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After having see
Felipe Massa finish in fourth after the final practice session for the 2014
Spanish Grand Prix the Williams Martini was hopeful of good results in
qualifying. Team-mate Valtteri Bottas was in eleventh so was close to the
top ten so may move into the final period. Felipe had previously secured
pole at this Catalunya track but today the Mercedes cars were looking very
dominate. Gutierrez would be first out in the eighteen minute period one. He
was followed by Sutil and Perez. Hulkenberg was also out on the track.
Everyone was on the hard tyre as Maldonado took the track. The second Lotus
of Grosjean would come out followed by the first of the Williams that of
Felipe. A 1m:29.257 from Gutierrez as Valtteri took to the track as
Hulkenberg set a 1m:28.856 to be quickest followed by Gutierrez, Sutil, and
Perez.
But the session would be red flagged as Maldonado crashed his car at Turn
three. He would spin his car seeing it shoot back across the track and into
the barrier. The track would empty with both Williams driers pitting.
Bianchi was the first to be seen out on the medium tyre. The period would
restart with Ericsson first out. He was followed by Rosberg, Valtteri,
Vettel, Hamilton, Perez, Ricciardo among the first runners out. Felipe was
back out with both Ferrari's also coming out. The track was now very busy
with both Torro Rosso cars out on the medium tyre. Both Caterham's were also
out on the option tyre as Rosberg moved to the top of the times with a
1m:26.764. Valtteri was second with a 1m:28.198, followed by Ricciardo.
Felipe would move into second with a time of 1m:28.061. Using his medium
tyre Kvyat was now third as Hamilton ran wide as Alonso went fifth. Vettel
was now second with a 1m:27.958 but Hamilton would take this spot with a
1m:27.238.
Felipe was now fourth and had pitted joined by Valtteri. Button could only
manage tenth with Raikkonen ninth as most drivers pitted. More drivers
started to come back out on the medium tyre including Hulkenberg, Gutierrez,
and Sutil. Gutierrez was in eighth with a 1m:28.374. Felipe and Valtteri
were currently fourth and sixth as Grosjean took the option tyre for his ext
run. Ricciardo was down in twelfth as Hulkenberg moved up to sixth with a
1m:28.155. Rosberg was back out again on the hard tyre as Perez moved up to
twelfth with a time of 1m:28.529. Both Williams cars would come back out
also on the medium tyre with the track becoming very busy again with one
minute remaining. Hamilton was still in his pit joined by Alonso and
Gutierrez.
Magnussen was now in eleventh, 1m:28.389, with Felipe and Valtteri now fifth and eighth as
the period came to an end. Button would move into ninth with the top ten now
Rosberg from Hamilton, Vettel, Ricciardo, Felipe, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Vergne,
Valtteri, and Button. Valtteri had been able to move past Button in the
dying moments of the period. Those not making the cut were Sutil, Chilton,
Bianchi, Ericsson, Kobayashi, and Maldonado. |
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The second fifteen minute period
would commence with no one rushing out but after a minute Hulkenberg would
come out running on the medium tyre. Perez was next out followed by Valtteri
and Felipe. Raikkonen would also come out with both Williams drivers running
on used medium tyres. A 1m:27.863 from Hulkenberg as Hamilton and Button
took to the track. Perez would set a 1m:28.002 to be second while it was
noticed that Button was on the hard tyre. Valtteri would go fastest with a
1m:27.859 but he was passed by Felipe with a 1M:27.733. But quickly
Raikkonen would now go quickest with a 1m:27.454. Hulkenberg and Perez had
pitted after their first run as Rosberg went fastest with a stunning
1m:26.088.
Hamilton was now second with a 1m:26.210 followed by Raikkonen, Felipe,
Valtteri, Hulkenberg, and Perez. Both Williams drivers had pitted as Alonso
went fifth but Grosjean would take this spot. Vettel was now third,
1m:27.052, but Ricciardo would move ahead with a 1m:26.613. Felipe and
Valtteri were now eighth and ninth with five minutes remaining. The track
would empty as Grosjean would complain that his car was pulling left under
braking. Magnussen and Vergne had yet to set times with Magnussen out of his
car. Only Felipe and Hulkenberg were out on the track both running on the
medium tyre in Felipe's case a new set. Valtteri would also come back out
like Felipe running on a new set of medium tyres. More drivers would come
out with only the top four remaining in their pits. Felipe would improve to
be fourth, 1m:27.016, as Valtteri set a personal best in the first sector.
The period would end so it was all down to the final lap as Valtteri
continued his improved lap.
Valtteri would set a 1m:27.563 to be eighth. Grosjean was now sixth with
Button and Alonso ninth and tenth. Felipe would pit with the top ten
Rosberg, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Felipe, Vettel, Grosjean, Raikkonen, Valtteri,
Button and Alonso . Those not making the cut were Hulkenberg, Perez, Kvyat,
Gutierrez, Magnussen, and Vergne. The last two drivers had not set a time
with Magnussen having an issue with his power unit. So both Williams drivers
had made it onto the top ten. |
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With both Williams cars into the
final period the twelve minute period would commence with Rosberg out
followed by Hamilton. Valtteri would also come out joined by Felipe and
Button. Alonso and Ricciardo would leave the pits. Vettel would come out but
his car would stop saying that he had no drive. Vettel had difficulty
getting down the pit lane prior to stopping out on the track at Turn three.
Several drivers had used a new set of medium tyres for no result having to
pit as a red flag was shown. Vettel would return to his pit as the period
restarted with the two Mercedes cars straight back out. Ricciardo and Alonso
were also back out with seven minutes remaining. A 1m:26.561 from Rosberg
but he was beaten by Hamilton with a 1m:26.288. Alonso was third but was
passed by Ricciardo, 1m:26.602.
Both Williams cars had yet to come out with four minutes remaining as
Rosberg pitted for new medium tyres. Hamilton was also in as Grosjean and
Raikkonen left the pit lane. Valtteri was also out on the track followed by
Felipe for their single runs. Rosberg and Hamilton would trade fastest first
sector times as Raikkonen moved into fourth, 1m:27.104. Hamilton was fastest
in sector two as Rosberg set a 1m:25.400 but Hamilton would take pole back
with a 1m:25.232. Valtteri would go third but Ricciardo would take this
spot. Valtteri was now fourth while Felipe could only manage ninth. Grosjean
was fifth followed by Raikkonen, Alonso, and Button in eighth.
A great result for Valtteri finishing fourth but a disappointment for Felipe
to see their practice positions reversed with the Brazilian finishing down
the order. But for the Williams team to see both cars start in the top ten,
one in fourth was a great result. |