams Racing

Team Summary:
Qualifying for the 2020 Abu Dhabi would commence with the Haas cars out first both on the soft tyre. Slowly more drivers would come out including both Williams. The track was very busy as Magnussen set a 1m:38.086 followed by Fittipaldi. Both Haas cars would pit as Leclerc went quickest with a 1m:36.894 but both Red Bull cars would go quicker with Albon quicker with a 1m:36.106 followed by Verstappen. But Hamilton would go quickest but his time would be deleted seeing Bottas now quickest with a 1m:35.699 followed by Perez, Albon, Stroll, Sainz, Verstappen, Norris, and Leclerc eighth. The Williams pair were now 14th and 15th. Ricciardo and Ocon were in seventh and eighth.

Hamilton was now in seventh ahead of the Renault's. The Haas cars were 16th and 17th ahead of both Williams. Both Williams had pitted with four and a half minutes remaining. Giovinazzi had yet to set a time having pitted with possible floor damage. With the second runs Hamilton would go quickest with a 1m:35.528 with Bottas second and Leclerc third. Both Williams drivers would be out of qualifying having failed to improve their times on their second runs. Fourth in the session would be Verstappen followed by Norris, Perez, Albon, Kvyat, Stroll and Sainz tenth.

The second period would see both Mercedes on the medium joined by Sainz, Albon, Verstappen, Leclerc, Vettel, Ricciardo and Ocon. The top ten was Hamilton., Bottas, Norris, Sainz, Verstappen, Gasly, Leclerc, Kvyat, Stroll and Vettel in tenth after their first runs. On the second run Verstappen and Leclerc were back out on the medium tyre for their second runs. Kvyat on the soft was now in fifth with Leclerc on the medium now fourth. Stroll on the soft would move up to fifth with Sainz sixth. Albon as now fourth on the soft tyre followed by Norris, Leclerc, Stroll, Sainz, Kvyat and Gasly tenth.

The final period would see Verstappen take pole from Bottas, Hamilton, Norris, Albon, Sainz, Kvyat, Stroll, Leclerc and Gasly in tenth. So the results of qualifying would see both Williams drivers fail to make it out of the opening period. Certainly a disappointing result for the team but not unexpected.

George Russell:
George would be first out for Williams running on the soft tyre. George would set a 1m:38.343 to be currently third. He would quickly drop to 14th with nine minutes remaining. As more times were set this was now 17th. George would complain that his tyres were way too hot. George would pit after a seven lap run after trying two flying laps. George would return for his second soft tyre run. His first sector was not great but his last two sectors would see him improve to set a 1m:38.045 to only manage 16th. He would drop to 18th and out of qualifying.

Nicholas Latifi:
Nicholas would follow George out for his first run also on the soft tyre. Nicholas would set a 1m:38,552 now down in 13th. This would become 15th then 18th as he pitted after a five lap run. Nicholas would also come out for a second soft tyre run with three minutes remaining. Nicholas would spin his car on his out lap at the last corner. He would not improve having not been able to put in a second flying lap finishing slowest in the period and out of qualifying.