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Abu Dhabi GP: Massa 10th in his final qualifying


By Andrew Hooper
November 26 2016

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
 
Massa
 

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.

 
Bottas
 

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.

 
Massa
 

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.

 
Bottas
 

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Abu Dhabi GP: Massa 10th in his final qualifying
Discussion started by Williams F1 , 26/11/2016 14:35
Williams F1
26/11/2016 14:35
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