Brazil – Qualifying: Rosberg claims his 10th pole of 2014 with authority

The qualification for the Brazilian Grand Prix is taking place under an overcast sky but on a dry track at the start of the session.

Q1: Adrian Sutil is the first to hit the track at the wheel of his Sauber, immediately followed by his teammate Esteban Gutierrez. The two men are followed by the two Toro Rossos and Ricciardo’s Red Bull. Sutil sets the initial time at 1:13.401, immediately improved by his Sauber teammate with 1:13.166. Vergne eventually takes the best time with 1:12.553, two thousandths ahead of his teammate Daniil Kvyat while the rest of the pack gradually exits the pits, mostly on softs, with only the Williams choosing the mediums.

But that doesn’t prevent them from taking the lead before seeing the Mercedes cars settle at the top of the timesheets, Hamilton ahead of Rosberg after their first timed laps. After a failed first lap, hindered particularly by Maldonado’s Lotus, Alonso manages to do well by setting the 3rd fastest time behind Rosberg and Hamilton, the two men having consecutively improved.

With only 7 minutes remaining, Sebastian Vettel finally takes to the track. For his first lap, he fails to be within 107%, having decided to use this lap to fully charge his batteries. He eventually improves but does no better than the 12th fastest time.

At the end of the session, the drivers beyond 4th place head out to try to qualify for Q2, and even though Romain Grosjean improves, it is not enough; he ends up in 15th place and is the first to be eliminated, alongside his teammate. Sebastian Vettel narrowly makes it in 13th position, as do both Sauber drivers, with Gutierrez in 9th and Sutil 14th and last to qualify.

**Eliminated in Q1:** Grosjean, Vergne, Perez, Maldonado

Q2: Nico Hülkenberg is the first to take the track at the start of Q2, followed by the Saubers of Gutierrez and Sutil. The Force India driver naturally sets the first time of this part of the qualifications at 1:12.306, half a second slower than his best lap in Q1. Gutierrez falls short by 25 thousandths of a second compared to the German, while Adrian Sutil goes off track. Meanwhile, the Ferrari, Mercedes, and Massa drivers have taken to the track.

Hamilton immediately takes the lead with a lap of 1:10.712 before Rosberg does better with 1:10.303, recording the best times in all three sectors. Behind them are the Williams, then the Ferraris, before the McLarens and Vettel push Räikkönen and Alonso further back.

Three minutes before the end, most of the drivers are back on track, especially those without a time: Sutil and Ricciardo. Only the Mercedes drivers and Kvyat—despite being without a time in Q2—decide to stay in the garage. Kvyat is therefore the first to be eliminated, along with the two Sauber drivers and the Force India of Nico Hülkenberg, while the Williams drivers have improved, with Massa finishing 40 milliseconds behind Rosberg, largely cheered on by the Brazilian fans.

Eliminated in Q2: Gutierrez, Hülkenberg, Sutil, Kvyat

Q3: No one is in a hurry to take to the track, so there’s confidence that Q3 will take place on a dry track even though the weather still looks threatening. Lewis Hamilton is the first to take to the track, followed by Nico Rosberg and most of the drivers except the Ferraris.

Hamilton sets the fastest time with 1:10.195 but Rosberg surpasses him once again with a lap of 1:10.166. They are followed by Massa, Bottas, Button, Magnussen, Vettel, and Ricciardo. As all these drivers return to the pits, Räikkönen takes to the track. The Finn records the 7th fastest time while all drivers are on track for a final attempt.

Hamilton improves and takes the lead, but Rosberg reclaims his position and secures his 10th pole position of the year – the 18th for Mercedes in 2014! Felipe Massa drives straight to the pits but remains 3rd ahead of his teammate. Button is 5th ahead of Vettel, Magnussen, Alonso, Ricciardo, and Räikkönen.