F1 2016: Rosberg on Pole for Russian GP, Bottas to start second

Nico Rosberg will start the 2016 F1 Russian Grand prix from pole position for Mercedes. Williams driver, Valterri Bottas to start from second place ahead of Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari in third.

Throughout qualifying, the Mercedes drivers were dominating the pack. But it all went down hill for defending F1 champion Lewis Hamilton in Q2. The British driver set a time in the second part of qualifying but suffered the same problem that led him to start the race in China from the back of the grid. Because Hamilton did set a time in Q2, the British driver qualified into Q3, and will start the race from 10^th place.

With Hamilton out after Q2, this left the field pretty much open for the Ferraris and the Williams to capitalise. Sebastian Vettel clocked in the second fastest time in the session, but with an unscheduled gearbox change on his Ferrari, the German driver will start from 6^th place due to his penalty.

The main battle of the session was between the two Finns – Bottas and Raikkonen, to see who would start along side Rosberg for the Russian GP on Sunday. Bottas who was already the third fastest, couldn’t improve on his time and neither could Raikkonen who was fourth fastest in the session. With Vettel being dropped down the order, both the Finns will move a place up on the grid with Bottas in second, ahead of Raikkonen.

Felipe Massa in his Williams will start the race fourth, Daniel Ricciardo will start ahead of Vettel in fifth for Redbull Racing, Sergio Perez in seventh for Force India, Daniil Kvyat will start from eighth for Redbull, Max Verstappen in ninth for Torro Rosso and Lewis Hamilton in tenth.

2016 F1 Russian GRAND PRIX QUALIFYING (30/04/2016)
Sochi Autodrom – 5.848km, 19 turns

1. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) - 1:35.417 16 laps
2. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) - 1:36.123 16 laps
3. Valtteri Bottas (Williams - Mercedes) - 1:36.536 17 laps
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) - 1:36.663 17 laps
5. Felipe Massa (Williams - Mercedes) - 1:37.016 16 laps
6. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing – Tag Heuer) - 1:37.125 22 laps
7. Sergio Perez (Force India - Mercedes) - 1:37.212 20 laps
8. Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull Racing – Tag Heuer) - 1:37.459 22 laps
9. Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso - Ferrari) - 1:37.583 20 laps
10. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) – NO TIME 13 laps
11. Carlos Sainz Jr* (Toro Rosso - Ferrari) - 1:37.652 14 laps
12. Jenson Button* (McLaren - Honda) - 1:37.701 14 laps
13. Nico Hulkenberg* (Force India - Mercedes) - 1:37.771 17 laps
14. Fernando Alonso* (McLaren - Honda) - 1:37.807 14 laps
15. Romain Grosjean* (Haas - Ferrari) - 1:38.055 16 laps
16. Esteban Gutierrez* (Haas - Ferrari) - 1:38.115 18 laps
17. Kevin Magnussen** (Renault) - 1:38.914 10 laps
18. Jolyon Palmer** (Renault) - 1:39.009 9 laps
19. Felipe Nasr** (Sauber - Ferrari) - 1:39.018 10 laps
20. Pascal Wehrlein** (Manor - Mercedes) - 1:39.399 10 laps
21. Rio Haryanto** (Manor - Mercedes) - 1:39.463 10 laps
22. Marcus Ericsson** (Sauber - Ferrari) - 1:39.519 10 laps

*Eliminated after Q2

**Eliminated after Q1