Turkish Grand Prix 2011: 3rd Qualifying session – Formula One highlights (Part 1)
The second qualifying session ended with its share of action, drama and excitement. Topping the list, while it was disappointment for Force India as both their drivers failed to make it through to the third and final qualifying session and had to settle for 12th and 13th positions respectively, it was joy for Renault as Vitaly Petrov and Nick Heidfeld took the final two slots in the Top 10 to book themselves a spot in Q3 and a shot at improving their grid positions and ultimately score points at the race next day.
Elsewhere, this was effectively going to be Michael Schumacher’s first exposure to round 3 of qualifying which would ideally enable to the veteran to finish ‘close’ to his impressive teammate Nick Rosberg, if not higher – Both Mercedes were shaping up as the party poopers to the Red Bull – McLaren – Ferrari party.
The final qualifying session was finally underway as Vitaly Petrov headed out on track first with a set of soft compound Pirellis.
Soon after, the Russian was joined by McLaren’s Jenson Button. The Briton’s team radioed him shortly, informing him not to use the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) as it hadn’t been charged yet.
Moments later, Petrov began his flying lap. Mark Webber, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso also made their way onto the Istanbul Park circuit – Evidently the front runners had decided upon getting the job done, nothing was being left to chance this time as it was the order of the race that was on the line.
Petrov posted the first time of the session. However, his time at the top of the charts was short lived as Jenson Button went above him by half a second. The fight for the top continued as Alonso improved further on the McLaren’s time and effectively went P1.
Mark Webber started his hot lap soon after and stormed his way to the top. Lewis Hamilton looked to continue the trend but failed to go quicker than the Red Bull and had to settle for second spot, for now – Sebastian Vettel started his first timed lap and looked on course to beat his teammate.
We were already halfway through the third qualifying session as the top runners were already out fighting for places – The Mercedes’ were still waiting in the pits.
To be continued in part 2...
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