GP Canada, Qualifying: Rosberg grabs pole

Pole position for Nico Rosberg at the Montreal Circuit during the 2014 Canadian GP weekend.
The Red Bull driver tenaciously prevailed ahead of his teammate Hamilton, who was just a handful of thousandths behind. A rediscovered Sebastian Vettel placed himself in third position, gaining the second row in the final minutes, ahead of the Williams of Bottas and Massa, protagonists throughout the session.
Only seventh and tenth place for the two Ferraris of Alonso and Raikkonen, who seemed in better shape in free practice than what was seen in Qualifying.
All the Mercedes-powered single-seaters showed a decisive superiority on the Canadian track and tomorrow's race promises to be very close and not easy for the Ferraris.
But we'll see... the Montreal track is unforgiving!

News – Q1 Mercedes domination in the first part of Qualifying with Lewis Hamilton leading the first 15 minutes. Seven Mercedes-powered single-seaters hold the top 7 positions, a sign that the Canadian track, similar to that of Bahrain, favors the Germans from Brackley. The session ends a few minutes earlier than expected due to Ericsson's Caterham going off the track which draws a red flag and thus excludes the Caterham driver, Maldonado, Chilton, Bianchi, Kobayashi and Gutierrez from Q7.
The top ten sees Hamilton ahead of Magnussen, Rosberg, Button, Massa, Bottas, Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Alonso and Raikkonen.

Q2 – We set off again and the first minutes of the session saw the two Williams in the lead followed by Alonso's red. The speed of the Mercedes-powered single-seaters is decidedly remarkable on a straight line. Massa confirms himself as the fastest even with both Silver Arrows on the track, which he brings behind him. The last minutes of Q2 were decisive for securing a place in the top ten: both Mercedes returned to the track with Lewis Hamilton managing to snatch the lead from Massa. Behind him Rosberg, Massa, Bottas, Ricciardo, Vettel, Alonso, Button, Raikkonen and Vergne. However, Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Perez, Grosjean, Kvyat and Sutil were unable to access the last part of the session.

Q3 – The first to record the fastest lap is Bottas with his Williams. But in a flash there Mercedes of Rosberg wins ahead of the driver of the English team and his teammate's car. The Williams they stay behind the two Silver Arrows, while the Red Bulls immediately behind them place themselves in front of the Ferrari by Alonso. Raikkonen he hesitates in the pits waiting to come out with the new set of tyres. The Finn did not go beyond eighth place, behind the Spaniard of the red. Very last minutes of Q3 with Rosberg who doesn't want to give up first position to his teammate and with 79 thousandths of an advantage over his British rival he takes home pole. An excellent Sebastian Vettel prevailed in the sprint behind the two Mercedes and in front of the Williams. The session is over; Ricciardo, Alonso, Vergne, Button and Raikkonen close the top ten.

F1 GP Canada 2014 – Qualifying times and results

Nina Stefanelli