GP Malaysia, Qualifying: pole for Hamilton. Vettel "splits" the Mercedes

Finally the rain came. Suddenly and without asking permission, as is appropriate here in Malaysia, a truckload of water hit the riders on the track at Q2 as soon as you start, ruining the party a Kimi Raikkonen, who got stuck in traffic and had to abandon his fast lap.
Delayed by fifteen minutes Q3, the pole position therefore went to Lewis Hamilton, with a time of 1:49.834. The drivers waited until the end to set their best lap and take advantage of a track in better conditions. It went well like that Hag, who managed to split the monologue in two Mercedes, leaving behind Rosberg and two o'clock Red Bull di Ricciardo e Kvyat.
Final exploit also for the very young rookie Max Verstappen, which placed behind the "big brothers" of Milton Keynes. The two were bad instead Williams, with Sponge seventh ahead of Grosjean e Bottas nono. Ericsson closes the top ten and for the first time in his career has access to Q3.

News – Q1 – The morning sun has given way to clouds and wind as they get underway Qualifications of the GP Malaysia. The Manor di Roberto Mehri is the first to enter the track, immediately followed by the Mercedes by Nico and Lewis.
The German of Silver Arrows sets the first time, 1:39.374, but immediately Hamilton he beats him in 1:39.269. All riders ride the softer compound, while the two Ferrari they opted for the hard one. Hag is third, Whom moves up to fifth place behind Bottas, followed by Sainz, Massa, Hulkenberg, Nasr and Grosjean.
Times are changing fast, with Kvyat sixth ahead of Verstappen e Sainz which takes fourth place. Alone Stevens he's the only one still stuck in the pits. The pilot of the Manor manages to enter with two minutes to go.
Time flies by quickly and the checkered flag puts an end to Q1. Grosjean ed Ericsson they squeezed in last in sixth and seventh place, while Nasr, Button, Alonso, Mehri and Stevens were excluded.

Q2 – We set off again, with the rain now getting ever closer. The pit lane is crowded when the light turns green. Hag is brought immediately behind Rosberg, behind him Sponge is third, while Hamilton he quickly slips into eighth place.
The traffic on the track forces Raikkonen to abort his tour. Within a minute the track is flooded with rain and the driver of the red car pays for the late exit by staying out in the race for the Q3. The same happens to Maldonado, Hulkenberg, Perez and Sainz.
Everyone in the pits, the track has already become a swimming pool. These are the drivers who, water permitting, will compete for pole: Rosberg, Vettel, Bottas, Ricciardo, Grosjean, Massa, Verstappen, Hamilton, Kvyat and Ericsson.
Whom in the meantime he complains to his team about the late exit and the team admits that they had had engine ignition problems. Meanwhile, the news arrives that the Q3 they are delayed for 15 minutes while waiting for the rain to subside.

Q3 – At the restart the rain finally left the circuit but most of the drivers were on "full wet" tyres. Intermediate instead for Hag, the two Mercedes e Ricciardo. The first chrono belongs to Hamilton who took the lead with the green tire in 1:49.834. Behind him Rosberg and for third place there is a fight between Hag e Verstappen. The two alternate but in the end it is the German of Ferrari to take back their place behind the two Mercedes.
Fifth time for Ricciardo, Followed by Kvyat ed Ericsson, while still without a time trial in the middle of the Q3 they are Bottas, Massa and Grosjean.

Just a few minutes to go: Kvyat rises to fourth place, Hag he moved into second position ahead of Rosberg. Fourth half for Ricciardo which overrides Kvyat while a fantastic Verstappen is carried behind the two Red Bull, in sixth place. Massa, Grosjean, Bottas and Ericsson close the top ten.

F1 GP Malaysia 2015 – Qualifying times and results
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1m49.834s –
2 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 1m49.908s 0.074s
3 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m50.299s 0.465s
4 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull/Renault 1m51.541s 1.707s
5 Daniil Kvyat Red Bull/Renault 1m51.950s 2.116s
6 Max Verstappen Toro Rosso/Renault 1m51.980s 2.146s
7 Felipe Massa Williams/Mercedes 1m52.473s 2.639s
8 Romain Grosjean Lotus/Mercedes 1m52.980s 3.146s
9 Valtteri Bottas Williams/Mercedes 1m53.179s 3.345s
10 Marcus Ericsson Sauber/Ferrari 1m53.260s 3.426s
11 Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari 1m42.173s –
12 Pastor Maldonado Lotus/Mercedes 1m42.197s –
13 Nico Hulkenberg Force India/Mercedes 1m43.022s –
14 Sergio Perez Force India/Mercedes 1m43.468s –
15 Carlos Sainz Toro Rosso/Renault 1m43.700s –
16 Felipe Nasr Sauber/Ferrari 1m41.308s –
17 Jenson Button McLaren/Honda 1m41.635s –
18 Fernando Alonso McLaren/Honda 1m41.745s –
19 Roberto Merhi Marussia/Ferrari 1m46.677s –
20 Will Stevens Marussia/Ferrari – –

Nina Stefanelli