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The big news to
come out from Monaco prior to qualifying was the news that Alonso would not
take part in this session. His car was too badly damaged in his final
practice session accident. How much of a role traffic will play is yet to be
seen with twenty three drivers coming out for the first period. As for the
AT&T Williams team the final practice session would see Nico Hulkenberg lead
Rubens Barrichello. Both drivers were outside the top ten with Nico
thirteenth and Rubens fourteenth. Clouds were still overhead but was
expected to remain fine. Chandhok would be the first driver to come out running on the
softer tyre. He was joined by Petrov, Kubica, Senna, Webber, and Glock. More
drivers would leave the pit lane including both McLaren's, both Mercedes
cars, both Lotus cars. It was going to be a very busy session as Nico would
be the first Williams to come out.
Rubens was now out on the track as Chandhok seta time of 1m:23.478 to be
beaten by Glock with a 1m:20.362. Kubica was now fastest with a 1m:16.629
from Glock, Webber, and Chandhok. Hamilton was now second from Rosberg and
Vettel. As the drivers put in more laps the times will come down as all
twenty three cars were out on the track. Webber was now third from Rosberg
and Vettel. Nico was in thirteenth as Hamilton went fastest
with a time of 1m:16.547. But Massa was able to go faster with a 1m:16.013
while Rubens was now twelfth but he would drop to fourteenth with a
1m:19.911. Nico was now twenty fifth but on his next alp he was up to
eighth, 1m:17.895.
Rubens was now seventeenth as Massa went faster with a 1m:15.660 from Vettel with a
1m:15.902. Barrichello was now third with a 1m:15.967, from Schumacher,
Petrov, and Hamilton. Vettel was now in third from Rubens but Rubens would
improve to be back in third, 1m:15.876. Hamilton would also improve to be
third, 1m:15.676, while Button was now fastest with a 1m:15.623. Massa was
now second but would improve to be fastest with a 1m:14.757, from Vettel,
Rosberg, Button, Schumacher, Hamilton, and Rubens. Sutil would move up to
seventh seeing Rubens now eighth. Nico was down in fifteenth, 1m:16.748.
Drivers would start to pit including both Williams cars. With eight and a
half minutes remaining Massa was fastest from Vettel, Rosberg, Button,
Schumacher, Hamilton, Sutil, Rubens, and Kubica. Webber would move into
second with a time of 1m:15.035. Liuzzi was now ninth, 1m:15.874, seeing
Rubens now in tenth. Sutil's next lap would see him in fifth, 1m:15.445.
Nico was back out looking to move away from the drop zone. Liuzzi would
move ahead of Sutil and into fifth, 1m:15.397.
Rubens was back out for
his next run as Alguersuari move dup to twelfth, 1m:16.021. In seventeenth
Nico was under pressure to improve with booth Lotus cars right behind him.
Button would come back out, currently in seventh. He was joined by Hamilton
while the top six were still in their pits with four minutes remaining.
Petrov was now seventh, 1m:15.482, while Kubica was back out currently in
sixth. Petrov would drop to eighth while Rubens was now twelfth, 1m:15.876.
Nico had found some time and was now fifteenth, 1m:16.030. Kovalainen would
spin at Mirabeau losing it under breaking. He was able to continue with one
minute remaining. Hamilton was on a quick lap going fastest in sector one.
De la Rosa was up to thirteenth as Hamilton lost time in the middle sector
as the period came to an end. Kubica was now up to third, 1m:15.045. Nico
was now sixteenth and Rubens twelfth.
So with the end of the period those not making the cut were Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, Di
Grassi, Senna, Chandhok and of course Alonso who did not run in the period.
At the front it was Massa fastest from Webber, Kubica, Vettel, Rosberg,
Liuzzi, Sutil, Petrov, Rubens, Button, Schumacher, Hamilton, De la Rosa,
Buemi, Alguersuari, Nico, and Kobayashi in seventeenth. Rubens was able to
put in a quick lap right at the end of the period seeing him move up to
ninth, 1m:15.590. |
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The second part of qualifying would see many drivers come out early in what
still would be a bust period. Both Williams cars would be out on the track
for the fifteen minute session. Everyone was out on the track looking to
make sure they can find a clear piece of road. Petrov would set the first
time with a 1m:15.576. Liuzzi was second from Schumacher as Kubica went
fastest with a 1M:14.942. Massa was third but would be passed by Buemi who
was now third . Massa would improve to be second from Schumacher. Rosberg
would improve to be second, 1m:14.880, from Massa and Schumacher. Nico was
in tenth and Rubens eleventh. They would drop to twelfth and thirteenth as
other drivers went faster.
