Qualifying at Silverstone

Over the last few days, Formula One is set to lose another constant. Mark Webber released that he will be leaving F1 for le Mans at the end of the season. With this in the mind of many fans, they are hoping that Webber will repeat his 2012 year. Taking pole and the win.

With a warm, sunny day, qualifying started at Silverstone. First car out on track was Nico Hülkenberg in the Williams followed closely by his teammate Esteban Gutiérrez .

As Q1 dropped under the 15 minute mark, the wind began to pick up a little. It doesn't seem like much but wind has always been an issue on this circuit (which is a big open airfield). It has always been a challenge when a gust can significantly change the balance of the car.

It's easy to see why the grandstands do not look as full during qualifying as they do during the race. When you see some drivers exit the it to take one flying lap and return. When the split between the two 'race' is so far that the top teams and drives do no feel it necessary to stay out ad run. Fully understanding that if they have a time in the top five is Q1, there is no worry of being knocked out.

The first session in qualifying at Silverstone did not bring out much unexpected. The only major difference from Montreal to Silverstone is Valtteri Bottas. Ending qualifying in Canada in P3 compared to Great Britian in P18. 

Eliminated drivers after that first segment:

17) Valtteri Bottas 1:32.664s
18) Esteban Gutiérrez 1:32.666s
19) Charles Pic 1:33.866s
20) Jules Bianchi 1:34.108s
21) Giedo Van der Garde 1:35.481s
22) Max Chilton 1:35.858s

Q2 begins and with the cars going round, the track was getting a layer of rubber laid down. Making the times  start to drop.

For the first 12 minutes of Q2, it looked more like a practice session then a qualifying. Car were on track but no one seemed to really be putting in a 'good effort'. That was until the last four or five minutes. 

When Vettel set the sessions fastest time with four minutes left. The remaining drivers started to really pick up their pace. For some of the drivers, they were able to keep up. For others through, not so much.

A big disappointment all around the paddock and track was the lack of McLaren's in the top ten shoot out. Both Button and Perez failed to make it though the cut off.

With a busy end to the qualifying segment. Here are the six drivers who have been eliminated:

11) Jenson Button 1:31.649s
12) Felipe Massa 1:31.779s
13) Jean-Éric Vergne 1:31.785s
14) Sergio Perez 1:32.082s
15) Nico Hülkenberg 1:32.211s
16) Pastor Maldonado 1:32.359s

The moment the Top Ten Shootout began, the racing was on.

Even with five minutes left in the session, the times were beginning to flirt with the 1:20's. First you have Mark Webber, who is trying for his best (as this is in final race at Silvestone), then you have Sebastian Vettel, who will do anything to be first. And then Lewis Hamilton, who just wants to make his hometown crowd happy.

The timing begins to tick down to the last minute and all ten drivers make their way onto track. Times continue to drop and the checkered flag came out. Even through the flag was waiving, the racing continued. Many of the quickest laps come under the pressure of the final lap and Silverstone was no different. Lewis Hamilton took his 28th pole position with an astonishing time of 1:29.607.

With times like that in qualifying, Sunday should prove to be quite and interesting race!

Lewis Hamilton	P1
Nico Rosberg	P2
Sebastian Vettel	P3
Mark Webber	P4
Paul di Resta	P5
Daniel Ricciardo	P6
Adrian Sutil	P7
Romain Grosjean	P8
Kimi Räikkönen	P9
Fernando Alonso	P10
Jenson Button	P11
Felipe Massa	P12
Jean-Éric Vergne	P13
Sergio Perez	P14
Nico Hülkenberg	P15
Pastor Maldonado	P16
Valtteri Bottas	P17
Esteban Gutiérrez	P18
Charles Pic	P19
Jules Bianchi	P20
Giedo van der Garde	P21
Max Chilton	P22