Canadian GP 2015

JUNE 6, 2015

Qualifying Report - Power, Power, Power

Lewis Hamilton
© The Cahier Archive

 

Horsepower is the name of the game with the long straights on the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve, and the works Mercedes have the most horses of all, so Lewis Hamilton took the pole ahead of teammate Nico Rosberg. Kimi Raikkonen was the best of the rest in his Ferrari.

This was Hamilton's 44th pole.

"I felt amazing today," Hamilton said. "I won my first grand prix here in 2007, so it is very special to win the pole here today."

The ambient temperature at the start of the session was 61 degrees Fahrenheit (16 degrees Centigrade) and the track temperature was 108 degrees Fahrenheit (42 degrees Centigrade). The humidity was 31 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

Button did not take part in qualifying after his car broke down in FP3 and the team had to fix a problem with the ERS on the power unit.

Nasr had crashed heavily in FP3, and the Sauber mechanics were rushing to repair his car in time for him to take part in Q1.

Hamilton was the first out. And Alonso set the first time - 1:18.752, which Bottas beat with a 1:18.333.

4 minutes into the session, Hamilton posted a 1:16.395. He got that down to a 1:15.979. Rosberg was now second with a 1:16.002.

9 minutes into the session, Nasr left the garages and Maldonado spun at Turn 1 after setting the third best time.

Rosberg was getting faster and took over first with a 1:15.893, and Hamilton improved to a 1:15.895.

Massa, who said his engine lacked power, was in 16th place while Perez was on the bubble in 15th place.

With little time remaining, Vettel got out but he was only 16th .

The top 10 at the end of Q1 were: Grosjean, Rosberg, Hamilton, Maldonado, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Kvyat and Bottas.

The five drivers eliminated at the end of Q1 were: Vettel, Massa, Merhi, Stevens and Button.

Qualifying 2

Nasr was first out. He like the rest of the drivers was on Pirelli's super softs.

Grosjean put his Lotus on top with a 1:15.916. Raikkonen beat that with a 1:15.602.

With 6 minutes remaining in the session, Hamilton turned a 1:14.6611 and Rosberg was second with a 1:14.673.

With 4 minutes remaining in the session, Kvyat was on the bubble in 10th and Sainz was 11th . Then Sainz improved and pushed Kvyat down to 11th .

Kvyat did a last gasp lap and moved up to eighth.

The top 10 at the end of Q2 were: Hamilton, Rosberg, Grosjean, Raikkonen, Bottas, Maldonado, Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Perez and Ricciardo.

The five drivers eliminated at the end of Q2 were: Sainz, Verstappen, Ericsson, Alonso and Nasr.

Qualifying 3

Hulkenberg was the first out. Raikkonen clocked a 1:15.126. Hamilton smashed that with a 1:14.393 while Rosberg clocked a 1:14.702.

At the end of the first runs, the order was Hamilton, Rosberg, R§ikk‚nen, Grosjean, Maldonado, Bottas, Hºlkenberg, Kvyat, P©rez and Ricciardo.

The drivers headed out again for one last run. Raikkonen went faster but was nowhere near Hamilton or Rosberg who did not improve and thus held their positions.

The top 10 at the end of Q3 were: Hamilton, Rosberg, R§ikk‚nen, Bottas, Grosjean, Maldonado, Hºlkenberg, Kvyat, Ricciardo and P©rez.

Dan Knutson - Montreal