Qualification Formula 1: Grand Prix of Russia in 2015

Posted on 10-10-2015 at 15:31 by Ricardo – 33 Comments”

The Grand Prix weekend began yesterday to be noisy with a rain-soaked track, followed by a violent crash of Carlos Sainz in FP3 this morning. The qualification went well without any major incidents. Oh, and you are allowed 1 guess who’s the fastest of all Red Bull teams on the roads of Sochi.

The drop-outs in Q1 are not surprising names: Fernando Alonso, Marcus Ericsson, Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi taaiden. In Q2 we said goodbye to the home Daniil Kvyat, Felipe Nasr, Jenson Button, Pastor Maldonado and Felipe Massa. Good news for Max, who sailed through to Q3.

In Q3 it was Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg supreme, with a time of 1.37,113. Three-tenths faster than team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who in the last round, a mistake made in turn 13. But not to worry: “great job by Nico but this isn’t a bad race to be in P2,” said the klassementsleider in a comment afterwards. That promises to be a beautiful fight to be tomorrow. If he pops early on along the Germans and then disappears from view. Literally.

Max Verstappen klokte a time of 1.38,924 in his fastest lap, which he was the ninth picked, and just for concullega Daniel Ricciardo came to be. Team-mate Sainz was understandably not participate in the qualification. He ails nothing, but remains for the night in the hospital. Tomorrow he hopes to do, but there’s still no definite answer given.

The Grand Prix of Russia in Sochi begins tomorrow at 13:00.

1. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:37.113
2. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:37.433
3. Valtteri Bottas, Williams, 1:37.912
4. Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari, 1:37.965
5. Kimi Were Times, Ferrari, 1:38.348
6. Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, 1:38.659
7. Sergio Perez, Force India, 1:38.691
8. Romain Grosjean, Lotus, 1:38.787
9. Max Verstappen, Toro Rosso, 1:38.924
10. Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull, 1:39.728

Q2
11. Daniil Kvyat, Red Bull, 1:39.214
12. Felipe Nasr, Sauber, 1:39.323
13. Jenson Button, McLaren, 1:39.763
14. Pastor Maldonado, Lotus, 1:39.811
15. Felipe Massa, Williams, 1:39.895

Q1
16. Fernando Alonso, McLaren, 1:40.144
17. Marcus Ericsson, Sauber, 1:40.660
18. Will Stevens, Manor, 1:43.693
19. Roberto Merhi, Manor, 1:43.804

NB: anyone have a caption for the following photograph of Bernie Ecclestone, who this morning in Sochi new keizerskleren got?