Monaco GP: Qualifying lift for Williams Racing

Team Summary:
After a very difficult final practice session seeing both George Russell and Nicholas Latifi lacking pace plus Nicholas damaging his car in a crash added to the teams dramas. Now it was the opening period of qualifying and firstly Schumacher would not be running after crashing hi car and for Williams they would come out early both on the soft. But they were joined by a rush of drivers also on the soft tyre. As the times came Norris would be quickest with a 1m:12.676 from Verstappen and Giovinazzi. After their first runs the Williams drivers were 15th and 16th. At the front Sainz was now quickest with a time of 1m:11.341 from Verstappen and Bottas.

Stroll was fourth followed by Norris and Hamilton. But the times were getting much faster with a 1m:10.938 from Bottas to be quickest. The Williams drivers were now 17th and 18th and back out for their second soft tyre runs. Leclerc was now second from Verstappen and Norris with Sainz now fifth. Gasly was sixth followed by Hamilton, Perez, Ricciardo and Stroll tenth as the period came to an end. But with the last laps were completed Giovinazzi was now ninth and Ocon tenth. The Williams drivers were 14th and 18th at the end of the period.

The second period would commence with all fifteen cars out early and all on the soft tyre. Stroll would send a 1m:11.876 but was quickly passed as Leclerc went fastest with a 1m:11.037 only to see Sainz go quicker with a 1m:10.806. Verstappen was third followed by Hamilton and Bottas. But Norris would move into second ahead of Leclerc. Verstappen was able to set a 1m:10.650 to move to the top of the times. the remaining Williams was 15th as the track emptied with drivers returning to change to new tyres. Just as quickly they would return with just under five minutes remaining. Verstappen was now fastest with a 1m:10.650 followed by Sainz and Leclerc. But Bottas would move into third with Sainz now fourth followed by Perez, Norris, Hamilton, Gasly, Vettel and Giovinazzi tenth. For Williams the second of their cars would finish Q2 in 15th so the pair will start from 15th and 18th.

The final period would see the first runs being completed and it would be Leclerc quickest from Verstappen and Sainz third. Bottas was fourth but would move into third with Sainz now fourth from Gasly, Hamilton, Vettel, Perez, Giovinazzi and Norris tenth. But Norris was able to go fifth behind Sainz as the top ten pitted. The second runs would commence and as the drivers went through their final runs we would be presented with the Ferrari of Leclerc crashed against the barrier coming out of the swimming pool exit. The period would not be restarted seeing Leclerc retain pole from Verstappen, Bottas, Sainz, Norris, Gasly, Hamilton, Vettel, Perez, and Giovinazzi tenth. So with qualifying completed we would see the Williams Racing Team drivers in 15th and 18th. What they can produce in Sunday's race from these positions will be a difficult call but one thing with Monaco it does produce some unusual results.

George Russell:
On the soft tyre and George was out first for Williams. A 1m:17.80 as George said the tyres were not ready. A 1m:16.440 and George was 12th dropping to 13th. He would improve with a 1m:13.969 to be 9th dropping to 11th. He would dropt to 15th as others went quicker. A 1m:13.565 and George would now be 16th.He would drop to 18th as he pitted after a six lap run. A 1m:12.460 from George would see him 12th. A 1m:12.016 would see him now 10th dropping to 11th. As the period ended George would drop to 14th. But with the end of the period he would make it into Q2. With the start of the second period George would tell the team to wait a bit before they sent him away with lots of cars at the pit exit. He would set a 1m:13.273 to be 14th after his first flying lap. He would drop to 15th even with a 1m:12.176. After a four lap run George would pit. George would be one of the first out for his second run. A 1m:11.977 from George to now be 13th dropping to 14th. A 1m:11.830 would see George 13th but would drop to 15th and with the end of the period was out of qualifying. Regardless another great effort from Mr Saturday.

Nicholas Latifi:
With his car repaired Nicholas was out early on the soft tyre. On his first lap a 1m:23.3476 no doubt as he checked his car out. A 1m:14.132 and Nicholas was 9th dropping to 11th. This would become 16th but a 1m:13.049 would see Nicholas now 16th and ahead of his team-mate. This would become 17th as he pitted after a six lap run. A 1m:12.422 from Nicholas was only good enough for 16th and this would become 18th and as such out of qualifying.