Qualifying Report - Broken

Lewis Hamilton's pole position rule streak has been broken by his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.

"I needed that sooner rather than later because it is a good step towards winning the race," Rosberg said after winning his 16th F1 pole.

Hamilton had to settle for second on the grid.

The ambient temperature at the start of the session was 77 degrees Fahrenheit (25 degrees Centigrade) and the track temperature was 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Centigrade). The humidity was 45 percent.

The line-up for the weekend was: Mercedes - Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Red Bull Renault - Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat. Williams Mercedes - Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas. Ferrari - Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen. McLaren Honda - Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button. Force India Mercedes - Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez. Toro Rosso Renault - Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. Lotus Mercedes - Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado. Marussia Ferrari - Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi. Sauber - Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr.

Qualifying 1

Merhi was the first driver out on the track, and he set the first time - 1:32.038.

But it was Sainz who set the bar at 1:28.492.

9 minutes into the session, Rosberg turned a 1:27.677. Then Hamilton beat that with a 1:27.322.

At the end of the first round of runs, the top six were: Hamilton, Rosberg, Vettel, Massa, Alonso and Button.

Perez was 15th and on the bubble while Kvyat was 16th.

In the final moments of the session, Hamilton improved to keep first place ahead of Raikkonen, Vettel and Rosberg.

Perez improved to 12th, leaving Verstappen in 15th. But Verstappen improved, and at the end of it all it was Alonso who was 15th and the last driver to make it into Q2.

The top six at the end of Q1 were: Hamilton, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Sainz, Massa and Bottas.

The five drivers eliminated at the end of Q1 were: Ericsson, Hulkenberg, Perez, Stevens and Merhi.

Qualifying 2

Nasr went out first in the 15 minute session and clocked a 1:28.986.

With 8 minutes remaining in the session, Bottas beat that with a 1:26.197, and then Hamilton did a 1:25.740.

With 7 minutes remaining in the session, Rosberg moved ahead with a 1:25.166.

The order was now: Rosberg, Hamilton, Raikkonen and Vettel.

With 5 minutes remaining in the session, Kvyat was 10th and on the bubble. Alonso was 11th and Ricciardo ninth.

It was time for the last shot at the times in FP2. The top five guys did not go out. And when it was all over Kvyat was still in 10th.

The top six at the end of Q2 were: Rosberg, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Massa, Vettel and Bottas

The five drivers eliminated at the end of Q2 were: Grosjean, Maldonado, Alonso, Button and Nasr.

Qualifying 3

Nobody hurried out when the 12 minute session began.

With 9 minutes remaining in the session, Bottas took to the track followed by many of the rest.

But Massa, Sainz, Ricciardo and Kvyat stayed in the pits, conserving tires for the final run.

Hamilton clocked a 1:24.948 but Rosberg beat him with a 1:24.681. Vettel took third ahead of Bottas, Raikkonen and Verstappen.

Everybody headed out for the final three minutes.

Hamilton and Rosberg were both unable to go any quicker, so Rosberg took the pole and Hamilton gridded second.

Vettel, Bottas, Sainz, Verstappen, Raikkonen, Kvyat, Massa and Ricciardo rounded out the top 10.