Europe – Qualifying: Rosberg OK, Hamilton KO!

The very first qualifying session in the history of Formula 1 in Azerbaijan took place under dry and mild weather. Ideal for maximizing the performance of the cars on this varied and demanding track.

Q1: Humiliation for Renault!

Dominant on Friday, caution was still necessary for Mercedes at the start of Q1.

In contrast, the Ferrari drivers were taking a risk by not setting a benchmark until the end of the session, like Kimi Räikkönen who posted his first lap time in the last three minutes.

🚥 GREEN LIGHT

Q1 is under way as the race for grid positions begins in Baku#EuropeGP 🇦🇿 #Quali pic.twitter.com/dE77z68dpH

— Formula 1 (@F1) 18 juin 2016

This first series of laps allowed us to admire the “hot spots” of this semi-urban circuit. Mainly, the passage of the fifteenth corner along the old city walls is very tricky, as Ricciardo or Pérez, who have already tested the railing during the Free Practice sessions, can attest. A feat Hamilton nearly repeated in the opening minutes.

Seconds later, it’s Hamilton’s turn to take the scenic route#EuropeGP 🇦🇿 #Quali pic.twitter.com/BtXuTWdeV6

— Formula 1 (@F1) 18 juin 2016

For his part, Romain Grosjean initially encountered very troublesome brake issues on such a type of track.

Early trouble for GRO in Q1

📻: “We need to sort out the brakes, guys – I can’t do anything”#EuropeGP 🇦🇿 #Quali pic.twitter.com/MkjNLp7ri0

— Formula 1 (@F1) 18 juin 2016

The Haas driver, however, managed to make his way to Q2, unlike Jenson Button, who was eliminated in Q1 and trapped in traffic. Accompanying him were the usual names: Haryanto, Wehrlein, Ericsson, and worse yet, the two Renaults of Magnussen and Palmer, stuck on the back row! A blow for the Franco-British team but so predictable on this track that demands good top speed.

Eliminated in Q1:

17 Haryanto / 18 Wehrlein / 19 Button / 20 Ericsson / 21 Magnussen / 22 Palmer

Q2: Fright for Hamilton, Hülkenberg gets tangled up!

For once, this weekend in Azerbaijan was unusual as Hamilton encountered a difficulty at the start of his Q2. Disrupted by a yellow flag following a spin by Nico Hülkenberg in the last sector, the Englishman, only 8th, had to go back out to ensure participation in Q3.

Huge spin for HUL at Turn 16 – costly for his lap time but also potentially for his tyres #EuropeGP 🇦🇿 #Quali pic.twitter.com/vWjYi2FAtF

— Formula 1 (@F1) 18 juin 2016

The Mercedes driver was consequently caught up in the scramble to break into the Top 10. Under pressure, the three-time world champion used up one chance by locking his wheels in turn number 7! Everything depended on his final flying lap, but he ultimately came away with the second-fastest time. Nico Rosberg, on the other hand, experienced much less stress.

Let’s also highlight the great performance of Sergio Pérez, third just like Daniel Ricciardo who crossed the checkered flag in Q3! Romain Grosjean can be pleased with a fine eleventh position. He will start ahead of the disappointment of this session: Nico Hülkenberg, only twelfth but with a misunderstanding with his engineers regarding the amount of fuel in the tank!

Alonso did not save the day for McLaren either, finishing only 14th. The Woking team will therefore not reach this milestone, which seemed achievable this morning. The management of traffic seems to be blamed by the Spanish driver.

Eliminated in Q2:

11 Grosjean / 12 Hülkenberg / 13 Sainz / 14 Alonso / 15 Gutierrez / 16 Nasr

Q3: First Azeri pole for Rosberg, fatal mistake for Hamilton!

The moment of truth arrived with this Q3 around the 6 kilometers of the Baku circuit. Patiently, the Mercedes heated their tires well during the out lap before launching an assault on the stopwatch. But a new hard blow in the first timed lap for the driver with number 44, who went straight into the runoff of turn 15! In his misfortune, he ruined Nico Rosberg’s lap, who was following behind him. Similarly, Felipe Massa and Max Verstappen played a game of cat and mouse at the end of the straight. Sergio Pérez, unfortunately penalized five places on the grid tomorrow, then emerged as a surprising poleman!

Sparks flying on the track and on the airwaves between VES and BOT

📻 VES: “What the **** is he doing?”#EuropeGP pic.twitter.com/XIcOmc0maC

— Formula 1 (@F1) 18 juin 2016

But the real drama occurred just over two minutes before the end of the session. Lewis Hamilton slammed his front-right tire into the wall at turn 10, breaking his steering column.

RED FLAG Q3

📻 HAM: “I'm out. I'm out of this session…”#EuropeGP #Quali 🇦🇿 pic.twitter.com/pjg1lRNh52

— Formula 1 (@F1) 18 juin 2016

Nico Rosberg claimed pole position for the 2016 European Grand Prix! He will thus start tomorrow afternoon for the 25th time in his career in pole position, even affording the luxury of not participating in the last two minutes of the session.

POLE for #NR6 at the #EuropeGP!!!!
He’s done it!!!! Awesome job!!!!#F1Baku #F1 #Quali pic.twitter.com/PsgztLaoSG

— MERCEDES AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) 18 juin 2016

Behind, the battle raged among eight drivers (excluding the two Mercedes) for the remaining positions. It was truly a race that unfolded during this final launched lap. Impressive Daniel Ricciardo, who ultimately grabbed the third position, tied with Vettel! But the rule is clear: the first driver to set the time has the advantage, so it is the Australian who will start on the front row, due to Pérez’s penalty. Really unfortunate for the Force India driver, who achieved simply the best qualifying of his career!

More information coming in a few moments…