Team Summary:
Q1: The opening eighteen minute period for qualifying for the 2016 Russian GP would get underway with the knowledge that Vettel would receive a five place grid penalty for a gearbox change. Everyone was out on the supersoft tyre except Perez who was on the soft tyre. Twelve cars on the track with Gutierrez setting a 1m:38.891. Both Mercedes had done slow first laps as Hulkenberg went quickest with a 1m:38.562. Rosberg would set a 1m:36.684 only to be beaten by Hamilton with a 1m:36.518. Rosberg was on a quicker lap setting a 1m:36.119 to be quickest. More rivers were out on the track as Hamilton also improved with a 1m:36.006 to move ahead of his team-mate. Raikkonen was now third and Vettel fourth while for Williams Valtteri and Felipe were fifth and sixth. Alonso was in seventh followed by Ricciardo, Perez, and Button.

Vettel would move into third with a 1m:36.555 while both Mercedes cars were in their pits. Hamilton was under investigation for not following rules in regard to returning to the track having run wide at Turn two. Both Williams cars would finish the period in fifth and sixth. Those out were Magnussen, Palmer, Nasr, Wehrlein, Haryanto, and Ericsson. For Williams it was a straight forward period with both cars easily into the second period.

Q2: With both Williams drivers comfortably into the second period the fifteen minute period would commence with drivers coming out very early, all on new supersoft tyres. A 1m:37.282 from Perez to be quickest. Both Mercedes cars completed slow laps as they prepared their tyres. Rosberg would commence his quick lap setting a 1m:35.337 with Hamilton second with a 1m:35.820. Perez was third followed by Verstappen and Ricciardo. The Ferrari's would finally come out while Both Williams drivers would wait until seven minutes before the end of the session before coming out. Vettel would move into third with a 1m:36.623.

Hamilton had pitted but did come back out on a new set of supersoft tyres. Raikkonen was now fourth as both Williams drivers did slow first laps. After their quick laps the Williams drivers were fifth and sixth separated by just 0.09. With the end of the period those not making the cut were Sainz, Button, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Grosjean, and Gutierrez. The top ten was Rosberg from Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Valtteri, Felipe, Perez, Verstappen, Ricciardo, and Kvyat. With everyone in the top ten on the supersoft the start of the race would not see what happened in China.

Q3: Prior to the start of the final twelve minute period it would be announced that Hamilton would not take part as a result of an issue with his power unit. Both Valtteri ad Felipe would come out very early. Apart from Hamilton the only driver yet to come out was Verstappen. A 1m:42.514 from Raikkonen but Vettel would set a 1m:36.259 to be quickest. Perez was second from Raikkonen and Ricciardo. Raikkonen was now second with a 1m:36.695 but Rosberg would go quickest with a 1m:35.417. Valtteri was now third and Felipe fifth. Rosberg was on an even quicker lap but he would run wide at Turn Thirteen. Rosberg would pit as both Williams drivers returned to the track.

Raikkonen was on a quick lap setting a 1m:36.663 but would remain fourth. With the end of the period Rosberg would be quickest followed by Vettel, Valtteri, Raikkonen, Felipe, Ricciardo, Perez, Kvyat, Verstappen, and Hamilton tenth even though he had not taken part in the period. But there was questions as to whether he would receive any penalty if the Mercedes team changes parts in his engine. But for Sunday's race Valtteri would start from second and Felipe fourth. A great result for the Williams team.

Valtteri Bottas:
Q1: Valtteri would be first out for Williams running on new supersoft tyres. Valtteri would complete a slow first lap with a 1m:56.915 as he prepared his tyres. Valtteri would start his first quick lap and would finish with a 1m:37.746 to be third but he would drop to fourth behind Vettel. Valtteri would drop a further place going to fifth.

Q2: Valtteri would follow Felipe out also on new supersoft tyres. His first lap was a 1m:53.998 as he prepared his tyres for the next quick lap. Valtteri would push Felipe down one place going fifth with a 1m:37.140.

Q3: Valtteri would head out for the final period with new supersoft tyres. His first lap would again be a slow one as he worked up for his first flying lap. Valtteri would move up to second with a 1m:36.536 but would drop to third. Valtteri would pit with five minutes remaining. With Vettel to receive a five grid place penalty it was looking like Valtteri would have a chance to get a front row grid position. Valtteri would return to the track on a new set of supersoft tyres. Valtteri would not improve remaining in third.

Felipe Massa:
Q1: Felipe would come out shortly after Valtteri also on the supersoft tyre. Felipe would set a 1m:47.784 to be fourth but he would drop to sixth. Felipe was on a quicker lap as his fuel came down. He would finish with a 1m:37.753 but would remain in sixth just 0.007 behind his team-mate.

Q2: Leaving it very late in the period Felipe would be first out running on new supersoft tyres. Felipe would follow the same plan as Valtteri setting a slow first lap time. Felipe would complete his quick lap with a 1m:37.230 to be fifth but this would become sixth.

Q3: Felipe would follow his team-mate out also on new supersoft tyres. Felipe would set a 1m:37.016 that would see him fifth. Felipe would also pit coming back out for a second run also on new tyres. Felipe was also not able to improve remaining in fifth.