Massa
was now fastest with a 1m:14.613 but Rosberg would move ahead with a
1m:14.375. Webber was now second, 1m:14.462, while Vettel would move up to
third. Massa was now fourth from Kubica, Schumacher, Hamilton, and Rubens
had improved to be eighth, 1m:15.243. Nico was down in fourteenth,
1m:15.616. Button was down in eleventh as the drivers started to pit to take
on new tyres. Hamilton was in seventh and Button had moved up to tenth. So
with six and a half minutes remaining it was Rosberg, 1m:14.375, from
Webber, Vettel, Massa, Kubica, Schumacher, Hamilton, Rubens, Sutil, and
Button in tenth. Both Torro Rosso cars were back out joined by Vettel.
Webber was also back out as the final five minutes counted down. The track
was again very busy with Nico also coming back out. Only Rosberg was still
in his pit and would remain in there for the rest of the period
Hamilton would improve to be sixth, 1m:14.681. No one was really improving
on their times while Petrov spun his car at Sainte Devote hitting the
barrier. His car was craned away while Nico was able to improve to be
eleventh, 1m:15.317. Nico had improved in sector one but so had tenth placed
Button. Massa was quickest in sector one while Nico was again faster in
sector two. The period would come to an end as Button moved up to eighth
seeing Rubens ninth. Liuzzi was now eighth as Hamilton move dup to fourth,
1m:14.527. Rubens would find some pace seeing him up to ninth, 1m:15.083.
Nico was not able to improve but would finish in an encouraging eleventh.
Joining Nico in not making the cut were Sutil, Buemi, Petrov, De la Rosa,
Kobayashi, and Alguersuari. The top ten was Rosberg from Massa, Webber,
Hamilton, Kubica, Vettel, Schumacher, Liuzzi, Rubens, and Button. |
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It was a great effort from Rubens to make it into the top ten but his second
period time was seven tenths off the quickest time from Rosberg. With the
final ten minute period commencing Liuzzi would be first out with Rubens and
Kubica also taking to the track. Hamilton was next out with Liuzzi running
on the softer tyre. Kubica was also on the softer tyre. Schumacher, Rosberg,
Vettel and Webber were still in the pits with Button next out. The first
time would be set by Kubica with a 1m:14.712. Rubens would set a slow
1m:16.064 as more came out. All ten drivers were out as Hamilton moved into
second with a 1m:15.352. Kubica would improve with a 1m:14.284. as Rubens
pitted.
Rubens was back out as we waited to see the next driver to set a time.
Kubica would pit as Button set a slow 1m:20.396. Webber was fourth,
1m:17.352, while Liuzzi was in fifth. Rubens was still in third as Massa
moved into fifth, 1m:17.738. Vettel was slowest while Kubica returned to the
track as Hamilton was on a quick lap going fastest in sector one. Hamilton
would set a 1m:14.461 to remain in second. Schumacher was now third,
1m:15.403, with Rubens in fourth. Vettel was up to third, 1m:14.505, with
Massa slowest with a 1m:17.738. Kubica was again fastest with a 1m:14.120
while Webber would come from no where to set the quickest time with a
1m:14.104.
Massa was third from Hamilton, Vettel, Button, Ruben's, Liuzzi, and
Schumacher. Webber was able to improve to set a 1m:13.826 with Kubica
second, 1m:14.120, while Rosberg would improve to be sixth, 1m:14.544.
Rubens time was a 1m:14.901 while Vettel would go into third with a time of
1m:14.227. A great drive from Webber to take pole from Kubica and Vettel.
The top ten was Webber from Kubica, Vettel, Massa, Hamilton, Rosberg,
Schumacher, Button, Rubens, and in tenth Liuzzi. With Rubens in ninth the
Williams team will see their drivers start the 2010 Monaco Grand Prix from
ninth and eleventh. Certainly an improvement even if only a small one which
could see them well placed to give the Williams team a chance of scoring
points come Sundays race. For Nico it was his best dry weather qualifying
effort. |