Spanish GP: Qualifying sees Bottas 4th for Williams Martini
By Andrew Hooper
May 9 2015
Qualifying for the 2015 Spanish GP would see Williams Martini driver Valtteri Bottas finish in 4th. For team-mate Felipe Massa it was a disaappointing final period having led Valtteri in the periods leading up to the final period. But Felipe would elect to do only a single lap and would not be able to get the most out of the new medium tyres finishing in 9th.
Williams
Martini Spanish GP Qualifying
Team Summary:
The final practice had seen Williams Martini drivers Valtteri Bottas and
Felipe Massa finish in fourth and seventh. The opening eighteen minute
period would commence with no one rushing out. With four minutes of Q1
complete we had more cars out on the track including both Mercedes. A
1m:32.038s for Merhi for the first lap time. But Hulkenberg would do a
1m:28.677 running on the medium tyre. Perez was second while Sainz would go
quickest with a 1m:28.492. Rosberg was now fastest with a 1m:27.677 running
on the medium tyre. Hamilton would go quicker with a 1m:27.322. After their
first runs the Williams drivers were fourth and thirteenth with Felipe the
quicker. It was looking like they would go to the option tyre for their next
runs.
More drivers were coming back out on the option tyre but others, like
Hamilton and Rosberg, continued on the hard tyre. Both Felipe and Valtteri
were back out on the medium tyre. Both drivers would get just the one lap as
the period drew to a close. A 1m:26.382 from Hamilton on the hard tyre with
Raikkonen now second on the medium. Rosberg would take second with a
1m:26.490 also on the hard tyre, such was the dominance of the Mercedes
cars. With the end of the period Felipe was fifth and Valtteri sixth.
With close to three minutes of Q2 completed only one car was out on the
track. But both Williams drivers would come out with ten minutes remaining
in the period. A 1m:28.986 from Nasr running on used medium tyres. Both
Williams drivers wre out on new medium tyres and were fifth and sixth.
Hamilton would go quickest with a 1m:25.740 but Rosberg would go quicker
with a 1m:25.166 to be ahead by 0.574s. As everyone pitted Valtteri and
Felipe were fifth and seventh. As the final minutes counted down Felipe was
back out on a new set of medium tyres. After his run he would move up to
fourth while Valtteri dropped one place to sixth.
With the start of the final twelve minute period it would be several min
utes before the first car took to the track. Valtteri would be first out for
Williams running on new medium tyres. A 1m:25.880 from Valtteri to be
quickest but would drop to fourth as others went quicker. Hamilton was now
fastest with a 1m:24.948 but Rosberg would go quicker with a 1m:24.681.
Vettel was third followed by Valtteri.
Both Valtteri and Felipe would come out for their next runs with Felipe
looking to do a single lap in qualifying. With the end of the period
Valtteri would finish in fourth while Felipe was not able to match his
team-mate finishing in ninth. Rosberg would take pole position from Hamilton
and Vettel.
Felipe Massa: Q1: Felipe would follow Valtteri out also on the hard tyre. A
1m:37.552 from Felipe on his first lap but his next would see a big
improvement with a 1m:27.930 to currently be fourth. Felipe would pit after
his first run. After a short stop he would come back out on the option tyre.
Felipe was now sixth and on his option tyre lap and would finish with a
1m:27.165 to be fifth.
Q2: Felipe was out for his first run and would be right behind
Valtteri with a time of 1m:26.484. Felipe would drop to seventh with
Verstappen splitting the Williams pair. Felipe would complain that his out
lap was a disaster with the traffic. Felipe would be first back out for
Williams running on a new set of option tyres. Felipe would go quickest in
sector one and a personal best in his second. He would finish his lap
setting a 1m:26.147 to be fourth.
Q3: Felipe was still in his pit with eight minutes remaining, looking
like he would do just one lap. Felipe would come out for his single run on
new medium tyres. Felipe would set a 1m:26.757 to be down in a disappointing
ninth.
Valtteri Bottas:
Q1: Valtteri would be first out for Williams running on the hard
compound. His first lap was a slow 1m:42.954. On his next lap Valtteri would
set a 1m:28.759 to be fifth. Valtteri would drop to tenth and would pit. He
would drop down to thirteenth behind Ericsson. Valtteri would follow Felipe
out on the medium tyre for his second run. Valtteri was now fifteenth but
his lap would see him set a 1m:27.262 to be sixth.
Q2: Valtteri would follow Felipe out and on his first lap would set a
1m:26.197 to be quickest. But he would drop to third and then fifth. He
would pit after his first run and would not return to the track as the
period came to an end. He would finish the period in sixth.
Q3: Out for his first run running on a set of new medium tyres, and
would set a 1m:25.880 to go quickest. He would drop to fourth prior to
pitting. Valtteri was told that it was possible to get third but it would be
difficult. Valtteri would be first out giving him good track position as he
came back out on a new set of medium tyres. he would not improve his time
but would remain fourth.
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