Formula One Highlights: Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Qualifying. Part 3
The feature continues with action from the 2nd qualifying session from Yas Marina, Abu Dhabi. After a frantic end to the first qualifying session, the sequel was bound to be of a similar capacity.
The Qualifying Period finally got underway; it was a 15 minute session unlike the first round which was a 20 minute affair. The Mercedes, Ferrari and Force India cars led the way. Felipe Massa was the first to begin his hot lap, followed by Fernando
Alonso and Adrian Sutil.
The Mclarens were out on track shortly afterwards. The Red Bulls this time, opted for a relatively conservative strategy as both drivers, Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel, were still waiting in the pits.
3 minutes into the session as 11 cars were out on track. Red Bull still remained in the pits, though.
Felipe Massa set a benchmark time at 1 minute 40.906 seconds. However, the Brazilian’s triumph was rather short-lived as he was quickly beaten by his team mate with a 1 minute 40.475. Apparently, the Red Bulls had seen enough and it was their turn
to head onto track.
Focusing on the on track battle, Jenson Button set the fastest time in his McLaren. The Briton was clocked at 1 minute 40.267 seconds. Interestingly, the leading teams continued running on the harder compound tires.
Webber and Vettel began their hot laps. Therefore, all drivers barring Heidfeld were effectively out on track. Jenson Button continued to build on his exploits as he went quicker with a 1 minute 40.156. The order at the top was Button leading Alonso
followed by Barrichello. Meanwhile, Hamilton slid on the left hander and lost close to 6 seconds as he ran off track – Importantly though, the British driver was able to keep his car on track.
Alguersuari, Kobayashi and Heidfeld were still to set a time. The top runners though, continued to press as Mark Webber went third quickest after his first flying lap. Sebastian Vettel literally destroyed the times set so far this weekend. The German
was the first to enter the 1 minute 39’s. He therefore went quickest – A whopping 1 minute 39.874. Could anybody possibly match that?
Lewis Hamilton was the first to blink as he steered his car towards the pits. He was placed 16th. The pressure was on the McLaren driver to set a competitive time with 5 minutes remaining in the session.
With all drivers setting a benchmark time, the drivers in the elimination zone were Hulkenberg, Liuzzi, Alguersuari, Kobayashi, Heidfeld and Hamilton.
All the drivers excluding Robert Kubica were on track – They had time to set just one, or maybe two timed laps. We were in for yet another dramatic finish.
Massa and Hamilton had a close encounter. Massa was on a hot lap and it seemed that Hamilton was ‘dreaming’ and got in his way right on the apex of a left hander. Many believed that such behavior merited a penalty for the McLaren driver – If such were
the case, it would have surely spelt ‘T H E - E N D’ to his championship chances. If not that, was it the spark to yet another potential feud between the heavy weights of Formula One: Ferrari vs McLaren?
After the drama, Hamilton finally began his hot lap. Many others followed suit. The British driver managed to set the 2nd fastest time as the chequered flag came out. All drivers were setting a time except Vettel – Not a total
surprise as the 1 lap wonder was not only enough to secure a spot in the final qualifying session, but it was plausibly a high bar for any of the front running drivers to jump.
With the clock running out on the 17 cars involved, we were in for a frantic finish - Who would make it to Q3? Who would carry the psychological advantage amongst the front runners into round 3?
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