Nico Rosberg claimed pole position for Sunday’s European Grand Prix with his teammate Lewis Hamilton only tenth.
In a chaotic session in which both Mercedes’ touched the wall, Rosberg was able to put in the best time of 1:42.578 to lead Sergio Perez in the Force India, who’s first run was enough to claim a front row start.
Sadly for the Mexican, a crash in final practice meant a gearbox change and as a result, he starts seventh.
Lewis Hamilton hit the wall at turn ten on his second lap, after going down the escape road on his first, breaking his front-right suspension and causing a red flag.
With two minutes left Daniel Ricciardo got out first for the restart and used it to his advantage beating the Ferrari’s to claim what will become second on the grid on Sunday. Indeed, by behind ahead of Sebastian Vettel on the track, he earned that position as both set an identical time.
Kimi Raikkonen will start fourth with Felipe Massa only fifth in a disappointing session for Williams.
Daniil Kvyat enjoyed his best qualifying since returning to Toro Rosso and will be the last man promoted after Perez’s penalty in sixth.
Max Verstappen and Bottas got involved in a squabble at turn one on their final runs meaning neither improved. It was the second time they had done so in the session but it meant the Finn will start eighth with the Dutchman in ninth alongside Hamilton.
At the start of the session, there was a few concerns for Sebastian Vettel as an ECU problem needed a little longer than ideal to be rectified.
He was fine, despite a few trips down various escape roads, but there was one notable casualty in the first segment.
Jenson Button was unable to get a clean lap together in the McLaren and two yellow flags on his final effort meant he aborted his lap and will only start 19th.
Around him was the usual suspects. Manor used their strong Mercedes power unit to enjoy their best qualifying of the year. Rio Haryanto just missed out on Q2 in 17th with teammate Pascal Wehrlein one place behind him.
Marcus Ericsson made it a horrible day for Renault as the Swede’s late effort promoted him to 20th leaving Kevin Magnussen and Jolyon Palmer together on the back row.
Into Q2 and Felipe Nasr was able to benefit from Button’s issues to get a Sauber through for the first time since China. The Brazilian couldn’t get any higher, however, and starts 16th.
The second segment almost caught out several top drivers as a spin for Nico Hulkenberg hampered the German as well as Daniel Ricciardo and Lewis Hamilton behind.
An error then by Hamilton at turn seven put him 10th and at risk with several top drivers capable of going faster, however, a steady final lap was enough to ensure his progression to the top ten.
Ricciardo was outside of the top ten after Hulkenberg’s early spin but he too recovered to put a good lap in to make Q3.
Hulkenberg pitted after his spin, but a communication error with his pit wall meant he couldn’t get a hot lap in and, after looking like achieving a possible top-six result after practice, had to settle for 12th.
Romain Grosjean is in a good position in 11th for Haas, while Carlos Sainz will be slightly disappointed in 13th. The Toro Rosso driver will his compatriot Fernando Alonso in the McLaren alongside with Esteban Gutierrez in the second Haas 15th.
Back at the front and for Nico Rosberg his task was made a lot easier after a scruffy day for Hamilton.
It would seem an easy task for the German to win, after Mercedes’ domination all weekend, but, as we have seen in other series, we can expect a heavily disrupted race.
There is also the start, which has been a major weakness for Mercedes, with the fast starting Ferrari’s behind and Ricciardo alongside all very much looking to capitalise into turn one.
Hamilton will look to put the Mercedes’ superior speed to good use along the main straight to make up for his bad Saturday but after two races of closing the gap on Rosberg, it might be damage limitation in Baku.
It’s a step into the unknown but, based on the events so far, it will be the one who keeps out of trouble who will take the checkered flag on Sunday. It promises to be very exciting indeed.
