Austrian GP: Williams Martini in the top ten in FP3
By Andrew Hooper
July 2 2016
The final practice session would see both Williams Martini drivers finish in the top ten. Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa would finish in 6th and 7th. During the session both drivers would focus on runs on the ultrasoft tyre with the pair completing longer runs on this tyre. For Valtteri his session would be eventful when late in the session he would spin going into the final corner. He was able to continue with no damage to his car. During the session Felipe would run an updated front wing which looked to be an improvement.
Williams
Martini Austrian GP Saturday Practice
Team Summary:
The final practice session would be run under sunny skies in what should be
a busy session for the Williams Martini team. Both Williams drivers would
complete their installation laps as Ericsson set a 1m:10.763 to be quickest.
Vettel would move ahead with a 1m:07.797 also on the ultrasoft tyre.
Hamilton was second while Rosberg was fifth. But Raikkonen would make it a
Ferrari one0two going second with Kvyat now third. Vettel would improve with
a 1m:07.307 as Verstappen went second, 1m:07.865. With ten minutes of the
session completed neither Williams car had returned to the track.
A 1m:07.603 from Raikkonen seeing him remain second but he was on the
supersoft tyre. A further improvement from Raikkonen with a 1m:07.558 to
remain second. Felipe would move into third but Ricciardo would take this
spot seeing Felipe fourth. Mercedes cars were suffering from rear tyre
blistering as both Ferrari's returned to the track. After their ultrasoft
tyre runs Valtteri and Felipe were fourth and fifth. At the front Raikkonen
would go quickest with a 1m:07.234. Valtteri and Felipe would drop to fifth
and sixth with Verstappen going fourth. With both Williams cars in their
garages the session would be red flagged when Rosberg was to spin and crash
with his car stopping in the middle of the track after a suspension failure
on the left rear.
The session restarted with both Ferrari's out on the track. Vettel would set
a 1m:07.098 to go quickest. Hamilton would move up to be fourth with a
1m:07.754, seeing Valtteri and Felipe sixth and seventh. Button was now
ninth to be behind Hulkenberg. Hamilton was now third with a 1m:07.308. With
the end of the session both Williams drivers would complete fifteen laps on
the ultrasoft tyre. Both would complete practice starts on the grid.
Valtteri Bottas:
Valtteri would follow his team-mate out also on the soft tyre. He would pit
after one lap and with fifteen minutes of the session completed he was still
in his garage. With forty minutes remaining Valtteri was able to take to the
track. Valtteri would start his first flying lap and would set a 1m:08.166
to be sixth. He would improve with a 1m:07.814 to move ahead of Felipe to be
fourth. Valtteri would continue to circulate around the track with thirty
minutes remaining. Valtteri would pit having completed thirteen laps.
Valtteri would follow Felipe out running on a new set of ultrasoft tyres.
Valtteri was on a quicker lap but would spin at the final corner ruining his
lap. He was to lose the rear on the way into the corner spinning as he went
over the run-off area. He was able to continue but would pit briefly prior
to completing a practice start at the end of the session.
Felipe Massa:
Felipe would be out very early with the start of the session running on the
soft tyre. Felipe could be seen with flo-viz on his updated front wing.
Felipe would pit after one lap and after a short stop would return running
on a new set of ultrasoft tyres. Felipe would start his quick lap and would
finish with a 1m:07.879 to be fourth. He would find a few tenths and would
improve with a 1m:07.831 to now be third. But Ricciardo would move ahead
seeing Felipe drop to fourth. Felipe was on a longer run on the ultrasoft
tyre pitting after nine laps. Felipe would drop to fifth to be behind his
team-mate.
Felipe would return on a new set of ultrasoft tyres. On the new tyres he
would go quickest in the first sector on what appeared to be a qualifying
type run. But at the end of his lap he had failed to improve. Felipe would
also pit with just over twenty minutes remaining. With the restart Felipe
would be first out for Williams. He was on the same set of used ultrasoft
tyres. Felipe would also circulate around the track on a long run on the
ultrasoft tyre as the session drew to a close. Felipe would also complete a
practice start on the grid with the end of the session.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m07.098s 20
2 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m07.234s 26
3 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m07.308s 20
4 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull-Renault 1m07.639s 22
5 Max Verstappen Red Bull-Renault 1m07.761s 22
6 Valtteri Bottas Williams-Mercedes 1m07.814s 23
7 Felipe Massa Williams-Mercedes 1m07.831s 27
8 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m08.285s 23
9 Jenson Button McLaren-Honda 1m08.304s 19
10 Fernando Alonso McLaren-Honda 1m08.327s 17
11 Sergio Perez Force India-Mercedes 1m08.442s 26
12 Esteban Gutierrez Haas-Ferrari 1m08.475s 22
13 Pascal Wehrlein Manor-Mercedes 1m08.534s 29
14 Romain Grosjean Haas-Ferrari 1m08.550s 21
15 Kevin Magnussen Renault 1m08.569s 31
16 Daniil Kvyat Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m08.786s 32
17 Jolyon Palmer Renault 1m08.939s 27
18 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m09.008s 11
19 Rio Haryanto Manor-Mercedes 1m09.116s 28
20 Marcus Ericsson Sauber-Ferrari 1m09.137s 25
21 Felipe Nasr Sauber-Ferrari 1m09.557s 20
22 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m10.959s 16
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