Japanese GP: Williams Martini 3rd & 5th in Qualifying
By Andrew Hooper
September 26 2015
Qualifying for the 2015 Japanese GP would see Williams Martini drivers Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa finish in 3rd and 5th. Both Williams drivers had comfortably made it into the final period. Their poisitions were that they achieved prior to their second final period runs but with a red flag coming out with just thirty six seconds the period was stopped and neither driver was able to improve their times. Regardless of this it was a major reversal of the fortunes after the frustrations of qualifying in Singapore.
Williams
Martini Japanese GP Qualifying
Team Summary: Q1: After an encouraging final practice that saw the Williams Martini
drivers finish in
fourth and fifth the Williams team would get ready for the opening eighteen
minute period for the 2015 Japanese GP. The first cars would come out with
the early times seeing Hamilton fastest, 1m:33.595, followed by Rosberg and
Ricciardo. All the quickest times were being set on the hard tyre. After
their first runs the Williams pair were third and fourth but it was now
going to be a case of seeing whether the teams would switch to the option
tyre. Raikkonen was now in third and Vettel fifth. This would see Valtteri
and Felipe fourth and sixth. The top seven had all set their times on the
hard tyre while those below were all on the option medium tyre.
Three minutes remaining and Felipe had dropped to eighth with several medium
shod cars moving ahead of him Grosjean was now fifth and Kvyat seventh on
the option tyre. Hamilton would set a new quickest time with a 1m:32.844
still running on the hard tyre. Felipe was now tenth as more drivers went
quicker as the period drew to a close. Rosberg had set a 1m:33.015 as the
period came to an end. Both Williams cars had made it through into the
second period without having to use any option tyres. Verstappen would have
his car come to a halt half on the track ruining several drivers final lap
times. The drivers eliminated were Button, Ericsson, Nasr, Stevens, and
Rossi. Verstappen had reported a loss of power due to an electronics issue
causing his car to stop.
Q2: The second fifteen minute period would get underway with Rosberg
out first running on the medium tyre. Both Williams cars would come out on
new option tyres. The first times would see Rosberg quickest with a
1m:32.632 followed by Hamilton and Kvyat. Felipe and Valtteri were third and
fourth with Ricciardo fifth. Sainz was sixth followed by Hulkenberg, Kvyat,
and Perez. Raikkonen would move into third, 1m:33.361, with Vettel sixth.
Felipe and Valtteri would drop to fourth and fifth. Both drivers had saved a
set of option tyres from the opening period. Two minutes of the period
remaining and the top six drivers were all in their pits. Seventh placed
Ricciardo was back out with Alonso coming out for the first time.
There was just 0.039 separating the Williams pair. Perez was now eighth
followed by Kvyat and Grosjean. Williams had no plans to send their drivers
back out again. Ricciardo was on an improved lap but would pull into the
pits remaining seventh. The period would end with both Williams cars
comfortably through.
Q3: The final period would commence with both Mercedes carts coming
out on new option tyres. They would be joined by Ricciardo and both Williams
cars would come out with Felipe out first. Only Kvyat was still in his pit
as the drivers started their timed laps. A 1m:32.584 from Rosberg with
Hamilton setting a 1m:32.660 and Ricciardo third, 1m:33.497. Third and fifth
after their first runs for the Williams pair. Raikkonen was sixth with Perez
and Kvyat yet to set a time. Replays had shown Hamilton lock a front wheel
on his first lap. All ten drivers were now out on the track. But the period
would be red flagged with Kvyat having a big accident just ahead of the
hairpin.
There was thirty six seconds left in the period. It was announced that the
period would not be restarted seeing Rosberg get pole. The top ten was
Rosberg, Hamilton, Bottas, Vettel, Massa, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Grosjean,
Perez, and Kvyat. Kvyat's car was destroyed but thankfully Kvyat was able to
get out of his car. Replays would show the Red Bull roll after hitting the
barrier. It looked like Kvyat had moved his car too far left going onto the
grass and sending it into a spin. So for Williams Valtteri and Felipe will
start Sundays race from third and fifth. It was a great result after the
frustrations of Singapore.
Felipe Massa: Q1: Felipe would be first out for the Williams team and his first lap
would see him third with a 1m:34.744. Felipe would drop to fourth behind his
team-mate as he pitted. Felipe would be sixth after the runs of the
Ferrari's. With the end of the period Felipe would finish tenth.
Q2: Felipe would follow Valtteri out also on new medium tyres. A
1m:33.377 would see him third moving in front of Valtteri. Felipe would also
pit and while in the pits would drop to fourth. It was a straight forward
period with Felipe easily through into the final period.
Q3: Felipe would start the final period on new option tyres and would
set a 1m:33.337 to be fourth but Vettel would move ahead seeing Felipe now
fifth. Felipe would pit receive a new set of medium tyres and head back out.
With the red flag Felipe would not get to complete his second lap seeing him
remain fifth.
Valtteri Bottas:
Q1: A short while after Felipe had taken to the track Valtteri would
come out also on the hard tyre. His first lap would see him move ahead of
Felipe with a 1m:34.326 to be third. Valtteri would pit after his first run.
He would be fourth now behind Raikkonen. He would keep his position with the
end of the period.
Q2: Valtteri would be first out in the period also on new medium
tyres. His first lap would see him third with a 1m:33.416. This would become
fourth as Felipe went ahead. Valtteri would pit after his lap dropping to
fifth. Like Felipe he was comfortably through.
Q3: Valtteri was also out early running on new medium tyres. He would
set a 1m:33.024 to be third and he would pit. Valtteri had being able to
close the gap to the Mercedes cars. Valtteri would come back out for his
second run again on new option tyres. He would have to pit as a result of
the red flag and would start from third. A great result from the Finn.
Valtteri would say "Today was difficult after all the rain on Friday. It's a
nice surprise but we knew this track would suit us."
Sorry, only registered users may post in this forum.
We record all IP addresses on the Sportnetwork message boards which may be required by the authorities in case of defamatory or abusive comment.
We seek to monitor the Message Boards at regular intervals.
We do not associate Sportnetwork with any of the comments and do not take responsibility for any statements or opinions expressed on the Message Boards.
If you have any cause for concern over any material posted here please let us know as soon as possible by e-mailing
abuse@sportnetwork.net