Abu Dhabi GP: Massa 10th for Williams Martini in qualifying
By Andrew Hooper
November 25 2017
Qualifying for the 2017 Abu Dahbi GP would see the Williams Martini team achieve a 10th place from Felipe Massa. Team-mate Lance Stroll would only manage 15th in what was a difficult session for the rookie. But for Felipe this result was a fantastic way for the Brazilian to see out his last Formula One qualifying. For the Williams team to get one car into the final period of qualifying was a great result but it will now come down to Sunday's race looking to finish 2017 in 5th position.
Williams
Martini Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying
Team Summary:
Drivers would start to come out for the opening eighteen minute period in
qualifying for the 2017 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. After a series of quickest
time sit would be Hamilton fastest with a 1m:37.473 followed by Bottas and
Vettel. The ultra soft tyre was the tyre of choice for everyone. Raikkonen
was now third but Ricciardo would move ahead with the Ferrari's now fourth
and fifth. Bottas would improve with a 1m:37.356 to be quickest with
Hamilton failing to improve. Vettel would move up to third ahead of
Ricciardo. After their first runs the Williams drivers were in thirteenth
and sixteenth. Ricciardo was fifth followed by Verstappen, Perez, Vandoorne
and Hulkenberg in tenth. The top eleven cars were all still in their pits
not looking like they would come out for a second run. The opening period
would come to an end with both Williams on their flying laps. Their laps
would see them finish the period in eighth and fifteenth.
The second period would get underway with everyone still on the ultra soft
tyre. The last drivers to come out were the Williams pair. After their first
runs it would be Hamilton setting a 1m:36.742 to be quickest from Bottas,
Vettel, Raikkonen, Ricciardo and Hulkenberg. After their runs the Williams
drivers were twelfth and fifteenth. The track was empty with five minutes
remaining in the period. To get into the top ten Felipe would have to find
around 0.4 making it hard. Drivers would start to return for the second runs
in the second period, including both Williams. The Williams drivers would
finish in tenth and fifteenth. Felipe would make it into the final period.
The final twelve minute period would commence with the Williams last out. A
1m:36.985 from Raikkonen but Bottas would go quicker with a 1m:36.231.
Hamilton would only manage second after his run. Vettel was third followed
by Raikkonen and Verstappen. Ricciardo was sixth followed by Hulkenberg,
Ocon, Perez and Felipe. All ten cars were out on their second runs with
Bottas pitting not having improved. Neither would Hamilton so Bottas would
take pole and Hamilton was second. Vettel was third followed by Ricciardo.
Raikkonen, Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Perez, Ocon, and Felipe tenth. For the
Williams team to get one car into the final period of qualifying was a great
result especially as it was Felipe in what is his last Formula One
qualifying.
Felipe Massa:
Felipe would not come out until well into the period but he was out on new
ultra soft tyres. Eight minutes remaining in the session and Felipe had yet
to set a time but he would finally set a 1m:39.497 to be eleventh but this
would become thirteenth. Felipe would pit after a three lap run. Felipe
would return on a new set of ultra soft tyres for a second run. Felipe was
currently fourteenth as he started his flying lap. A 1m:38.629 from Felipe
would see him now eighth. Felipe would come out for the second period again
on new ultra soft tyres. He would start his flying lap and would set a
1m:38.980 to be twelfth.
Felipe would
return to the track for a second run. Felipe would set a 1m:38.565 to be
tenth and into the final period. Felipe would come out for his first run in
the final period. He would finish with a 1m:39.824 to be ninth dropping to
tenth. But it would appear that he was on used tyres for his first run.
Felipe would come out on new tyres for his second run. Felipe was on a
quicker lap and would set a 1m:38.550 but would remain tenth. Despite this
it was great result in what was his lat Formula One qualifying.
Lance
Stroll:
Lance would be the first Williams out in the opening period of qualifying
running on new ultra soft tyres. Lance would set a 1m:40.525 to be ninth but
he would drop to eleventh then fourteenth. Lance would continue to drop down
the order now sixteenth and in the drop zone. A 1m:39.081 would see him
remain sixteenth. Lance would also come back out for a second run on new
tyres. Lance would set a 1m:39.503 to be fifteenth and would make it into
the second period. Lance was also out for the second period and his lap was
only good enough for fifteenth with a 1m:39.646. He was 0.666 behind Felipe.
He would also come out for a second run. He would remain in fifteenth and
out of qualifying.
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