Belgian GP: Williams Racing qualifying sees mixed result

By Andrew Hooper
August 29 2020

Qualifying for the 2020 Belgian GP would see a mixed result for the Williams Racing Team with George Russell making into the second period of qualifying and finishing in 15th. But for team-mate Nicholas Latifi the session proved to still be a difficult exercise for him finising in 19th. George would be plased to see the result given that he had previously felt that the FW43 would struggle on this s circuit. Now it comes down to Sunday's race. Hopefully it will go better than has been the previous few.

Williams Racing Belgian GP Qualifying

Team Summary:
With the start of qualifying it would see both Haas cars take to the track for the opening eighteen minute period. Both were on the soft tyre. Grosjean was quickest with a 1m:45.073 followed by Magnussen. There would be a rush of drivers all coming out for soft tyre runs including both Williams cars. Both Haas cars would pit. Every other car as now out on the track also for their first runs. There would be flood of times coming in as Verstappen went fastest with a 1m:43.408 followed by Gasly. Both Sainz was now fastest with a 1m:43.322 only to be beaten by Ricciardo. At the front it would now be Hamilton fastest with a 1m:42.323 followed by Bottas, Ricciardo, Sainz, Verstappen, Albon, Stroll, Gasly, Ocon and Perez tenth.

The Williams drivers were 13th and 16th while Magnussen was in 17th. Verstappen was now in third behind Bottas. The track was now quite as the final five minutes started. There was a rush of drivers coming out for their second soft tyre runs including both Williams. The top six were still in their garages. But Bottas would join the cars that were using the second runs. The session would end but drivers had yet to complete their laps. With all the runs completed the order was Hamilton, Bottas, Verstappen, Gasly, Stroll, Kvyat, Ricciardo, Sainz, Perez and Albon. Both Ferrari's had made it into Q2 while for Williams they would finish in 14th and 19th with George making it into the second period.

The second period would get underway with both Mercedes coming out on the medium tyre. All fifteen drivers were out with the remaining Williams out again on the soft tyre. Verstappen and both Racing Points were also on the medium tyre. After their runs Hamilton was again quickest with a 1m:42.104 with Bottas second as they both pitted. Verstappen was third followed by Ricciardo, Ocon, Albon, Gasly, Norris, Sainz and Kvyat tenth. The whole fifteen cars would come back for soft tyre runs as the only Williams moved into 13th dropping to 14th. The top ten would would be Hamilton, Bottas, Albon, Verstappen, Sainz, Ricciardo, Stroll, Ocon, Perez and Norris tenth. So with their qualifying over Williams racing would see their drivers in 15th and 19th.

The final period of qualifying would see Hamilton fastest with a 1m:41.451 followed by Bottas, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Albon, Sainz, Ocon, Perez, Stroll and Norris tenth. After the second runs Hamilton would remain quickest with a 1m:41.252 still followed by Bottas, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Albon, Ocon, Sainz, Perez, Stroll and Norris remained in tenth. As for Williams to have one car into the second period with the pair finishing in 15th and 19th. A positive result for the team as they continue their steps forward.

George Russell:
George would join a rush of drivers coming out for his soft tyre run. George would set a 1m:44.142 to be 11th. He would drop to 13th as he pitted. George had completed a three lap run. A change of tyres and George was back out on a new set of soft tyres. George would set a 1m:43.630 to be 12th but would drop to 14th. George would say that he wasn't expecting that. George would take to the track for the second period but would pit without setting a time. But with three minutes remaining George would return on another set of soft tyres. George would set a 1m:43.468 to be 13th dropping to 14th. This would become 15th with the Ferrari's just ahead of him. But he was out of qualifying despite what was a fantastic effort.

Nicholas Latifi:
Nicholas would also come out for his first soft tyre run with thirteen minutes remaining. Nicholas would set a 1m:44.429 to currently be 16th. Nicholas would pit after a three lap run. Nicholas would come out for a second run but with all the traffic he would only set a 1m:44.138 to finish in 19th. This would see his qualifying come to an end.

Russell