Italian GP: Strong qualifying for Williams Martini


By Andrew Hooper
September 6 2014

Qualifying for the 2014 Italian GP would see the Williams Martini team lock out the second row with Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa finishing in 3rd and 4th. A fantastic result for the Williams team and given their long run pace seen during the earlier practice sessions it was looking very good for this race.

 
  Italian GP Qualifying
 
Bottas
 

The final practice session for the 2014 Italian Grand Prix would see the Williams Martini team finish in an encouraging third and fourth. Valtteri Bottas would lead team-mate Felipe Massa by the smallest of margins. Now it was qualifying with the sun out as the Williams team prepared for the first eighteen minute period. The final practice had seen Rosberg not set a time with a gearbox related issue but his team was able to fix the issue. Kvyat would see a ten place grid penalty due to his use of an engine unit above his allowed limits. The period would commence with Bianchi first out followed by Kobayashi and Chilton. Perez would also come out with both Caterham's cars on the medium tyre while everyone else was on the hard.

Rosberg was out early looking to test his repaired car followed by Hamilton. More drivers were coming out including Hulkenberg, both Sauber's, Alonso, and Kvyat. Raikkonen was also out with fifteen minutes remaining. A 1m:28.299 from Kobayashi with Perez second with a 1m:28.426. Hulkenberg was third as both Williams cars came out running on the hard tyre. Vergne would set a 1m:27.516 to be fastest but Kvyat would go quicker with a 1m:26.734 as Kobayashi pitted. Everyone except Grosjean was now out for their first runs as Alonso set a 1m:26.514 to be quickest. But Rosberg would easily go faster with a 1m:25.862. Hamilton would go even quicker with a 1m:25.571. Both Caterham's were now back in their pits as Felipe went second with a time of 1m:25.607.

 
Massa
 

Rosberg was now third followed by Alonso, Kvyat, Vergne, and Hulkenberg. Both Marussia cars were out on the medium tyre as Kvyat pitted. Bianchi was eleventh and Chilton thirteenth. Magnussen was now in fourth, 1m:26.337, while Valtteri's first lap would see him fourth fastest with a 1m:26.012. Felipe would go fastest in the first sector and Hamilton fastest in the second. Felipe would go quicker with a 1m:25.528. Hamilton was now second followed by Rosberg, Valtteri, Magnussen, Alonso, Button, Vettel, Ricciardo, and Kvyat tenth. Valtteri would pit as Rosberg would go quickest with a 1m:25.493, seeing Felipe just 0.035 behind Rosberg. Grosjean was still in his pit with a fluid leak in his car. Felipe was now back in his pit with six minutes remaining.

Hamilton would also improve with a 1m:25.363 to be quickest from Rosberg and Felipe. The top ten were all back in their pits with everyone from eleventh down all out on the medium tyre. On the medium tyre Hulkenberg would move from thirteenth to tenth with Vergne now fifth, 1m:26.140. Perez was now ninth with Hulkenberg eleventh. Kvyat was now sixth as the period came to an end with those not making the cut were Maldonado, Grosjean, Kobayashi, Bianchi, Chilton, and Ericsson. The top ten was Hamilton from Rosberg, Felipe, Valtteri, Vergne, Kvyat, Button, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, and Alonso tenth. Vettel and Raikkonen would finish in twelfth and thirteenth, while Ricciardo was down in fourteenth. Both Williams cars were into the second period very easily.

 
Bottas
 

The second fifteen minute period would get underway with Hulkenberg out first running on the medium tyre. He was followed by Kvyat and Sutil. Rosberg was out very early with all on the medium tyre with the Ferrari's also coming out. Both Williams cars had left the pit lane also on the medium tyre as Hulkenberg set a 1m:31.488 using this as a warm-up lap. Fastest sector times were being shared around as Kvyat set a 1m:26.205 on new medium tyres. A 1m:24.682 from Rosberg to be quickest as Valtteri set a 1m:24.882 to be second. Felipe was now third with a 1m:25.046, 0.164 behind Valtteri. Alonso was now fourth followed by Perez, Raikkonen, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Gutierrez, and Sutil tenth. Rosberg and Valtteri had both pitted joined by Felipe, Alonso, Perez, and Raikkonen.

Kvyat and Vergne were seventh and eighth as Hamilton, both McLaren's, and both Red Bull's were out for their first runs. Hamilton would go fastest in sector two and Vettel went sixth fastest, 1m:25.922, and Ricciardo seventh. Hamilton would go fastest with a 1m:24.560 and Button sixth, 1m:25.630. Vettel and Ricciardo were now eighth and ninth with five minutes remaining. Everyone was back in their pits with Raikkonen being first back out followed by Valtteri shortly after. More drivers started to come back out including Felipe, Vettel, Ricciardo, Rosberg, and Hamilton. Now all sixteen cars were out on the track as Raikkonen aborted his lap after making a few mistakes. Rosberg goes fastest in the first sector as the period came to an end. Rosberg does not improve as Alonso pits. Magnussen was now tenth seeing Kvyat drop to eleventh.

Those not making the cut were Kvyat, Raikkonen, Vergne, Hulkenberg, Sutil, and Gutierrez. The top ten would be Hamilton from Rosberg, Valtteri, Felipe, Alonso, Button, Vettel, Perez, Ricciardo, and Magnussen. Kvyat will start the race from twenty first with his penalty. Both Williams into the final period, now it was down to whether they could produce the same pace.

 
Bottas
 
It should be remembered that those into the final period of qualifying will have to start their races on the tyres that they used to set their quickest time in the second period. With the start of the final twelve minute period there was no rush for drivers to come out. After a minute it would be Perez first out followed by Rosberg. Valtteri was next out followed by Felipe. The last driver to come out was Ricciardo with all ten cars on the track. A 1m:26.230 from Perez as both Rosberg and Valtteri easily moved ahead of this time as they went round their first timed laps. A 1m:24.552 for Rosberg with Valtteri setting a 1m:24.697 to be second. Felipe would finish third with a 1m:24.865 as Hamilton set a 1m:24.109 to be quickest. This was 0.443 ahead of Rosberg making it a time very difficult to beat.

Button was now fifth followed by Vettel, Alonso, Magnussen, Ricciardo with Perez dropping to tenth. Both Williams drivers had pitted followed by both Mercedes cars. The track was now empty with three minutes remaining. For Williams Felipe was 0.168 behind Valtteri as they returned to the track. All ten cars were on the track for their final runs as Rosberg was told not to pass the Williams of Valtteri which was in front of him on the track. Rosberg would go fastest in sector one as the period came to an end. Both Williams drivers had set personal best sector times as Valtteri failed to improve as Rosberg failed to get ahead of Hamilton. Felipe would also not improve remaining fourth with Hamilton finishing his lap without improving but staying quickest. Magnussen was able to get fifth followed by Button, Alonso, Vettel, Ricciardo, and Perez tenth.

A great result for the Williams team with both cars on the second row for Sundays race. Given their long run pace during the earlier practice sessions it was looking very good for this race.
 
Bottas
 

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Italian GP: Strong qualifying for Williams Martini
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