F1 GP Austria: Hamilton on pole ahead of Rosberg and Vettel

Lewis Hamilton took pole position in qualifying for the Formula 1 Austrian GP. The Mercedes Englishman preceded his teammate, Nico Rosberg, and Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari. Disappointing qualifying for the other Ferrari driver, Kimi Raikkonen: out in Q1, only 18th, he will start 14th thanks to various penalties from the other drivers.

Qualifying Report – Q1 started on a damp track and intermediate tires for everyone. Initially the Toro Rossos dictated the pace, then Massa demonstrated after 10 minutes that the track was dry enough with the slicks by lapping in 1.17.831 and everyone in turn mounted the supersoft tyres. The ranking changed continuously, three minutes from the end Vettel took the lead with 1.12.399, beaten shortly afterwards by Rosberg and then by Sainz. In the final, Alonso improved his time, qualifying for Q2 and pushing out Raikkonen, who set a very slow second lap. Rosberg achieved the best time in 1.10.976 ahead of Sainz, Vettel, Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Maldonado, Grosjean, Massa, Bottas, Ricciardo, Nasr, Kvyat, Hamilton, Ericsson, Alonso. Perez, Button, Raikkonen, Merhi, Stevens eliminated.

In Q2 everyone was on track straight away apart from Vettel who chose to do just one flying lap to preserve his supersoft tires as much as possible. Initially Nasr, Hulkenberg, Verstappen and Rosberg took turns in the lead. Five minutes from the end Vettel was also on the track, immediately in command with 1.09.392 while Ricciardo was the author of an off-track run in the gravel. Rosberg then took the lead again with 1.08.634 ahead of Hamilton, Vettel, Bottas, Hulkenberg, Verstappen, Nasr, Massa, Grosjean, Kvyat. Maldonado, Ericsson, Sainz, Ricciardo and Alonso eliminated.

In Q3 Rosberg immediately took the lead with 1.08.850 ahead of Hamilton, Nasr, Massa, Bottas, Kvyat. Shortly afterwards the two Williams moved into third and fourth position. Rosberg improved his time but Hamilton took the lead with 1.08.455 while Vettel moved into third place, six tenths behind the Englishman. Everyone in the pits after the first run and upon restarting Hamilton tried to reach the limit but ended up spinning. Vettel improved his time but remained third while Rosberg also ended up off the track. Hamilton then took pole position ahead of Rosberg and Vettel. Massa fourth ahead of Hulkenberg, Bottas, Verstappen, Kvyat, Nasr, Grosjean. Kvyat will be penalized 10 places on the grid for using his fifth engine of the season.

F1 GP Austria – Qualifying times and results