Belgian GP: Williams fail to make it past Q1


By Williams F1 Team
August 25 2013

Qualifying for the 2013 Belgian GP would see the Williams F1 team fail to have either driver make it past Q1. The team would be caught out by the variable weather and track conditions that would see them fail to gain the best from improving track conditions. Pastor Maldonado will start fropm 17th and Valtteri Bottas 20th.

 
 Williams Belgian GP Qualifying Review
Bottas
 
Qualifying Notes
• Pastor Maldonado qualified 17th with Valtteri Bottas 20th for tomorrows Belgian Grand Prix.
• Both drivers went out early on intermediate tyres on a drying track, but as the track conditions improved their tyres were past their best and they were not able to progress into Q2.
• The FW35’s stronger race pace means that the team will be looking to make up places in the race tomorrow
 
Pastor Maldonado: 
Pastor Maldonado"Today the changing weather conditions made it difficult to be on the right tyres at the right time and we went on to the intermediate tyre a bit too early. The lap here is very long and by the time I got to my second lap when the track was improving, the tyres had already gone and I couldn’t be competitive. The cars race pace is quite good so we will be pushing hard to make up places and I still think we have an opportunity to finish in the top 10."
Valtteri Bottas:
 Valtteri Bottas"It was a disappointing qualifying because we had the ability to be higher but we were caught out by the changing track conditions. We went out on intermediate tyres earlier than others but the track was drying faster than we expected and by the end we could probably have got away with being on dry tyres. We were also struggling for overall grip on the intermediates and we were sliding quite a lot in the corners and this was losing us time. It’s a shame as there was a good opportunity to do well today, but hopefully the weather will be like this tomorrow as it gives us the chance to look at different strategy options. "
Xevi Pujolar, Chief Race Engineer:
 Xevi Pujolar"We knew qualifying would be wet and it started well with the track getting better throughout Q1. The end of the session would be where it was all decided and we brought both cars in for a new set of intermediate tyres. A few teams took the risk to change onto dry tyres, which worked for them, although the majority came in for intermediates as well. We were at the front of the queue so had time for more laps, but as the tyres were at their best on the first lap it meant that as the track improved we were unable to improve our times and unfortunately we did not progress beyond Q1. Overtaking is possible at Spa-Francorchamps and we have a good car for the race with a good top speed, so we can still make progress in the race tomorrow."
Maldonado
 

Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium 7.004 kms / 4.352 miles

Weather: Cloudy with some rain
Air: 20 - 21°C Track: 20 - 24°C

POS

DRIVER

TEAM

Q1

Q2

 Q3

1

L Hamilton

 Mercedes 2:00.368 1:49.067 2:01.012

2

 S Vettel Red Bull 1:31.269 1:48.646 2:01.200
3 M Webber Red Bull 2:01.597 1:48.641 2:01.325
           
17 P Maldonado
FW35 02
RS27-5484/2		 Williams F1 Team 2:03.072 - -
20

V Bottas
FW35 01
RS27-5483/2

 Williams F1 Team 2:03.432 - -
 

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Belgian GP: Williams fail to make it past Q1
Discussion started by Williams F1 , 25/08/2013 05:26
Williams F1
25/08/2013 05:26
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