Qualifications – Japan – Rosberg and Mercedes Set the Record Straight

The session starts on a dry track, just like this morning in Suzuka. The Toro Rossos are quick to hit the track, on hard tires. However, it’s the Mercedes that quickly take control, with Hamilton leading Rosberg by three-tenths. Marcus Ericsson, on the other hand, overdoes it and makes a mistake; his Sauber slides into the gravel, but the Swede, fortunately, is able to continue.

Behind the Mercedes, at the end of the first big salvo of fast laps, the Williams and the Red Bull are lurking. However, the Silver Arrows are far from suffering like in Singapore. Will the surprise come from the Ferraris? We don’t know yet because, as usual, the Scuderia strategists haven’t sent their two drivers onto the track quickly.

Marcus Ericsson gets his sums wrong at Spoon early in Q1 – manages to keep the engine running though #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/ErOUdC2MiP

— Formula 1 (@F1) 26 Septembre 2015

In the last minutes, medium tires are fitted by most of the drivers, even the Mercedes. The F1 prodigy, Max Verstappen, unfortunately cannot go further in the session. It seems that an electrical problem sent him off-track; upset, the Dutchman did not respond on the radio when his team asked if he was okay. He will not return to the track in Q2.

YELLOW FLAG: Verstappen dramatically grinds to a halt with seconds to go in Q1 #JapaneseGP #Quali pic.twitter.com/3aZL0mSEFx

— Formula 1 (@F1) 26 Septembre 2015

The axe finally falls after 18 minutes, and the penalty is harsh for Jenson Button, eliminated in Q1, unlike his teammate Fernando Alonso, who is 15th. The Englishman was apparently hindered by yellow flags. The two Saubers of Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr are also eliminated. At Manor, Will Stevens beats the rookie Alexander Rossi, although he was hindered by the yellow flags; his time is above the 107% rule, but he is expected to receive leniency from the stewards. Far from such concerns, at the top of the time sheet, Nico Rosberg is only 171 thousandths behind Hamilton. The rest of the field is more than 1.4 seconds behind: the Mercedes are setting the pace.

Eliminated in Q1: Button, Ericsson, Nasr, Stevens, Rossi.

Q2 starts and Hamilton is immediately warned on the radio: a clean lap is desirable given that the current set of tires could also be used at the start of the race tomorrow. Daniil Kvyat is attacking in the Ss of the first sector but doesn’t seem very comfortable on the Japanese circuit. All the drivers have used the soft tires anyway to make it into the top 10 at the end of the session. Nico Rosberg, on his first attempt, is ahead of his teammate by 157 thousandths. In corners as well as on the straights, the Mercedes are in front.

SPEED TRAP: @MercedesAMGF1 duo leading the way during Q2 #Quali #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/XaTAUV465W

— Formula 1 (@F1) 26 Septembre 2015

At Ferrari, Sebastian Vettel is struggling more than Kimi Räikkönen. The German does not seem to have found the right settings and is harder on his tires, in addition to being half a second slower than his teammate. The Williams cars and Kimi Räikkönen are only separated by a few thousandths.

In the final minutes of the session, Fernando Alonso delivers a strong attacking lap and finds himself in the top 10. However, other drivers improve their times after him. The battle for the tenth place is tight. While Carlos Sainz seemed to have the edge, Romain Grosjean manages, thanks to a commendable effort, to snatch the last ticket for Q3 from him. Another excellent performance for the Frenchman, proving that his upcoming departure from Lotus doesn’t affect him too much. Pastor Maldonado is only 13th.

Once again, Nico Hülkenberg is beaten by Sergio Perez: 8th, the Mexican driver, recently extended at Force India, is ahead of his teammate who fails just short of Q3. The Red Bulls seem quite far from Williams and Ferrari and should rather fight for the second row. The Mercedes appear untouchable for pole position. The battle looks tense between Nico Rosberg, first in Q2 by 157 thousandths ahead of Hamilton.

Last year’s pole time was a 1:32.506 from @nico_rosberg. Very close to that now in Q2 #JapaneseGP https://t.co/EwJhKdPWkK

— MERCEDES AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 26 Septembre 2015

Eliminated in Q2: Hülkenberg, Sainz, Maldonado, Alonso, Verstappen

The green light comes on for the final twelve minutes of the day. Will the Q2 trends be followed properly? Daniel Ricciardo is the first to hit the track, but his time (1:33:497) is far from Hamilton’s… who is himself beaten by Nico Rosberg, by just 76 thousandths. There is a contest for pole position, or rather a duel. However, Lewis Hamilton locked up his wheels at the hairpin: he seems to have some room for improvement. But now he can’t afford any mistakes.

It’s oh so tight though as @LewisHamilton is just 0.076 behind in P2! #JapaneseGP… https://t.co/EwJhKdPWkK

— MERCEDES AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 26 Septembre 2015

The Ferraris are battling with the Williams rather than the Mercedes. Bottas sets an excellent time, just 4 tenths behind Hamilton. Sebastian Vettel follows just a tenth behind, leading his teammate Kimi Räikkönen for the first time today, though Räikkönen remains close. After the first attempt, it is clear that the Reds and Whites are separated by less than a tenth. Felipe Massa has not yet set a benchmark. As expected, the Red Bulls, Perez’s Force India, and Romain Grosjean’s Lotus are further back.

The moment of truth arrives: the drivers set off for their final attempt. But suddenly, the session is interrupted by the spectacular crash of Daniil Kvyat. The exit is very violent at the hairpin. Fortunately, the Russian extracts himself from the Red Bull, or rather from what remains of his Red Bull. There are 36 seconds left in the session: the drivers will not be able to improve their times. In slow motion, it is clear that the young driver went into the grass and his car immediately veered towards the barriers, performing a mini-spin. Mistakes are human…

Thus interrupted, the session crowns Nico Rosberg thanks to his first attempt. It’s only the second pole of the season for the German. Bottas will start 3rd, ahead of Vettel, Massa, and Räikkönen. Ricciardo is 7th. Grosjean will start 8th since Perez and Kvyat did not set a time. However, the Russian could face grid penalties.

RED FLAG: Session halted after Kvyat touches the grass and dramatically loses control of his Red Bull #JapaneseGP pic.twitter.com/yHGdXJhJJN

— Formula 1 (@F1) 26 Septembre 2015