WilliamsF1 11th & 13th in Brazilian Qualifying


Mark in 11th

By Andrew Hooper
October 21 2006

Following their practice times the WilliamsF1 drivers would finish 11th & 13th after qualifying for the Brazilian GP. Mark would again lead team-mate Nico, with the result been very much what one would expect. A points finish will be the best the team can hope for in Sunday's race.

 
Brazilian Grand Prix Qualifying
 

With Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg finishing the final practice session for the Brazilian Grand Prix the WilliamsF1 team would be hoping to see their drivers make it into the final period of qualifying. With the start of Q1 the first car out would be the Super Aguri of Yamamoto. He would be joined by Monteiro. Trulli, Albers, Ralf, and Sato would also come out. The first time would go to Yamamoto with a 1m:15.244. Both of the Red bulls weer next out, Coulthard and Doornbos.

 FW28 leaves the pitsWe would also see the Honda's of Button and Barrichello. Monteiro would spin in the second sector. Albers was now fastest with a 1m:13.498 followed by Ralf, Sato, and Yamamoto. Trulli and Doornbos would move into first and second. Trulli's time was a 1m:12.719. With his spin it would be the end of Monteiro's qualifying. Ralf was now in second, 1m:13.081 but Doornbos would move back into this spot with a 1m:12.819. Trulli would pit while Button was in fourth, de la Rosa fifth, and Barrichello sixth.

We now had both WilliamsF1 cars out on the track and Nico would move to the top of the times with a 1m:12.690. Both Torro Rosso cars were also out on the track. Raikkonen and Michael were also to leave the pit lane. Mark would go fastest with a 1m:12.540 but both Michael, 1m:11.565, and Raikkonen, 1m:12.035, would go faster. Mark was now in third and Nico fourth. With four minutes remaining every driver had taken to the circuit. Massa was on a very quick lap and would go fastest with a 1m:10.643. A stunning lap from the Brazilian. Alonso and Fisichella had yet to set a time but that was quickly fixed when Alonso went third fastest and Fisichella fifth.

 RosbergMassa would pit while Kubica was now in fifth. Mark was down in ninth and Nico tenth. Both would come back out for one final run. Trulli was now i fourth with a 1m:11.987, but this would be sixth as Ralf and de la Rosa went faster. ralf was now in third. Mark and Nico were in fourteenth and fifteenth. but Nico would improve to be seventh, 1m:11.974. This would be eighth when Mark went faster and took seventh, 1m:11.973. The session would end with Speed, Albers, Coulthard, Sato, Yamamoto, and Monteiro failing to make it into Q2.

The order was Massa from Michael, Ralf, Alonso, de la Rosa, Trulli, Mark, Nico, Barrichello, Raikkonen, Kubica, Fisichella, Button, Heidfeld, Doornbos, and Liuzzi.
 
Q2 would get underway with Trulli first out. He was joined by team-mate Ralf and the BMW Sauber's of Kubica and Heidfeld. Liuzzi, who had a big spin in Q1, also left the pit lane. Button and Nico were also on the circuit. Trulli would set the first time a 1m:11.343. Mark and Barrichello were also out on the track. Ralf was second with a 1m:11.670 but Kubica would move ahead of him with a
1m:11.589. Heidfeld was now in fourth and Liuzzi fifth. Trulli would pit.

 WebberFisichella, de la Rosa, and Alonso were out with eight minutes remaining. Nico was now in fourth with a 1m:12.036. Barrichello was now in third and Mark moved ahead of Nico, 1m:11.650, to be fifth. Nico was now sixth. Nico would pit. Michael and Raikkonen were now out for period. De la Rosa was now seventh and Fisichella eighth.

At the front Michael had gone fastest, 1m:10.313, while Alonso was second, 1m:11.148. Alonso would pit. Mark was in seventh and Nico tenth.Only Raikkonen and Massa were running with just over four minutes left. Kimi was currently in ninth. Massa would start his first timed lap. Kimi would pit, while Massa moved into second, 1m:10.775. Neither Button or Doornbos had set a time with just minutes remaining. Nico was back out, along with a rush of drivers. Mark was also back out. Trulli was now in fourth and Raikkonen fifth. Mark was in ninth and Nico thirteenth. The top three had failed to come back out. The session would end with Mark and Nico in eleventh and thirteenth.

Those failing to make it into Q3 were Mark, de la Rosa, Nico, Button, Doornbos, and Liuzzi. The top ten were Michael from Massa, Alonso, Trulli, Raikkonen, Fisichella, Ralf, Barrichello, Kubica, and Heidfeld.
 
With the start of Q3 there would be the normal rush of drivers all looking for track position. Both of the Ferrari's had come out first as they started their burn of of fuel. Michael was to let a number of cars pass him on the opening lap. Michael was still running slowly and would return back to his pit. It would be pushed back into its garage.

RosbergMassa would set the first time, 1m:14.149. Massa was still setting the pace as the nine drivers continued to circulate. Raikkonen was in second followed by Fisichella, Ralf, Heidfeld, Barrichello, Trulli, Kubica, and Alonso. Michael was still in his garage as the session continued. Fisichella and others would pit. Massa would wait but would come in for his first stop. Michael's mechanics were working on the rear of his car. Fisichella was now fastest, 1m:12.147 but Kubica would move ahead of the Renault. Alonso was now fastest, 1m:11.863, but Kimi was again faster with a 1m:11.649.

Massa was now fastest with a 1m:10.842. Alonso and Kubica would pit again. With two minutes left Massa was till fastest from Raikkonen, Alonso, Kubica, Fisichella, and Barrichello. Trulli was now in second and Ralf fourth. Alonso was in third and Kimi now in fourth. Ralf had dropped to be fifth. Michael was out of his car. Raikkonen would move into second while Massa improved his quick time with a 1m:10.680. With the end of the period Massa was easily on pole with Raikkonen second followed by Trulli, Alonso, Barrichello, Fisichella, Ralf, Heidfeld, Kubica, and Michael not having set a time.

Without knowing the exact nature of his problem it is uncertain as to whether Michael will face any penalty for a possible engine change. For the WilliamsF1 team qualifying was about what one would have expected.
 

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