F1 GP China, Qualifying: Rosberg's lead on the Ferraris, pole goes to the German

removed Hamilton, the battle is between Nico Rosberg and the two Reds in the final stages of Qualifying in China, with the German coming out on top thanks to a time of 1:35.402. The pilot of the Mercedes he overtook the Rossa in his last attempt Raikkonen, who will thus start in third position behind the very fast one Red Bull di Ricciardo.
He wanted to fire only one cartridge Sebastian Vettel, but his only flying lap gave him no more than fourth place.
Betrayed by ERS problems however, the reigning world champion raised the white flag already in Q1, and will start from the last bench in the race. A truly interesting starting grid for China, which we are sure will not fail to offer several surprises.

News – Q1 – When the light turns green the track fills up quickly with the riders equipped with intermediate tires to test the asphalt after the rain that fell in the morning. The two Manors immediately risk the supersofts and so do Sauber and Renault.
Hamilton declared on the radio that the track was dry but Wehrlein ended up against the barriers and the session was immediately interrupted to remove the car and intervene to dry the still wet areas of the track.

At the restart, 25 minutes from the start, Gutierrez is the first to leave the pits and also to launch himself to stop the clock. Haas clocks 1:40.262. Then it was Button's turn to take the lead and then Rosberg, fastest in 1:37.669. Meanwhile, in the Mercedes pits, the mechanics are working on Hamilton's car, with power problems in the power unit. The reigning world champion was sent to the track anyway but after one lap he was forced to return. Raikkonen takes the lead in 1:37.347, then Vettel leads the group in 1:37.001. Followed by Bottas, Button, Sainz, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Massa and Perez. All the riders ride supersofts.
The first six excluded are Magnussen, Gutierrez, Palmer, Haryanto, Hamilton and Wehrlein. The Mercedes driver will start from the back of the grid.

Q2 – We start again with the Saubers and Rosberg the first to return to racing. The German from Mercedes dares the new soft ones. The first time was his, 1:36.240, followed by Perez, Ericsson and Nasr, all on supersoft. Ferrari on track, with Raikkonen leading everyone in 1:36.118, followed by Vettel, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Perez, Sainz, Verstappen, Hulkenberg and Massa. Everyone comes back to improve, except Rosberg who is satisfied and doesn't raise.
Hulkenberg's Force India loses the front left and is forced to park on the side of the track. Red flag and end of games. Only Bottas had managed to get into fifth place shortly before.

Q3 – Raikkonen, Vettel, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Bottas, Kvyat, Perez, Sainz, Verstappen and Hulkenberg are fighting for pole position.
Perez is the first to leave the pits, with the supersoft used. Rosberg follows him, with the new red compound. The Mexican stopped the clock first but immediately afterwards Rosberg took the lead in 1:36.111. Second half for Sainz, then overtaken by Ricciardo.
Kimi's Red arrives and takes the lead in 1:35.972, while Vettel remains in the pits and will try just one shot to thus save a set of tires for the race.

Raikkonen, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Sainz, Bottas, Verstappen and Perez. Last minutes and everyone in to play for the final sprint.
Bottas takes third place while Rosberg overtakes Kimi on pole with a best time of 1:35.402. Ricciardo finishes behind the German, Vettel is fourth. Raikkonen doesn't go beyond third place.
Time's up: Nico Rosberg takes pole position ahead of Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Vettel, Bottas, Kvyat, Perez, Sainz, Verstappen (and Hulkenberg, who abandoned his Force India on the side of the track at the end of Q2).

F1 GP China – Qualifying times and results
1. Nico Rosberg GER Mercedes-Mercedes 1m 35.402s
2. Daniel Ricciardo AUS Red Bull-TAG Heuer 1m 35.917s
3. Kimi Raikkonen FIN Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 35.972s
4. Sebastian Vettel GER Ferrari-Ferrari 1m 36.246s
5. Valtteri Bottas FIN Williams-Mercedes 1m 36.296s
6. Daniil Kvyat RUS Red Bull-TAG Heuer 1m 36.399s
7. Sergio Perez MEX Force India-Mercedes 1m 36.865s
8. Carlos Sainz Jr ESP Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 36.881s
9. Max Verstappen NED Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m 37.194s
10. Nico Hulkenberg GER Force India-Mercedes No time

11. Felipe Massa BRZ Williams-Mercedes 1m 37.347s
12. Fernando Alonso ESP McLaren-Honda 1m 38.836s
13. Jenson Button GBR McLaren-Honda 1m 39.093s
14. Romain Grosjean FRA Haas-Ferrari 1m 39.830s
15. Marcus Ericsson SWE Sauber-Ferrari 1m 40.742s
16. Felipe Nasr BRZ Sauber-Ferrari 1m 42.430s

17. Kevin Magnussen DEN Renault-Renault 1m 38.673s
18. Esteban Gutierrez MEX Haas-Ferrari 1m 38.770s
19. Jolyon Palmer GBR Renault-Renault 1m 39.528s
20. Rio Haryanto INA MRT-Mercedes 1m 40.264s
21. Pascal Wehrlein GER MRT-Mercedes No time
22. Lewis Hamilton GBR Mercedes-Mercedes No time*