2016 FORMULA 1 ETIHAD AIRWAYS ABU DHABI GRAND PRIX – Qualifying
It’s the final qualifying of the 2016 season – who’s going to be on pole for the race tomorrow?
See everything as it happens right here – the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying session at the Yas Marina Circuit.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying
Qualifying 1
Cars are now making their way onto the track.
Team changed Lewis Hamilton’s brakes in between FP3 and the qualifying session.
Kvyat also has new brakes – his team confirming over the radio as he’s out on track.
Hamilton on the Ultrasoft tyres (Purple) as is his team-mate Rosberg, both out on track.
Hamilton sets the fastest lap time of – 1:39.487
Rosberg over a second behind his team-mate in second place, reporting to his team on the radio “two mistakes, not a great lap.”
Hamilton now in the pits.
Vettel currently splits the two Mercedes – he’s now up into second place with Rosberg in third. Raikkonen down in 5th.
Verstappen now goes 3rd fastest.
Raikkonen now goes 2nd fastest beating his team-mate Vettel who’s currently third.
There’s 1 minute left in this session – here’s the top 5 for now.
Hamilton
Raikkonen
Vettel
Verstappen
Rosberg
They’re all safely through to Q2.
Qualifying 1 – Knock Out Zone
Kvyat
Magnussen
Nasr
Ocon
Sainz
Ericsson
Now we’re onto Qualifying 2 – the sun has started to set over the beautiful Yas Marina Circuit.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying
Qualifying 2
Hamilton is back out on track.
Both Mercedes drivers are now on the track.
Raikkonen being told – “Rosberg is usually slower down the straights.” he was right behind Rosberg and has now backed off.
Hamilton sets a fastest lap time – 1:39.382
Rosberg right behind in second place, he’s down by a tenth.
Raikkonen in third.
Hamilton being told to box.
Here’s the top 5 drivers – at the moment.
Hamilton
Rosberg
Raikkonen
Verstappen
Vettel
Most of the cars are now back in the pits.
Qualifying 2 – Knock Out Zone
Bottas
Button
Gutierrez
Grosjean
Palmer
Wehrlein
Now we move onto the final Qualifying session of the 2016 season. The sun has now set over the Yas Marina Circuit and the battle for pole will now begin.
Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Qualifying
Qualifying 3
Lewis Hamilton is the first car on track for the final qualifying session of the 2016 season.
Hamilton sets the fastest lap time of 1:39.013 – he had a little issue at the beginning of the track but gained time in the last sector.
Rosberg right behind in second place.
Raikkonen third fastest.
The two RedBull’s are splitting the Ferrari’s between third (Rai) and sixth (Vet).
Cars are now coming back into the pits.
Hamilton is going back out on-track followed by Rosberg and Raikkonen.
Hamilton sets another fastest lap time of 1:38.755
He’s on pole for the race tomorrow and here are the top 10 drivers.
Hamilton
Rosberg
Ricciardo
Raikkonen
Vettel
Verstappen
Hulkenberg
Perez
Alonso
Massa
Brief Reaction
Lauda – “This is pure Lewis, this is his talent – an aggressive attack. He did a fantastic job and no one is playing ‘softly-softly’. It’s the best start for him.“
Top 3 Press Conference
Hamilton – “It’s been a great weekend so far and it’s been strange coming here this weekend knowing that it’s going to be the last session this season, driving this car. It’s been such a privilege to drive this car – great work by my engineer and mechanics.
“I just want to thank everyone back at the factory – if it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here.“
Rosberg – “As I’ve said, I’ve come here to win and I’m not ecstatic by the results today, obviously well done to Lewis. The opportunity is tomorrow but I’m going to try and win.“
“Adrenaline is always there, that’s what always great about it. I had a good balance and I was quite pleased. As qualifying went on, it got better and better but I just wasn’t good enough.“
Ricciardo – “We’ve got to try something (for tomorrow) – we’ll see how it all works out and hopefully we can be up in the fight. It was a poor start to the qualifying session for me but in Q3, we were able to put something together.“
Hamilton – “So far this weekend, I’ve been focused on getting this position and it worked. I’m going to sit this evening and work with my engineers to see what I can do and get away in the race.“
More to follow.
The Formula 1 Girl 🙂
xx
