Sakhir GP: Close fight in Williams Racing Qualifying


By Andrew Hooper
December 6 2020

The results of the 2020 Sakhir GP qualifying would see the Williams Racing drivers finiish in 17th and 18th, with Nicholas Latifi leading Jack Aitken. The team knowledge the fact that it was going to be difficult to make it past Q1 but the session did produce a close fight between Nicholas and newcomer Jack. The pair would both admit to not getting the best from their qualifying runs but for Jack to be so close to team-mate Nicholas was a great performance. Now it is all about trying to optimise Sunday's race and take advantage of any situations that may develop.

 
 Williams Racing Sakhir GP Qualifying
 
Aitken
 

Team Summary:
The open eighteen minute period of qualifying for the 2020 Sakhir GP would commence with the Haas cars out first straight onto the soft tyre. Both Williams drivers were out using the soft tyre joined by Raikkonen. The first time was a 0:55.884 from Fittipaldi only to see Magnussen set a 0:55.464. Sainz would go quickest with a 0:55.334 followed by Magnussen, Raikkonen, and the two Williams drivers who were currently fourth and fifth. Gasly would go quickest only to see Leclerc go quicker with 0:54.917 but Kvyat on the medium would go second. Bottas was now quickest with a 0:54.267 but Perez would move ahead with a 0:54.267 followed by Bottas, Stroll, Russell, and Kvyat fifth. As more times were set Verstappen was quickest with a 0:54.037 using the soft tyre. Perez was second with Ricciardo now third all on the soft tyre. Bottas was now fourth but had used the medium tyre. Albon was fifth followed by Stroll.

Both Bottas and Russell had returned but this time on the soft tyre. The Williams drivers were 16th and 17th after their second soft tyre runs. Both Williams would return for a third run on the soft tyre. Gasly was now in second becoming third as Bottas went fastest with a 09:53.904. Verstappen was second now followed by Russell and Gasly. But with the end of the period both Williams drivers were out of qualifying but they did perform their best. Jack did make one small mistake at the final corner which possibly could have seen him move into Q2. But it was not to be but Jack's performance was impressive given his total lack of experience in the FW43.

The second period would see both Mercedes set their times on the medium tyre but it was Verstappen who was quickest with a 0:53.647 followed by Perez, Bottas, Sainz, Russell. Leclerc, Stroll, Kvyat, Ricciardo and Gasly tenth. On their second runs both Mercedes had continued to use the medium tyre but everyone else were on the soft tyre. The final period would see Verstappen quickest after the first run with Leclerc second. Bottas was third followed by Perez, Russell, Ricciardo, Sainz, Stroll, Gasly ad Kvyat. But both Mercedes were on used tyres for their first runs. On his next run Bottas would set a 0:53.377 followed now by Russell. The final runs would see Bottas retain his pole from Russell with Verstappen third. Leclerc was fourth followed by Perez, Kvyat, Ricciardo, Sainz, Gasly and Stroll tenth.

 
Latifi
 
Aitken
 

Jack Aitken:
Jack would follow his team-mate out also using the soft tyre. Jack would set a 0:55.580 to be ahead of Nicholas. He would pit after a three lap run. As more times were set he would drop to 14th. Jack would return now in 18th dropping to 19th as a Haas went quicker. Jack would set a 0:55.113 to be 15th and again ahead of his team-mate. He would pit after another three lap run. Jack had set a 0:54.892 but was now in 18th. But Jack had made a mistake at the last corner which most likely stopped him from finishing in front of his team-mate. With the end of the period Jack would finish in 18th but ahead of the more experienced Raikkonen.

Nicholas Latifi:
Nicholas would be first out for Williams using the soft tyre. Nicholas would set a 0:56.608 to be third behind his team-mate. Nicholas would pit after a five lap run. With eight minutes completed Nicholas was currently 15th. he has dropped to 20th but his next run would see him 14th dropping to 16th to be behind his team-mate. Nicholas would set a 0:54.796 to currently be 17th and with the end of the period out of qualifying.

 

Latifi

 

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Sakhir GP: Close fight in Williams Racing Qualifying
Discussion started by Williams F1 , 06/12/2020 05:51
Williams F1
06/12/2020 05:51
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