On a cool but sunny day the teams would prepare for qualifying for the 2011 Turkish Grand Prix. After a final practice that saw both drivers set encouraging times the AT&T Williams F1 team would be hoping that they could move up the grid. With the start of the first twenty minute period Kobayashi would be the first man out onto the track, followed by several drivers. Liuzzi would set the first time with a 1m:32.524 as Kobayashi's car would come to a stop and would be pushed back into the pit lane seeing his qualifying come to an end. Rubens Barrichello would leave the pit lane along with Schumacher and Sutil. Di Resta would go fastest with a 1m:29.420 with D'Ambrosio second. Rosberg, Buemi, and Pastor Maldonado would leave the pit lane.

Di Resta would improve with a 1m:29.223 as his team-mate Sutil went second. Both Ferrari and McLaren had sent their drivers out for their first runs. Rubens first time would see him in sixth, 1m:31.673, with Schumacher seventh. Vettel was also out on the track and would quickly go fastest with a 1m:27.039, from Di Resta and Kovalainen. Buemi was second on the softer tyre while Alonso's first lap was good enough for third, 1m:27.644, as Schumacher moved up to fourth, 1m:27.697, with ten minutes remaining. Rubens was now fifth with a 1m:28.246 to be fifth. Massa was down in seventh.

Webber was now in second with a time of 1m:27.090. Rosberg was now in third with a 1m:27.514. Buemi was now fourth from Alonso, Schumacher, and Alguersuari. Rubens had dropped to eighth while Pastor was thirteenth with a 1m:28.803. The McLaren's of Hamilton and Button had moved up to third and fourth. Rosberg was now in fifth from Buemi and Alonso, with eight minutes remaining. Button would improve with a 1m:27.374 but remained fourth. Rubens was now tenth and Pastor fourteenth. Rubens time was a 1m:28.246. Petrov would move into fifth with a time of 1m:27.475.

Perez would improve to be tenth, 1m:27.778, and Heidfeld eleventh. Rubens had dropped to thirteenth and Pastor sixteenth. Massa was back out on the softer tyre. Pastor was also running on the softer tyre and using these tyres to good effect he would set a 1m:27.396 to move up to fifth. Massa would also benefit from the softer tyre going fastest with a 1m:27.013. Di Resta would improve to be ninth, 1m:27.625. Rubens was down in sixteenth followed by Sutil. Alonso would improve to be fifth, 1m:27.349, seeing Pastor drop to seventh. With the end of the period it would be Massa fastest from Vettel, Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Sutil, Pastor, Petrov, and Rosberg in tenth. Rubens just made it into the second period finishing in seventeenth. Those not making the cut were Kovalainen, Trulli, D'Ambrosio, Liuzzi, Glock, Karthikeyan, and Kobayashi who failed to set a time.

With the start of the second fifteen minute period Schumacher would be first out joined by Rosberg. Vettel, Webber, Barrichello and Sutil were also on track for their first runs. They would be joined by Button, Hamilton and Petrov. The McLaren's were out on the softer tyre as Schumacher set a 1m:27.458 on his first lap. Petrov was second from Sutil and Rosberg. Webber was also out on the track seeing him set a 1m:26.075 to go fastest using the soft tyres. Rubens was in second with a 1m:27.318 but Button would move ahead with a 1m:26.485. For Red Bull Vettel would go fastest with a 1m:25.610, to be fastest by 0.465 seconds. Hamilton was up to second with a time of 1m:26.066 while Buemi was now fifth.

Pastor's first lap would see him in eighth, 1m:27.550, followed by Sutil and Rosberg. Rosberg would improve to be fifth, 1m:27.232, while Rubens had dropped to seventh. Pastor was now in tenth and this would become eleventh as Alonso moved up to fourth, 1m:26.152. Rubens was now eighth but like Pastor he would drop down the order was Massa went sixth fastest with a 1m:27.211. Perez was up to eighth as both Williams drivers had pitted. Rubens was now tenth and Pastor thirteenth. With six minutes remaining the track became quite as everyone pitted to prepare for their final runs.

First back out was Petrov running on the softer tyre. Schumacher would follow him joined by Rubens as Petrov moved up to sixth with a 1m:26.654. More drivers were coming out as the final minutes counted down. Schumacher was up to fourth, 1m:26.121, as Rubens lap would see him move up to eighth with a 1m:26.764. Vettel, Hamilton, and Webber had not left their pits as Pastor moved up to eleventh with a 1m:27.236. Massa was up to seventh, 1m:26.395, while Rubens was now tenth. Pastor had dropped to thirteenth. Rosberg had moved into second with a time of 1m:25.801.Heidfeld would spoil Rubens day by taking tenth, 1m:26.740.

Those not making the cut were Rubens, Sutil, Di Resta, Pastor, Perez, Buemi, and Alguersuari. The top ten was Vettel from Rosberg, Hamilton, Webber, Schumacher, Alonso, Massa, Button, Petrov, and Heidfeld. For the Williams team, despite not having their cars make it into the final period, had put in an encouraging performance with Rubens only being pushed out of the top ten in the final moments. Also coming from eleventh Rubens will have the advantage of been able to be more flexible in their race strategy for Sunday's race.

The final ten minute period would get underway with Petrov first out followed by Alonso and Button. Webber was also out on the track while it would be three minutes into the period before Vettel left the pit lane. Petrov was on his flying lap as Hamilton took to the track. Schumacher, Rosberg and Heidfeld all stayed in their pits more than likely looking at just one run. Petrov's first time was a 1m:26.411 but he would be passed by Alonso with a 1m:25.851. Webber would find even further pace setting a 1m:25.454 to go fastest. Hamilton was now second with a lap of 1m:25.618.

Vettel's first flying lap was even faster than his team-mate with a 1m:25.049. So it was Vettel from Webber, a Red Bull one-two, followed by Hamilton in third, Alonso fourth, Button fifth and Petrov sixth after their first laps. Massa, Schumacher, Rosberg and Heidfeld had yet to leave the pit lane with just over three minutes remaining. Button would come out for his second run joined by Alonso. Heidfeld would also come out for his single run. Both Red Bull drivers were out of their cars after just a single run. Massa and Hamilton would also come back out.

With the period coming to an end several drivers were on their final laps as Heidfeld moved up to eighth while Rosberg moved up to third with a 1m:25.574. Schumacher could only manage a 1m:26.646 to be only eighth. Hamilton's lap would see him improve but he would remain in fourth. Alonso was in fifth from Button, Petrov, and Schumacher. Heidfeld would finish in ninth and Massa tenth. So it was another pole for Vettel with Webber second. For the AT&T Williams team it was a positive qualifying session with the team continuing to improve. Given all the distractions away from the track the Williams team is still working hard to turn things around and Sunday's Grand Prix does offer a race where Williams can score their first points of the season.