Team-mate Nico Rosberg spins too at Red Bull Ring, meaning that world champion starts P1 ; Vettel third for Ferrari; Mercedes complete a year of pole positions
Sunday 21 June 2015 08:48, UK
Lewis Hamilton claimed pole position for the Austrian GP despite spinning out of his final flying lap during qualifying at the Red Bull Ring.
The world champion was looking to improve upon a time of 1:08.455 when, heading into the first corner, he lost control of his Mercedes and spun into the run-off area.
Therefore, the door was wide open for team-mate and rival Nico Rosberg. He’d held the upper hand over Hamilton throughout qualifying until the final session but couldn’t take advantage – the German instead running straight on at the final corner in a remarkable finale.
Hamilton was therefore able to claim the 45th pole of his career, with Saturday’s result making it a full year since anyone has beaten Mercedes during qualifying.
"It was a difficult qualifying session for everyone and I was grateful I got my first lap in in Q3," Hamilton said. "I was pushing at the start of the next run and I just locked the rears into Turn One.
"It was really quite a bad qualifying session all around for me," he added. "I was three-four tenths off Nico each run, each lap and I really didn't have the temperature in the tyres or brakes."
The last driver to pip either Hamilton or Rosberg to pole, Felipe Massa, lines up fourth on the grid behind Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari. They had been hoping to get amongst the Mercs having given every indication of being able to do so during practice.
As has tended to be the case, though, the Silver Arrows found more pace when it mattered, with Vettel ultimately 0.4s down on Hamilton.
But it was the same old story for Kimi Raikkonen, who exited in Q1 which was held in damp conditions after rain fell during the morning.
Contrast the Finn’s fortunes with those of Nico Hulkenberg, who won at Le Mans last weekend and starts an impressive fifth in his Force India, splitting the fancied Williams cars.
Valtteri Bottas lines up sixth ahead of Max Verstappen, whose star quality once again shone through the gloom.
In fact, both Toro Rosso drivers revelled in the changeable conditions seen in Q1, although Carlos Sainz could only manage the 13th fastest time in the end.
Daniil Kvyat completed the top 10 ahead of Felipe Nasr and Romain Grosjean, although the Red Bull driver must drop down the grid after picking up a 10-place engine penalty along with team-mate Daniel Ricciardo, who set the 14th fastest time.
Alonso was 15th fastest, two places ahead of Button, meaning that both drivers will join Ricciardo in also having to take time penalties in the race.
Besides Raikkonen and Button, there was also Q1 disappointment for Sergio Perez, who set the 16th fastest time in his Force India.
Times:
1. L Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:08.455
2. N Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:08.655
3. S Vettel, Ferrari,1:08.810
4. F Massa, Williams, 1:09.192
5. N Hulkenberg, Force India, 1:09.278
6. V Bottas, Williams, 1:09.319
7. M Verstappen, Toro Rosso, 1:09.612
8. D Kvyat, Red Bull, 1:09.694
9. F Nasr, Sauber, 1:09.713
10. R Grosjean, Lotus, No time in Q3
11. P Maldonado, Lotus, 1:10.374
12. M Ericsson, Sauber, 1:10.426
13. C Sainz, Toro Rosso, 1:10.465
14. D Ricciardo, Red Bull, 1:10.482
15. F Alonso, McLaren, 1:10.736
16. S Perez, Force India, 1:12.522
17. J Button, McLaren, 1:12.632
18. K Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:12.867
19. R Merhi, Manor, 1:14.071
20. W Stevens, Manor, 1:15.368
Don’t miss Sky Sports F1’s exclusively live coverage of the 2015 Austrian GP. The race begins at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up underway from 11.30am. No Sky Sports? No problem! Watch the Austrian GP for £6.99 with NOW TV
