2016 JAPANESE GP: NICO ROSBERG CLAIMS POLE FOR MERCEDES AMG

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg has claimed pole position for the Japanese Grand Prix, setting the fastest time of the weekend so far that was around two seconds faster than last year’s pole. Following some overnight rain, qualifying remained completely dry

Everyone used just the soft tyre from Q2 onwards. In Q3 the drivers did two runs (apart from Force India and Haas), timing the final laps for the very end of the session in order to benefit from track evolution.

Tomorrow is expected to stay dry but the possibility of showers remains, with similar track temperatures to the 26 degrees centigrade seen today.

2016 Japanese Grand Prix, Qualifying

 P.     DRIVER           TEAM        TIME     GAP 
 1. Nico Rosberg      Mercedes AMG 1:32.584
 2. Lewis Hamilton    Mercedes AMG 1:32.660 +0.013
 3. Kimi Raikkonen    Ferrari      1:33.024 +0.302
 4. Sebastian Vettel  Ferrari*     1:33.245 +0.381
 5. Max Verstappen    Red Bull     1:33.337 +0.531
 6. Daniel Ricciardo  Red Bull     1:33.347 +0.593
 7. Sergio Perez      Force India  1:33.497 +1.314
 8. Romain Grosjean   Haas         1:33.967 +1.314
 9. Nico Hulkenberg   Force India  1:33.967 +1.495
10. Esteban Gutierrez Haas         1:33.967 +1.900
   * penalty 3 grid places
   Q2 Fastest time: Nico Rosberg 1:30.714         
11. Valtteri Bottas   Williams     1:32.315 +1.601
12. Felipe Massa      Williams     1:32.380 +1.667
13. Daniil Kvyat      Toro Rosso   1:32.623 +1.909
14. Carlos Sainz JR.  Toro Rosso   1:32.685 +1.971
15. Fernando Alonso   McLaren      1:32.689 +1.975
16. Jolyon Palmer     Renault      1:32.807 +2.093
   Q1 Fastest Time: Sebastian Vettel 1:31.659     
17. Jenson Button     McLaren      1:32.851 +1.192
18. Kevin Magnussen   Renault      1:33.023 +1.367
19. Marcus Ericsson   Sauber       1:33.222 +1.563
20. Felipe Nasr       Sauber       1:33.332 +1.673
21. Esteban Ocon      Manor        1:33.353 +1.694
22. Pascal Wehrlein   Manor        1:33.561 +1.902
    107% time: 1:35.975

Nico for Sky F1...