Turkish GP: Qualifying struggle for Williams Racing


By Andrew Hooper
November 14 2020

Qualifying for the 2020 Turkish GP would see the Williams Racing Team drivers George Russell and Nicholas Latifi finish the session in 18th and 20th. For George and Nicholas both would see their opening period hampered by several red flags that saw them fail to get the best of the changing track conditions but they were more importantly having to cope with an FW43 that was a struggle in these type of conditions. Despite finishing 18th George will start the race from last as a result of his engine penalties while Nicholas would now start from 19th. It is expected that the race wll again be wet so it is again going to be a difficult time for both Williams drivers.

 
 Williams Racing Turkish GP Qualifying
 
Latifi
 

Team Summary:
With neither Williams Racing drivers having set a time in the wet final practice session qualifying was going to be somewhat a journey into the unknown. The rain had eased but the track was still wet so it was going to come down to a choice between the full wet and the intermediate tyre. With the start of the opening eighteen minute Q1 the cars would quickly come out with a mix of wet and intermediate tyres been used. Verstappen would have a massive spin in the very difficult conditions. Both Ferrari's were on the intermediate tyre joined by both McLaren's. A 2m:07.614 from Perez on the intermediate tyre but on the full wet Ocon would go faster only to see Bottas move ahead with a 2m:07.001. Ocon was now second with this pair both on the full wet as the rain started to fall heavier.

Bottas would improve with 2m:04.067 as Hamilton went fourth. All those on the intermediate would pit including Leclerc. Ocon was now fastest with a 2m:06.115 followed by Bottas, Stroll and Hamilton. Perez was fifth followed by Norris, Magnussen, Albon, Kvyat, and Raikkonen tenth. The session would be red flagged as the rain became even heavier. After a delay the period would restart with a queue of cars at the pit exit, all weere on the full wet tyre. Albon would be out first with the first of the Williams joining the queue of cars going out. The whole field would be out all on the full wet tyre. Several drivers would spin including Grosjean who was struck in the gravel seeing the period again red flagged. The period would restart for the second time with both Williams drivers out very early. Verstappen was on a quick lap setting a 1m:57.485 with Albon now second. The Williams drivers one would spin into the gravel and fail to improve while the other would be only 18th, so both were out of qualifying.

The second period of qualifying would commence and after the first laps it would be Verstappen again fastest but Albon would move ahead with a 1m:56.721 but Stroll would go quicker with a 1m:55.730. Bottas was now third followed by Verstappen but Raikkonen would move into second. But Verstappen would improve with a 1m:53.486 now followed by Perez, Bottas, Hamilton and Stroll now fifth. The times would continue to come down as Verstappen set 1m:52.036 now followed by Bottas and Hamilton and Albon fourth. With the end of the period it would remain Verstappen fastest from now Albon, Hamilton, Stroll, Giovinazzi, Ocon, Bottas, Raikkonen, Perez, and Ricciardo in tenth. But at the time of the finish of the session there was the possibility that the order would change as a result of after session penalties that may be imposed as a result of things such as not slowing under yellow flags.

The final period of qualifying would see Stroll take pole with a 1m:47.765 from Verstappen, Perez, Albon, Ricciardo, Hamilton, Ocon, Raikkonen, Bottas and in tenth Giovinazzi. Such a difficult qualifying for both Williams drivers on a tricky track in a period that would see both drivers suffer from red flags and unfortunately mistakes that saw one driver Nicholas end in the gravel. The pair would start Sunday's race from the final row of the grid. Such a disappointment after the positive results that were seen at Imola.

 
Russell
 

George Russell:
George was also out early also on the full wet tyre. George would set a 2m:13.893 on his first lap to be slowest. He would improve with a 2m:13.117 to remain slowest. George would pit after a four lap run. As the session restarted George was also back out on the full wet tyre. But with the second red flag he would pit and after a short delay would return again on the full wet. George would set a 2m:10.017 to be 18th and out of qualifying. But George will be starting the race from the back due to engine penalties.

Nicholas Latifi:
Nicholas was first out for Williams running on the full wet tyre. Nicholas would pit without setting a time having completed two laps. He would return again on the full wet. On his first run Nicholas had spun at Turn eight but was able to recover and he would continue. A very slow 2m:21.611 from Nicholas would see him slowest behind his team-mate. With the restart Nicholas would return still on the full wet tyre. Nicholas would also be forced to put with second red flag. Nicholas would restart after a short delay again on the full wet tyre. But he would spin and end up in the gravel and out of the period. He would finish slowest in 20th.

 

Latifi

 

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Turkish GP: Qualifying struggle for Williams Racing
Discussion started by Williams F1 , 14/11/2020 14:41
Williams F1
14/11/2020 14:41
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