The results of qualifying for the 2016 Abu Dhabi GP would see the Williams Martini team secure 10th and 11th. For Felipe Massa this would be his last qualifying session in Formula One so it was a great way to finish his carer ahead of his team-mate. Valtteri Bottas would finish in 11th and would have the choice of tyres for the strat of the race.
Williams
Martini Abu Dhabi GP Qualifying
Team Summary:
Q1: The first eighteen minute period would commence with the Hass and Torro
Rosso cars coming out running on the ultrasoft tyre. Both Sauber cars were
out on the same tyre joined by the Manor cars. Button was first out for
McLaren with three minutes completed. Both Renault cars were also out on the
ultrasoft tyre while the first of the main runners to come out would be
Hamilton. A 1m:43.007 from Kvyat only to be beaten by several drivers with
Magnussen quickest with a 1m:42.142 followed by Gutierrez and Sainz. Rosberg
was also out on the track as Button went quickest with a 1m:41.806. The only
cars yet to come out were the Red Bull's with eleven minutes remaining.
Ricciardo would be first out followed by Verstappen.
A 1m:39.487 from Hamilton with Rosberg second with a 1m:40.511, to be 1.024
behind his team-mate. Perez was now third followed by Hulkenberg, Button,
Grosjean, and Magnussen. Raikkonen was now fourth with a 1m:40.993 as
drivers started to pit after their first runs. Vettel was now second with a
1m:40.359 followed by Rosberg and Perez. After their supersoft tyre runs the
Williams pair were eighth and eleventh. Verstappen would set a 1m:40.424 to
be third while Ricciardo was ninth. Raikkonen was up to second with a
1m:40.338 seeing Vettel now third. There was three and a half minutes in the
period. Ricciardo was able to improve to eighth as Grosjean went tenth. The
top nine were all still in their pits but others were out for second runs.
Button would improve to ninth as the Williams drivers finished in ninth and
eleventh. Hamilton would remain quickest from Raikkonen, Vettel, Verstappen,
Rosberg, Perez and Hulkenberg.
Q2: With both Williams cars into the second fifteen minute period the green
light would come on and it would be both Mercedes cars out first. They were
followed by both Ferrari's. This period was the one where they would set the
times on those tyres that they would start the race on. Both McLaren's were
out for their first runs. A 1m:39.382 from Hamilton with Rosberg setting a
1m:39.490 and Raikkonen now third with a 1m:39.629. Vettel was fourth with
Wehrlein fifth. Both Red Bull's were out on the supersoft tyre trying a
different strategy for the race.
Verstappen was now fourth and Ricciardo sixth. Hulkenberg and Perez were
seventh and eighth. The Williams pair were ninth and tenth after their runs
and with six minute remaining in the period the track was now empty. There
minutes remaining and both Williams cars would come back out. Both Red Bull
cars were also back out on the ultrasoft tyre. The period would end as
Alonso went tenth. The top ten was Hamilton, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Verstappen,
Vettel, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Perez and Felipe.
Q3: The final twelve minute period would see both Mercedes cars out first
with Hamilton leading Rosberg. Both Force India cars were also out joined by
both Red Bull cars. Raikkonen and Vettel were looking quick as Hamilton set
a 1m:39.013 to be quickest. Rosberg was second with a 1m:39.359 followed by
Raikkonen and Hulkenberg. Ricciardo would go fourth followed by Vettel,
Hulkenberg, and Perez. But Verstappen would move into fifth pushing Vettel
to sixth. Alonso was down in ninth as everyone pitted. Drivers would start
to return to the track with all coming back out on new ultrasoft tyres. All
ten cars were on the track as Rosberg went fastest in sector one.
Hamilton would go fastest in sector two with Rosberg losing time. A
1m:38.755 from Hamilton and Rosberg would set a 1m:39.058 to be 0.303
behind. Ricciardo was now third followed by Raikkonen, Vettel, Verstappen,
Hulkenberg, Perez, Alonso and Felipe tenth. So qualifying will see the
Williams pair start from tenth and eleventh in what was a qualifying where
they would finish about where their performance would allow them.
Valtteri Bottas:
Q1: Valtteri would be first out for Williams running on the supersoft tyre,
the only driver using this tyre. Valtteri would set a 1m:41.192 to be fifth
but he would drop to sixth. As he pitted he would be eighth but would drop
to ninth behind Ricciardo. With the end of the period Valtteri would remain
in his garage. He would drop to tenth with the end of the period. With his
team-mates second run Valtteri would drop to eleventh.
Q2: Valtteri would be first out for Williams running on new ultrasoft tyres.
Valtteri would set a 1m:41.356 to be fifth. Valtteri would drop to eighth
and would pit. This would become tenth and he was behind his team-mate.
Valtteri would be first back out for a second run on a new set of ultrasoft
tyres. He would drop to eleventh behind Alonso having failed to improve his
lap time. Valtteri would be out of qualifying which was a reversal of his
practice form.
Felipe Massa:
Q1: Felipe Massa would be taking part in his last qualifying in Formula One.
He would also come out on the supersoft tyre for his first run. He would set
a 1m:41.771 to be eighth but would drop to ninth. As he pitted this would
become eleventh. As others went quicker he would drop to thirteenth seeing
him forced to come back out on the ultrasoft tyre. Felipe would set a
1m:41.157 to be ninth comfortably into the second period.
Q2: Felipe would take to the track with ten minutes remaining also on the
ultrasoft tyres. Felipe would set a 1m:41.014 to be eighth but he would drop
to ninth. Felipe would also come out for another new tyre run on the
ultrasoft tyres. Felipe would remain in ninth but he his last qualifying he
would out qualify his team-mate.
Q3: Felipe would remain in his garage looking at doing a single run. Felipe
would come out for his first and only run in the final period. Felipe would
set a 1m:41.213 to finish in tenth.
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