Austrian GP: Dual top ten qualifying for Williams Martini
By Andrew Hooper
July 2 2016
After a dramatic qualifying session for the 2016 Austrain GP the Williams Martini team would see both Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa finish in 8th and 10th. It was a session that saw both Williams drivers comfortably into the final period but in what was a rain affected final period that saw a drying track it came down to a case of track position. Both Williams drivers would set times that would see them at the front but they would drop down the order as other drivers were able to take advantage of a drying track. But with various driver penalties and investigations to be completed both Williams drivers should start closer to the front of the grid.
Williams
Martini Austrian GP Qualifying
Team Summary:
Q1: In the leadup to qualifying both Rosberg and Vettel would be receiving
five place grid penalties. For the Williams Martini team both drivers had
made it into the top ten in the final practice. With the start of the
eighteen minute period everyone was coming out on the ultrasoft tyre. A
1m:08.600 from Magnussen to be quickest. But Hamilton would set a 1m:07.014
to be quickest with Perez now second and Hulkenberg third. Gutierrez was now
third with Hamilton improving with a 1m:06.947. Felipe would move up to
second but Raikkonen would take this spot with a 1m:07.250. Vettel would go
second with a 1m:07.030. Valtteri would be fifth after his first run as
Rosberg went quickest with a 1m:06.690.
Four minutes remaining and Rosberg was leading from Vettel, Hamilton,
Verstappen, Valtteri, Raikkonen, Felipe, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, and Button.
Vettel had improved his lap time with a 1m:06.761. Rosberg would improve
with a 1m:06.516 as the session was red flagged. This had happened as Kvyat
crashed heavily. With 1m:44 remaining this would not allow drivers to come
out again. Wehrlein was in ninth a great result for Manor. Replays had show
a right rear suspension failure for Kvyat. With the restart of the session
we would see a rush of drivers coming out with the top eight remaining in
their garages. Sainz would suffer and engine failure pulling off the track.
The period would end with Hulkenberg moving into seventh.
Q2: The second fifteen minute period would commence with Rosberg been told
that there was the risk of rain. Both Ferrari's were on the supersoft tyre
as they came out for their runs. A 1m:06.228 from Hamilton to be quickest
with Rosberg second. Ricciardo went third but Vettel would take this spot
with a 1m:06.602 on the supersoft tyre. After their runs Valtteri and Felipe
were fifth and eighth. Both Red Bull cars were also on the supersoft tyre
but they would have to go quicker than they just did on the ultrasoft tyre
before they can use them in the race. Both Williams drivers had pitted.
Ricciardo and Verstappen were fourth and fifth seeing Valtteri sixth. Both
Mercedes cars had come out on supersoft tyres but they had set their
quickest times on the ultrasoft tyre. The rain was falling seeing no chance
of any improvement.
Q3: With the start of the final period the drivers were coming out on the
intermediate tyres with all ten drivers out on the track. A 1m:20.798 from
Vettel to be quickest with Hamilton second followed by Hulkenberg and
Button. Ricciardo would go third and Valtteri fourth. Hamilton would go
quickest with a 1m:20.248 only to see Rosberg setting a 1m:19.548 to move
ahead. But Ricciardo would go quickest with a 1m:19.217 as the train started
to dry. Felipe would move up to third with Hulkenberg second. Hamilton would
go quickest as the times continued to fall. Button was now second from
Ricciardo and Rosberg. Both Williams cars would pit returning on the
ultrasoft tyre. Everyone was now on the dry ultrasoft tyre. A 1m:14.996 from
Hulkenberg to be quickest. But as the times fell it would be Hamilton who
would set a 1m:07.922 to go quickest followed by Rosberg and Hulkenberg.
Vettel was fourth followed by Button, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Valtteri,
Verstappen, and Felipe tenth. But both Vettel and Rosberg would drop five
places which will rearrange the grid for Sunday.
Valtteri Bottas:
Q1: With ten minutes remaining Valtteri had yet to come out for his run.
Valtteri would finally come out for his run. Valtteri would set a 1m:07.148
to be third but he would drop to fifth. Valtteri would pit after his one run
joining his team-mate. He would finish fifth as the period ended.
Q2: Valtteri would head out on the ultrasoft tyre and would set a 1m:06.911
to be fourth behind Ricciardo. He would drop to fifth and he would pit.
Valtteri would also return on a new set of ultrasoft tyres. He would pit
remaining in sixth.
Q3: Valtteri was first out for Williams running on the intermediate tyre. He
would set a 1m:22.199 to be fourth. He would drop to ninth but would improve
to be fourth but he would drop down the order to be ninth. Valtteri would
also pit to take on the dry ultrasoft tyre. Valtteri would set a 1m:14.686
but he would drop to fifth. A 1m:10.440 from Valtteri would see him finish
in eighth.
Felipe Massa:
Q1: Felipe would be first out for Williams running on the ultrasoft tyre.
Felipe was on his quick lap and would set a 1m:07.419 to go second. He would
drop to third behind Raikkonen. This would become fourth as he pitted.
Felipe would drop to seventh as he sat in his garage. Felipe would finish
the period in eighth to be behind Hulkenberg.
Q2: Felipe was also out on the track running on a set of new ultrasoft
tyres. Felipe would set a 1m:07.145 to be fourth but he would drop to
seventh then eighth. Felipe would pit with just over seven minutes
remaining. Felipe would come back out on a new set of ultrasoft tyres but
would pit still in eighth.
Q3: Felipe was out running on the intermediate tyre. He would set a slow
1m:30.483 to be eighth. His next lap was a 1m:21.613 but he would remain
eighth. He would drop to ninth but his next lap would see him set a
1m:18.886 to be third. He would drop to eighth and would pit. He would also
take on the ultrasoft tyre after having to wait for the team to get these
tyres. A 1m:14.966 to go quickest but he would drop down the order to be
sixth behind Valtteri. Felipe would improve to be fourth but he would drop
to eighth then tenth with a 1m:11.977.
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment.
We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals.
We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards.
If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing
abuse@sportnetwork.net