The final practice session for the 2016 Russian GP would see the Williams Martini team show a more competitive pace with their drivers finishing in 5th and 6th. Felipe Massa would lead his team-mate Valtteri Bottas in what was a very positive result as the Williams team prepares for qualifying.
Williams
Martini Russian GP Saturday Practice
Team Summary:
Both Williams Martini team drivers would take to the track for the Saturday
practice session at the Sochi circuit. They would use medium tyres for their
installation laps. The first time would be set by Palmer with a 1m:45.366.
But Ricciardo would set a 1m:40.279, running on the supersoft tyre. The
first quick time would come from Perez with a 1m:39.151, followed by Sainz
and Verstappen. All the quickest times were on the supersoft tyre with
Ricciardo now quickest with a 1m:38.895. The Virtual Safety Car would be
deployed with Perez off next the side of the track having failed to make the
corner at Turn Thirteen. With the help of the marshals Perez was able to get
going again and return to the track.
The Manor cars were now eighth and ninth as Raikkonen moved into second.
Both Williams cars would come out for their first run using the supersoft
tyre. Hamilton would go quickest with a 1m:38.217 but team-mate Rosberg
would set a 1m:37.722 but Rosberg had set his time having gone wide at the
final corner. After their first runs Valtteri and Felipe were fifth and
seventh. Hamilton was again quickest with a 1m:37.325. But Rosberg would
return to the top with a 1m:37.224. Twenty five minutes remaining and Felipe
and Valtteri were fourth and sixth. Both Williams drivers would pit with the
pair having completed seven laps each. Both Williams drivers would pit
returning on new supersoft tyres for what should be qualifying simulations
with fifteen minutes remaining. After their runs Felipe and Valtteri were in
third and fourth.
Rosberg would set a 1m:36.783 to improve on his quickest time. Hamilton was
right behind but remained in second with a 1m:36.953. Raikkonen would move
into third pushing the Williams driver down to fourth and fifth. This would
become fifth and sixth as Vettel went third quickest. Rosberg would go
quicker again with a 1m:36.471 to be 0.482 ahead of Hamilton. Right near the
end of the session Hamilton would go quickest with a 1m:36.403, leading
Rosberg by just 0.06.
Felipe Massa:
Felipe would follow Valtteri out also on the medium tyre. Felipe would pit
after one installation lap. Felipe would also return to the track also on
the supersoft tyre. Felipe would set a 1m:39.113 to be sixth, dropping to
seventh as Valtteri set a quick time. Felipe would improve with a 1m:38.569
to be fourth. Felipe would pit briefly returning for a further lap but he
would pit again again returning to the track. He would pit again but would
return to the track also running on new supersoft tyres. On his new tyres
Felipe would move into third with a 1m:37.919. Felipe was now fourth and he
would pit briefly. Felipe would also pit with a few minutes left in the
session.
Valtteri Bottas:
Valtteri would be first out for Williams running on the medium tyre for the
first time. Valtteri would continue for a second lap but would pit prior to
setting a time. Valtteri would return to the track with just under forty
minutes remaining. He was out on the supersoft tyre for this run. Valtteri
would set a slow 1m:56.599 but was on a quicker lap. Valtteri would move up
to fifth with a 1m:38.645. With Felipe going fourth Valtteri would drop to
sixth. Valtteri would follow Felipe's lead pitting but returning to the
track. Valtteri would return to the track running on new supersoft tyres.
Valtteri would jump into third with a 1m:38.345 but would drop to fourth
courtesy of his team-mate. Valtteri would improve with a 1m:37.985 but
remained in fourth. Having dropped to sixth Valtteri would pit briefly. He
would come back in having completed seven laps.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m36.403s 17
2 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m36.471s 22
3 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m37.007s 28
4 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m37.727s 14
5 Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 1m37.918s 16
6 Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 1m37.985s 16
7 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m38.133s 22
8 Jenson Button McLaren-Honda 1m38.260s 14
9 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m38.465s 25
10 Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes 1m38.542s 18
11 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-TAG Heuer 1m38.622s 23
12 Fernando Alonso McLaren-Honda 1m38.633s 12
13 Daniil Kvyat Red Bull-TAG Heuer 1m39.047s 15
14 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m39.162s 16
15 Esteban Gutierrez Haas-Ferrari 1m39.230s 18
16 Kevin Magnussen Renault 1m39.238s 16
17 Romain Grosjean Haas-Ferrari 1m39.239s 15
18 Jolyon Palmer Renault 1m39.589s 19
19 Rio Haryanto Manor-Mercedes 1m39.599s 19
20 Pascal Wehrlein Manor-Mercedes 1m39.663s 18
21 Marcus Ericsson Sauber-Ferrari 1m39.740s 23
22 Felipe Nasr Sauber-Ferrari 1m39.898s 19
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