Bahrain GP: Mixed qualifying results for Williams Racing

Team Summary:
The first car out in the opening period would be a Williams with Verstappen out next. The Williams would pit without setting a time as more drivers started to come out including the second Williams. A 1m:28.885 from Verstappen to be quickest. The track was now very busy with all twenty cars out on the track including now both Williams. Hamilton was now quickest with a 1m:28.343 followed by Bottas and Verstappen. Gasly was now in fourth followed by Sainz, Perez, Ocon, Albon, Norris and Vettel tenth. Leclerc was down in 15th after been delayed in his first run. There was a large number of drivers returning for second runs including both Williams and both Mercedes. The second runs would see Hamilton remain fastest but Stroll was now second from Albon, Bottas, Verstappen, Gasly, Sainz, Ricciardo, Leclerc, and Vettel tenth. One Williams car would make it into the second period.

With the start of the second period the would be a rush of drivers all coming out on the medium tyre. Both Alpha Tauri cars were on the soft tyre. But the session would be red flagged when Sainz would spin with a failure in his car and his car was stuck at the side of the track. All those out on the track as this time would lose that edge off their tyres except the Williams who had not come out. There would be nine minutes left in the period. The period would restart with just four cars coming out followed by both Mercedes. All were still on the medium tyre. Verstappen would set a 1m:28.025 to be quickest followed by Albon in second.

Norris was now third followed by Perez. Hamilton was now quickest with a 1m:27.586 from Verstappen with Bottas now only in third. Williams would send their remaining car out using the soft tyre. The top three would remain in their pits but the rest were all out some using the soft tyre. With the runs completed it would be Hamilton fastest from Verstappen, Bottas, Ricciardo, Albon, Norris, Perez, Ocon, Kyat, and Gasly tenth. The remaining Williams would finish in 14th with the reason that his time was off his Q1 pace was due to him running on a set of used soft tyres.

The final period would get underway with all ten cars all out on the soft tyre. After the first runs it would be Hamilton fastest with a 1m:27.677 from Verstappen, Bottas, Perez, Gasly, Ocon, Albon, Norris, Kvyat and Ricciardo tenth. The second runs would see Hamilton go quicker with a 1m:27.264 followed by Bottas, Verstappen, Albon, Perez, Ricciardo, Ocon, Gasly, Norris and Kvyat tenth. For Williams Racing it was a very much mixed qualifying with George finishing in 14th and Nicholas in a disappointing 20th. Both drivers will be able to have their choice of tyre for the race start but expect that to be medium.

George Russell:
George would be the first car out in the opening period of qualifying. He was running on the soft tyre. But George would abort his lap pitting without setting a time. George would return for another run and he would set a 1m:30.217 to currently be fourth. he would quickly drop to 16th and would pit after a three lap run. With three minutes remaining George would come out for a second timed run. George was on an improved lap and would finish with a 1m:29.294 to be eighth quickest. He would drop to 14th and would remain in that position and make it into Q2. With the start of the second period George would be late coming out. He would finally come out using the soft tyre with three minutes remaining. he would set a 1m:31. 31.218 which would see him 14th at the end of the period. It was confirmed that George was on a set of used tyres explaining his slow pace compared to his Q1 time but his position was till a great result.

Nicholas Latifi:
As his team-mate returned to the pits Nicholas would come out for his first soft tyre run. Nicholas would set a 1m:30.749 to be a very temporary second. he would drop to tenth then eleventh as more times were set. This would become 20th and slowest as he pitted after a three lap run. he would return for a second run on the soft tyre. He was able to improve with a 1m:30.182 but remained 20th and out of qualifying.