French GP: Williams Martini Qualifying again a struggle

Team Summary:
With the rain stopped the opening eighteen minute period of qualifying would see a rush of drivers coming out including both Williams. Everyone was on the ultrasoft tyre after after the early runs it would be Grosjean quickest with a 1m:32.466. The Williams pair were in 11th and 12th. Magnussen was second followed by Leclerc, Sainz, and Hulkenberg. Quicker drivers were now on their first timed laps and it would be Verstappen who wqould go quickest with a 1m:31.823. But Hamilton and BOttas would move to the top of the times with Hamilton quickest with a 1m:31.589. But Raikkonen would go quicker with a 1m:31.567. Vettel was in fifth behind Bottas.

The Williams drivers had dropped to 19th and 20th as Ricciardo went 7th. Verstappen would improve to be fastest with a 1m:31.531 but Hamilton would move ahead with a 1m:31.271. Both Williams drivers weer back out fr their second runs on new ultrasoft tyres. With four minutes remaining the order was Hamitlon, Verstappen, Raikkonen, Bottas, Ricciardo, Vettel, Grosjean, Magnussen, Sainz and Leclerc tenth. The Williams drivers were slowest sadly as the period ended. Both were out of qualifying.

With the start of the second period the Red Bull and Mercedes cars were on the supersoft tyre indicating an alternative strategy. The rest of the field were all on the ultrasoft tyre. After the first runs Hamilton was quickest with a 1m:30.645 followed by Bottas, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Sainz, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Vettel, Gasly, and Magnussen tenth. Vettel would improve to be second with Raikkonen going third. Bottas was now fourth followed by Ricciardo and Verstappen. After the second runs the order was Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Verstappen, who remained on the soift tyre, Bottas, Grosjean, Magnussen, Ricciardo, Sainz, and Leclerc in tenth.

The first runs in the final period would see Hamilton fastest with a 1m:30.22 followed by Bottas, Vettel, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, and Sainz. But Grosjean would crash at Turn five seeing the red flag come out. Neither Hass or Leclerc had set a time. With the restart Raikkonen was first out. At the end it would be Hamilton quickest from Bottas and Vettel. Verstappen was fourth followed by Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Sainz, Leclerc, Magnussen and Grosjean would not set a time. For the Williams team tomorrow will bring another race that is going to be a massive struggle with the drivers starting at the rear of the grid.

Lance Stroll:
Lance would take to the track for his first run using new ultrasoft tyres. Lance would set a 1m:34.725 to be quickest. But he would quickly drop to 11th. A 1m:34.221 from Lance but he had dropped to 19th and had pitted. Lance's second run would see him fail to improve remaining slowest. Lance would run wide at Turn 3 going over the kerb seeing his car take off briefly. Lance would set a 1m:33.729 but remained 20th.

Sergey Sirotkin:
Sergey would join his team-mate also using the ultrasoft tyre. A 1m:34.752 would see him right behind his team-mate. He would drop to 12th and slowest. He would improve with a 1m:32.204 prior to pitting currently 18th. On his second run Sergey would improve with a 1m:33.636 but remained 19th. It was reported that Sergey may have impeded Hulkenberg. No further action was taken on this matter.