Quantcast

Austrian GP: Massa 4th in Qualifying for Williams Martini


By Andrew Hooper
June 20 2015

Qualifying for the 2015 Austrain GP would see Williams Martini drivers Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas finish in 4th and 6th. In a session that was affected by a wet but drying track in the first period both Williams drivers were able to comfortably make it into the final period. Valtteri may have been able to finish further up the field but had to slow due to a yellow flag on his flying lap seeing him fail to improve. Despite this both drivers will start Sundays race from positions that should see their fight for another good result.

 
  Williams Martini Austrian GP Qualifying
 
Massa
 

Team Summary:
Q1: After rain hindered their option tyre runs in the final practice session the Williams Martini team would finish in sixth and seventh but the rain had fallen away in the lead-up to qualifying for the 2015 Austrian Grand Prix. It was expected that the track would dry as the first drivers came out with the start of the first period. They were all on the intermediate tyre but the track was drying quickly. Both Williams drivers were still in their pits as Verstappen set a 1m:21.006 to be quickest. Five minutes of the period completed and neither Williams car had come out. Sainz was now quickest with a 1m:20.903 from Verstappen and Rosberg. Hamilton was now third as Nasr came out on the super soft dry tyre. Verstappen would set a 1m:19.814 with ten minutes remaining, but again Sainz would move ahead. Both Williams cars would come out on the soft tyre as Vettel went quickest only to see Rosberg take this spot with a 1m:19.039.

A 1m:18.677 from Verstappen to go quickest from Rosberg and Vettel. On their soft tyres the Williams pair were first and second but this would become first and third. Nasr would go quickest with a 1m:15.623 only to see Maldonado go quickest with a 1m:15.385. Both Williams drivers would pit taking on the super soft tyre currently in seventh and ninth with Valtteri the quicker. A 1m:13.13.590 to be quickest ahead of Verstappen. Valtteri and Felipe had dropped to fourteenth and fifteenth with three minutes remaining. Hamilton would go quickest with a 1m:13.196 with Felipe now second, 1m:13.354. Sainz was now quickest with a 1m:11.676 with Felipe and Valtteri fourth and seventh. So both Williams drivers had made it into the second period. At the end of the period Rosberg was quickest with a 1m:10.976 from Sainz and Vettel.

Q2: The second fifteen minute period would commence with both Williams cars out on used super soft tyres. A 1m:16.366 from Sainz only to see Nasr go quicker with a 1m:13.577. A 1m:10.207 from Hulkenberg with Verstappen now second. On their first runs the Williams pairr were fifth and sixth but would drop to sixth and seventh. After their next laps they were eighth and ninth while quickest was Rosberg with a 1m:09.588, from Kvyat and Hamilton. Both Williams cars would pit with seven minutes remaining in the period. Vettel would go quickest as Felipe went second dropping to third. Hamilton was now fourth while Valtteri was fifth after his second run. Rosberg was again quickest with a 1m:09.309, from Vettel and Hamilton.
The Williams drivers were fourth and fifth. Valtteri was able to move ahead of Felipe with the pair fourth and eighth with the end of the period. The quickest time was a1m:08.634 from Rosberg.

Q3: Both Williams drivers were in the final twelve minute period. Valtteri and Felipe would come out on new option tyres as Nasr set a 1m:10.573 to be quickest with Valtteri second. Rosberg was now fastest with a 1m:08.850 from Hamilton and Hulkenberg. Felipe and Valtteri were now fifth and sixth. They would improve to be third and fourth as Valtteri pitted. Rosberg was quickest from Hamilton and Felipe. Hamilton would go quickest with a 1m:08.455 to beat Rosberg who had set a 1m:08.655. Vettel was now third from Felipe and Valtteri. Hamilton would spin as Rosberg went quickest in the middle sector. But Rosberg would also go off on his final run seeing Hamilton remain in pole. For Williams Felipe and Valtteri would
finish in fourth and sixth.

 
Bottas
 
Felipe Massa:
Q1: Felipe would go quickest with a 1m:17.831 but Valtteri would move ahead seeing Felipe second. He would drop to third courtesy of Maldonado. He would it taking on the option tyre and would set a 1m:13.354 to be second but would rop to fourth such was the changes taking place. Felipe was now twelfth but would move up to third with a 1m:11.830. he would fall to eighth with the end of the period with a time of 1m:11.830.

Q2: Felipe would set a 1m:11.372 running on the super soft tyre to end up sixth. A
1m:10.781 would see Felipe right behind Valtteri running on used option tyres. On his next run he would come out on new super soft tyres and would set a 1m:09.852 to go second quickest. Felipe would drop down to eighth as others went quicker as the period ended.

Q3: Felipe would be a few places behind team-mate Valtteri as he went out for the final period. Felipe would set a 1m:13.118 to currently be seventh but he would move up to third with a 1m:09.288. Felipe would pit having completed four laps. Felipe would come back out with four minutes remaining. He was on another set of new option tyres. Felipe was on a quicker lap setting a 1m:09.192 but remained fourth. This is where he would finish the period.
 
Bottas
 

Valtteri Bottas:
Q1:
On the soft tyre Valtteri would go quickest with a 1m:17.297. Valtteri had pitted and would take on the super soft tyre and would set a 1m:13.675 tgo be fifth but he would drop to twelfth but like others would improve to be sixth with a 1m:11.991. Valtteri would finish the first period in ninth with a time of 1m:11.894.

Q2: On his first run on the option tyre Valtteri would be seventh but on his next lap he would set a 1m:10.771 to end up being eighth. Valtteri would come back out also on new option tyres. Valtteri would set a 1m:09.874 to see him fifth with a minute remaining in the period. Valtteri was able to find time setting a 1m:09.598 to be third but he would drop to fourth.

Q3:Valtetri would be first out for Williams running on new super soft tyres. His second lap would see him set a 1m:09.319 to currently be fourth. Valtteri would pit also completing four laps. Valtteri would report that it felt pretty good. Valtteri was back out on new option tyres. Hulkenberg would see him drop to sixth and that is where he would finish the period.

 
Massa
 

View a Printer Friendly version of this Story.

Bookmark or share this story with:

Austrian GP: Massa 4th in Qualifying for Williams Martini
Discussion started by Williams F1 , 20/06/2015 14:40
Williams F1
20/06/2015 14:40
What do you think? You can have your say by posting below.
If you do not already have an account Click here to Register.

Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment. We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals. We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards. If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing abuse@sportnetwork.net