Brazilian GP: Maldonado 6th in Qualifying


Pastor Maldonado

By Andrew Hooper
November 24 2012

Qualifying for the 2012 Brazilain GP would see Williams F1 drivers Pastor Maldonado and Bruno Senna finish in 6th and 12th. The prospecst of a further double points scoring race were looking encouraging for the Williams team.

 
 Brazilian GP Qualifying
 
Maldonado
 

The Williams F1 team would see their drivers finish the final practice session in ninth and eleventh so the prospects for qualifying for the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix were looking encouraging. Rain had fallen prior to the start of qualifying but it would stop twenty minutes prior to the first twenty minute period. The track would dry quite quickly but there was a degree of uncertainty as to how the weather would turn out. Kovalainen would be first at the pit exit and he would discuss with his engineer that he should look at setting a time very early as the weather may change during the opening period. With the start of the period both Caterham's, HRT's, and Marussia's
were out on the track with all on the medium tyre. As the cars ran up the hill to the start finish straight there was a lot of water on the track.

We would now have both Torro Rosso and Sauber cars out on the track. Rosberg was also out on the track with the track very slippery. the times would come quickly with Glock fastest with a 1m:30.090 followed by Pic, Petrov, and Kovalainen. Kobayashi would set a 1m:25.957 to be fastest with Vergne now second and Perez third. Glock would improve with a 1m:25.754 to be second with Petrov now third. Rosberg had pitted while for Williams Pastor would come out as Kobayashi set a 1m:22.415 to be fastest but Vergne would set a 1m:22.355 to move ahead. Bruno was also out
on the track while Hulkenberg was out running on intermediate tyres. Vergne and Kobayashi would both improve with Vergne fastest with a 1m:20.567. Di Resta was also out on the track as Ricciardo moved up to fourth, 1m:21.867. Vergne would go even faster with a 1m:18.986 to remain fastest but Pastor would move ahead with a 1m:18.709.

 
Maldonado
 

Di Resta was now fourth and Kobayashi third. Vergne would pit as more drivers came out as Bruno went second with a 1m:18.845. Pastor would also find more time with a 1m:17.894 as we now had both Red Bull's, both Ferrari's, and McLaren's out on the track. Pastor would pit as Bruno went fastest with a 1m:17.803. Webber was now fifth, 1m:20.076 but this would become seventh as Hamilton went fastest with a 1m:17.772 and Alonso fourth, 1m:18.941. Bruno had also pitted with seven minutes remaining. The order was Hamilton from Bruno and Pastor but both Hamilton and Alonso would improve with Hamilton fastest with a 1m:17.346 from Alonso, 1m:17.385, and Massa. Hulkenberg was now fourth as both Williams drivers came back out. Only Karthikeyan was still in the pits as Grosjean moved into fourth, 1m:17.473.

Schumacher was now second, 1m:17.365, as Perez went fastest only to be passed by Rosberg, 1m:16.924. The times were rapidly coming down as we now had Di Resta fastest, 1m:16.621, only to be passed by both Hamilton and Alonso. Hamilton's time was a 1m:16.147, as Perez went second, 1m:16.412. It was now Bruno's turn to go fastest with a 1m:15.955 from Hamilton and Perez. Grosjean would misjudge a move on an HRT as the cars came past the pit entry. De la Rosa would come down low across the pit entry making contact with Grosjean. Grosjean would have to pit after losing his front wing. Button was now second and Vettel third while for Williams Pastor was down in nineteenth. Pastor was on the medium tyre as Hamilton went fastest with a 1m:15.551. As the period drew to a close Hamilton would set a 1m:15.075 to be fastest from Vettel and Bruno.

As the drivers completed their final laps Bruno would move back into second, 1m:15.333, from Button, Hulkenberg, Vettel, Di Resta, Rosberg, Perez, Schumacher, and Alonso tenth. Pastor would complete his lap and would set a 1m:16.266 to be thirteenth. Those not making the cut were Grosjean, Petrov, Kovalainen, Glock, Pic, Karthikeyan, and De la Rosa. Both Williams drivers were into the second period with Bruno an encouraging second.

