Formula 1 - Spanish Grand Prix 2014, Qualifying

After the first races overseas, the start of Formula 1 on the European mainland is now on the agenda. The teams have now had some time to make important changes and technical adjustments in order to perform better in future races. Lotus in particular seems to have managed this quite well.

by Rolf Fleckenstein

In Q1 in particular, some drivers still seemed to have to approach the race limit of the modified car. Pastor Maldonado in particular completely failed to do so. Maldonado's Lotus seemed to oversteer in the corners and he struggled with the car, so that he was carried out of the corner in one turn, caught himself again, but lost the car at the next turn until he finally crashed into the side: Red Flag/Race Interruption! Not a happy European start for Maldonado. Gutierrez takes the lead first, hope germinates among the Swiss supporters, has progress been made after all? Grosjean, the second Lotus driver, also has a braking problem in Q1. But Hamilton also ends up in the grass. But at the end of Q1, we see the usual starting order this year: Mercedes ahead of Red Bull in turns 1 and 2.

Q2 begins as Q1 ended: both Mercedes are in front. But a surprise follows: Grosjean on Lotus, who was still behind in Q1, moves up to 5th place ahead of Alonso, Massa, Button or Hülkenberg! A novelty in 2014! And Alonso has to tremble, only just in place Alonso saves himself into Q3 in his home country. Gutierrez on Sauber, however, ends up in 14th place, contrary to the hopes on the Swiss side, and is thus eliminated in Q2, after stablemate Sutil was already stuck in Q1. So again nothing for Sauber, no progress made?

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Nico Rosberg opens Q3 on soft tires, followed by Lewis Hamilton, the two want to fix the pole now. But while both are still on their race lap, Sebastian Vettel stops with his Red Bull. "No drive, no drive" sounds over the pit radio, the poor guy is really unlucky, that can't be, another technical defect? The result: another red flag = race interruption. Despite the screwed-up race time, both Mercedes drivers are not deterred and go on the hunt for record times again. Hamilton on 1, Rosberg on 2 and to the big surprise only 6 tenths behind Rosberg Ricciardo on 3. But now the Mercedes drivers want to know it, grab a new set of tires and go again to the absolute limit and get the front row with more than a whole second distance to the third-placed Daniel Ricciardo on Red Bull. This is proof of their current dominance. Biggest surprise of the day: Lotus driver Romain Grosjean in 5th place.

Qualifying GP Spain 2014
1 Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 1:27.238 1:26.210 1:25.232
2 Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, 1:26.764 1:26.088 1:25.400
3 Daniel Ricciardo, Red Bull Racing-Renault, 1:28.053 1:26.613 1:26.285
4 Valtteri Bottas, Williams-Mercedes, 1:28.198 1:27.563 1:26.632
5 Romain Grosjean, Lotus-Renault, 1:28.472 1:27.258 1:26.960
6 Kimi Raikkonen, Ferrari, 1:28.308 1:27.335 1:27.104
7 Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, 1:28.329 1:27.602 1:27.140
8 Jenson Button, McLaren-Mercedes, 1:28.279 1:27.570 1:27.335
9 Felipe Massa, Williams-Mercedes, 1:28.061 1:27.016 1:27.402
10 Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing-Renault, 1:27.958 1:27.052 No time 11

11 Nico Hülkenberg, Force India, 1:28.155 1:27.685
12 Sergio Perez, Force India, 1:28.469 1:28.002
13 Daniil Kvyat, Toro Rosso, 1:28.074 1:28.039
14 Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber, 1:28.374 1:28.280
15 Kevin Magnussen, McLaren, 1:28.389 No time
16 Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso 1:28.194 No time

17 Adrian Sutil, Sauber, 1:28.563
18 Max Chilton, Marussia 1:29.586
19 Jules Bianchi, Marussia, 1:30.177
20 Marcus Ericsson, Caterham, 1:30.312
21 Kamui Kobayashi, Caterham, 1:30.375
22 Pastor Maldonado, Lotus, No time