Brazilian Grand Prix Qualifying: Rosberg Edges Hamilton To Pole

Nico Rosberg saw off challenges from both Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa to take pole position for tomorrow’s Brazilian Grand Prix.

Rosberg set a record time of 1:10.023, just .033 faster than teammate Hamilton who could have been on pole himself if it wasn’t for a lock up in the middle sector. Whilst Hamilton took provisional pole it was only time before the man that has topped every session this weekend reclaimed the top spot.

Snug! RT @F1: Nico claims pole for #BrazilGP, just 0.033s ahead of his @MercedesAMGF1 team mate Lewis #F1 pic.twitter.com/lYA8zqTdKL

— MERCEDES AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) November 8, 2014

Throughout the session it was clear that whilst Mercedes were ahead of the pack, Williams were too a force to be reckoned with, Felipe Massa will line up an impressive third tomorrow at his home race and shares the second row of the grid with teammate Valtteri Bottas.

Behind the Mercedes and Williams battle it was Jenson Button that impressed, the Brit recovered well from a horrid Friday practice to go fifth fastest, ahead of four time world champion Sebastian Vettel. Red Bull expected to struggle at this circuit, those predictions were proven right as Daniel Ricciardo in the sister Red Bull could only manage ninth.

Ricciardo is the meat in a Ferrari sandwich, for company the Australian has Fernando Alonso ahead of him with Kimi Raikkonen in his mirrors in tenth place. Alonso was furious over team radio with the lack of power coming from his ERS. In Q1 the Lotus of Pastor Maldonado seemed to breeze past the Ferrari of Alonso on the pit straight which angered the Spaniard.

It was short… and not that sweet. Qualifying recap is available at: http://t.co/P2lysnQ0ax #BrazilGP

— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) November 8, 2014

Sauber seemed to carry over their good form from last weekend in the US, Esteban Gutierrez who is currently without a seat for next season slightly missed out on a chance in the top-ten shootout and will line up tomorrow in eleventh place, today’s performance could go a long was in saving his Formula 1 career.

Teammate Adrian Sutil who has also been given the boot by Sauber was narrowly beaten by Force India’s Nico Hulkenberg who could only managed twelfth place. Meanwhile across the garage at Force India, Sergio Perez continues to endure a tough weekend. The Mexican who went into this weekend with a seven-place grid penalty due to his collision with Sutil last weekend could only manage to set the second slowest time.

As well as Sergio Perez, Daniil Kvyat also has a penalty, the Russian’s penalty carries over from Texas after using a sixth engine, he too drops seven places.

Below is the grid for the 2014 Brazilian Grand Prix: