Formula One Highlights: Japanese Grand Prix, Qualifying – Part 5
The feature now heads to the third and final session of qualifying. Felipe Massa was the biggest casualty of the second qualifying period. With no further ‘relegations’, it was all a back to the wall job for the participants as they were set to struggle
it out for the starting order up front for the race.
The final chapter of qualifying got underway. It should be reminded that Q3 is a 10 minute session, meaning that drivers are supposed to get it right with a narrower margin of error. Hamilton and Alonso were the first ones to head out. The former was already
facing a 5-grid position penalty and therefore, he looked determined to set a quick lap.
Barrichello and Schumacher headed out too. The former Ferrari duo looked set to compete against one another. It was a tantalizing prospect based on the highs and lows the two veterans of Formula One had gone through.
Hamilton began his first flying lap. Fernando Alonso followed suit with Rubens Barrichello at his heels. Jenson Button and Hulkenberg were the only drivers yet to head out – Perhaps, either waiting for a clear set of road or conserving their engines for
the race.
Hamilton crossed the start – finish line. The Briton posted a 1 minute 31.320 second time. Alonso on the other hand, was unable to steal the show as he went two tenths slower with a lap time of 1 minute 31.411 seconds. Barrichello completed the order in
which they had started their respective laps with a 1 minute 31.596 seconds lap.
Sebastian Vettel finally entered the scene. The Red Bull driver had been the fastest all weekend and he looked all set to post the fastest time. The two Red Bulls comfortably went first and second with Vettel setting an astonishing lap – A whole point six
of a seconds quicker than his team-mate.
Button and Nico Hulkenberg finally decided that it was time to make their presence felt on track. At that time, a total of 8 drivers had set their fastest times and the order was Vettel in front, followed by Mark Webber from Lewis Hamiton. Alonso and Barrichello
completed the top 5.
Jenson was running on the harder compound tires. Affectively, it appeared that the McLaren Mercedes' driver had little time to change so it seemed to be a different race strategy for the British driver. He was subsequently able to set the fourth fastest
time and the quickest second and third sectors.
Now, 1 minute remained. Things were heating up; the drivers, the pit crew and the race engineers were all in unison, focusing with all their might to see their respective cars cement a good starting position. All the drivers were on their way to set one
final timed lap. As always, the order was to be cleared up only after the chequered flag.
As the ten minutes for Q3 came to an end, Hamilton went second fastest, only to be clawed back by Webber, who took the position back – It was still a Red Bull 1-2 as Vettel comfortably took the pole position.
It turned out to be a dry qualifying session and was clearly dominated by Red Bull. Vettel justified his dominance with a pole position, followed by his team-mate Webber. Hamilton also did a fine job as he was able to set the 3rd fastest time, 3 tenths slower
than Webber. However, the McLaren driver was supposed to serve out a 5-grid place penalty and therefore had to start from 8th for changing his gearbox.
Robert Kubica set the 4th fastest time in his Renault and continued with the impressive pace that he had earlier shown during Friday's practice. Alonso was understandably a touch disappointed, finishing 5th while Button set the 6th fastest time on the harder
compound tires.
Mercedes and Williams completed the top 10 in the order of Rosberg, Barrichello, Hulkenberg and Schumacher.
Coming up next… The Race from the Suzuka!
Stay tuned…
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