 
Senna
 

With the start of the second fifteen minute period it would be Vergne out first with forecasts having no more rain falling. The incident between Grosjean and de la Rosa would be investigated by stewards after qualifying. The track was now dry as for Williams Bruno would come out first. We only has the McLaren's, Red Bull, and Pastor still in their pits as Vergne set a 1m:16.348 to be fastest but Hulkenberg would move ahead with a 1m:14.810. Both of these drivers were on the medium tyre as Alonso went fastest with a 1m:14.631 on the hard tyre. Bruno was also on the medium tyre as Massa moved up to third with the sun now shinning. Schumacher was now fourth from Di Resta and Rosberg. Perez was now third, 1m:15.063, with Bruno now seventh, 1m:15.282.

Pastor was also out on the track as Rosberg moved up to third, 1m:14.676 but this would become fourth as Massa moved up to second with a 1m:14.524. Pastor was also out on the medium tyre as we yet to see either Red Bull or Mclaren send their drivers out. Bruno would improve to be fourth, 1m:14.672, as Hamilton headed out on medium tyres. He would be joined by both Red Bull cars. With six minutes remaining we only had four drivers out on the track. More drivers would start to come out including both Ferrari's and , Mercedes cars. Quickly everyone would leave the pits as Hamilton set a 1m:13.398 to be fastest from Alonso and Massa. Vettel was on a quick lap going fastest with a 1m:13.209. Hamilton was now second from Raikkonen, Webber, Alonso, Massa, and Ricciardo in seventh.

Pastor would miss the FIA weigh bridge when he came back into the pits as out on the track Pastor would set a 1m:13.698 to be fifth. Bruno would set a 1m:14.219 to be eleventh. Both Williams cars were out on new medium tyres while Button was now third, 1m:13.515. As the period came to a close Vettel would pit as drivers completed their final laps. Bruno would complete his lap but would not improve finishing in twelfth. Those also not making the cut were Di Resta, Bruno, Perez, Schumacher, Kobayashi, Ricciardo, and Vergne. The top ten was Vettel from Hamilton, Button, Webber, Raikkonen, Pastor, Hulkenberg, Rosberg, Alonso, and Massa tenth.

 

Senna
 

Replays had shown that Pastor did miss the red light that was shown to him telling him to take to the weigh bridge. Whether this would have an impact on Pastor's qualifying position was yet to be determined. The final ten minute period would commence with Rosberg out first running on used medium tyres. He would be joined by Hamilton and Alonso. More drivers would come out as Rosberg set a 1m:22.398. Pastor was also out on the track with only Raikkonen and Hulkenberg still in their pits. Hamilton would set a 1m:12.850 to be fastest while Alonso set a 1m:13.463. Rosberg had improved with a 1m:14.259 to be third as Massa went second, 1m:13.258. Webber was now second but Button would move ahead with a 1m:12.980.

Hamilton would pit joined by Alonso and Rosberg. Vettel could only manage a 1m:13.903 to be sixth. Pastor had pitted without setting a time while replays showed Vettel running wide at Turn four. Webber would be back out first for his second run joined by Alonso. Hulkenberg was now fourth, 1m:13.206, as we now had all the cars out on the track with two minutes left in the period. Raikkonen would split the Ferrari's going sixth with a 1m:13.298. Webber would go fastest in sector one and two. But Hamilton would also be on a quick lap as Webber set a 1m:12.581 to be fastest. Pastor was now fourth, 1m:13.174, but this would become fifth as Hamilton goes fastest with a 1m:12.458. Button would make it a McLaren one-two with Webber and Vettel third and fourth. Massa was fifth with Pastor sixth. Hulkenberg was now down in eighth followed by Raikkonen and Rosberg.

So qualifying for the 2012 Brazilian Grand Prix would see Pastor and Bruno in sixth and twelfth. The chances of another double points scoring finish for the Williams team were looking encouraging. But there was a question hanging over Pastor with him not stopping to be weighed. Also would the weather play a part in the Sunday's race there was every likelihood that it would.

 

Frank Williams in Williams Garage
 

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Brazilian GP: Maldonado 6th in Qualifying
Discussion started by Williams F1 , 24/11/2012 17:20
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