Brazilian GP: Williams Martini 7th & 8th in Qualifying


By Andrew Hooper
November 14 2015

Qualifying for the 2015 Brazilian GP would see Williams Martini drivers Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa finish 4th and 8th. Valtteri had easily made it into the final period while for Felipe it was a great result to get into the final period of qualifying given his practice pace. But for Valtteri he will start Sunday's race in seventh having a three grid place penalty. 

 
  Williams Martini Brazilian GP Qualifying
 
Bottas
 

Team Summary:
Q1: The opening eighteen minute period would commence with Valtteri Bottas leading team-mate Felipe Massa 9-8 in qualifying. There was no rush of drivers coming out drivers knowing that they will be able to get a lot of laps in given the short track. Three minutes in and still no cars. But first out would be the Force India cars running on the medium tyre. For Williams out would come Felipe followed by Valtteri. Several drivers were already on the soft tyre including Rosberg and both Torro Rosso cars. A 1m:13.369 from Hulkenberg followed by Kvyat. But Felipe would go quickest with a 1m:13.369 but would drop down the order as Valtteri went quickest, 1m:12.934, followed by Raikkonen and Verstappen. Hamilton was also on the soft tyre going quickest with a 1m:11.682.

Valtteri was now third and Felipe seventh after their first runs. Alonso would be told to stop immediately and he would pull off the track. More drivers were returning this time on the option tyre. Three minutes remaining and both Williams cars were still in their pits. Vettel would move up to third seeing Valtteri fourth. As more drivers improved Valtteri would drop to eighth. Valtteri would join Felipe out on his option tyre run. Felipe would move up to tenth but Valtteri would not improve with the Williams pair ninth and tenth. The top ten was Hamilton, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Vettel, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Verstappen, Valtteri and Felipe tenth.
.

Q2: Rosberg would be first out in the fifteen minute period joined by Hamilton. Valtteri would also come out while Rosberg would set a 1m:12.213 but Hamilton would go quicker with a 1m:11.665. Both Mercedes cars would pit as more drivers came out. Hulkenberg would move into third with Valtteri and Felipe fourth and fifth. Felipe would drop to tenth to be behind the Sauber's. Four minutes remaining and both Williams drivers were still in their pits but Felipe would come back out this time on new soft tyres. He would be joined by Valtteri currently sixth. Vettel was now second with a 1m:11.928 as the track again became very busy. After their second soft tyer runs Valtteri and Felipe were fifth and tenth as the period ended. The top ten would be Hamilton, Vettel, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Valtteri, Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Verstappen, Ricciardo, and Felipe.

Q3: Both Williams cars would start the final period as both Mercedes cars came out first with Rosberg leading Hamilton, joined by Hulkenberg. A 1m:11.461 from Rosberg to be quickest while Hamilton would set a 1m:11.549 to be second. Valtteri was third but Vettel would move ahead while Raikkonen was fifth. Ricciardo was now sixth followed by Felipe. Only Verstappen had yet to set a time with the track now empty. Two minutes remaining and the track was again busy with everyone back out on new soft tyres. Rosberg would set a 1m:11.282 to remain quickest with Hamilton setting a 1m:11.360 to remain second. Vettel was still third followed by Valtteri, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Felipe, Ricciardo, and Verstappen tenth. With Valtteri's three grid place penalty this will see the Williams drivers start from seventh and eighth.

 
Massa
 

Felipe Massa:
Q1:Felipe would be first out for Williams with fourteen minutes remaining. Felipe would set a 1m:13.369 to be quickest but would drop down to fifth. He would pit currently seventh. Felipe would come back out this time on the option soft tyre. Felipe was now fourteenth but had yet to set a soft tyre lap. Felipe would set a 1m:12.980 to be tenth. Felipe was blocked badly by Nasr saying to his team "Did you see that?" Tenth was an improvement over his practice form.

Q2:Felipe would also come out on used soft tyres and he would set a 1m:13.781 to be fourth but well off the pace. Felipe would also pit dropping to ninth. Felipe would return this time running on new option tyres. Felipe was currently thirteenth and with a time of 1m:12/.858 would move up to eighth. With the end of the period this would be tenth.

Q3: Felipe would come out also on new soft tyres and his first lap was a 1m:12.728 to be seventh. Felipe was a big margin off his team-mates time. Felipe would finish the period in eighth after having failed to improve on his final run.

 
Massa
 

Valtteri Bottas:
Q1:
Valtteri would join his team-mate out on the track. Valtteri's first lap was a 1m:12.934 to be quickest. He would drop to third and would pit. Valtteri was quickest of the medium tyre shod drivers. But Valtteri would be forced to take to the track on the option tyre. Valtteri was currently ninth but would pit without improving. He would finish in ninth having not really looked like setting a quicker time even though his pace seemed to have him further up the times.

Q2: Valtteri would be first out for Williams running on used soft tyres. Valtteri would set a 1m:12.661 to be third. Valtteri would pit dropping to fourth. Valtteri would also come out on new soft tyres and would find time setting a 1m:12.374 to be fifth.

Q3: Valtteri would be first out for Williams in the final period running on new soft tyres. A 1m:12.224 to see Valtteri third. But he would drop to fourth behind Vettel and would pit. His next run would see him set a 1m:12.085 but remained fourth.

 
Massa
 

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Brazilian GP: Williams Martini 7th & 8th in Qualifying
Discussion started by Williams F1 , 14/11/2015 17:35
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