Lewis Hamilton has leveled with Sebastian Vettel on 45 pole positions in their entire career so far, courtesy of securing his role of pole sitter in the ongoing Austrian Grand Prix.
Hamilton finished ultimately with a time record of 1:08.455s whereas Mercedes team mate Nico Rosberg trailed 0.200s to clinch second. Ferrari’s Vettel claimed third on the grid.
Much surprise was to Kimi Raikkonen as he finished 17th in his Ferrari during Q1.
“How was that possible,” said Raikkonen through the radio.
Q2 saw rather disappointing turnouts from the Manor duo, Roberto Merhi and Will Stevens, McLaren-Honda’s Jenson Button and Force India’s Sergio Perez. Apart from that, Fernando Alonso served up another despairing qualifying session as he failed to make it to Q3 for the seventh time in seventh races this season.
Q3 was perhaps not the best for Mercedes. Spielberg was a nightmare for Rosberg as Monaco is to Hamilton.
Hamilton spun at Turn One on his final lap, allowing Rosberg to take the lead ahead of him, but things took a setback when the German spun at the final corner of his lap. It was only a matter of time Rosberg could have secure pole before his car lost control.
The top ten grid tomorrow will start off with Hamilton, followed by Rosberg, Vettel, Williams’ Felipe Massa, Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg, Williams’ Valtteri Bottas, Toro Rosso’s Max Verstappen, Red Bull’s Daniil Kvyat, Sauber’s Felipe Nasr and Lotus’ Romain Grosjean.
Pastor Maldonado has put his Lotus eleventh, ahead of Sauber’s Marcus Ericsson, Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz Jr, Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo, McLaren’s Fernando Alonso, Force India’s Sergio Perez, McLaren’s Jenson Button, Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen before ending it with the Manors Roberto Merhi and Will Stevens.
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