Motor racing - Bottas on pole in Spain for third race in a row

By Alan Baldwin

 

Formula One F1 - Spanish Grand Prix - Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain - May 11, 2019 Mercedes' Valtteri Bottas during practice REUTERS/Juan Medina

 

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Formula One leader Valtteri Bottas put his Mercedes on pole position by a massive margin at the Spanish Grand Prix on Saturday with team mate Lewis Hamilton having to settle for second in a front row lockout.

 

The pole was a third in a row for the re-energised Finn, who leads Hamilton by a single point after four of the 21 races, and he did it in a track record time of one minute 15.406 seconds.

 

That was a hefty 0.634 quicker than Hamilton's best effort, dashing the five-times world champion's hopes of record-extending 85th career pole.

 

Sebastian Vettel qualified in third place, in 1:16.272, with Red Bull's 2016 Spanish Grand Prix winner Max Verstappen fourth and sandwiched between the Ferraris, with Charles Leclerc fifth.

 

"I really enjoyed that, enjoyed the adrenaline rush you get from those laps so I'm really pleased," said Bottas.

 

"The season has started well, the way I hoped for and I feel better and better in the car so I look forward to tomorrow," added the Finn, who will be chasing his third win of the season on Sunday.

 

Hamilton said his laps in the final phase of qualifying could have been better, with a scrappy first effort kicking up gravel, but the upgrades brought by Mercedes to the start of the traditional European part of the campaign were working well.

 

The Briton, winner for the past two seasons in Barcelona and three times in all, said Bottas had simply been quicker on the day.

 

"Valtteri did a fantastic job, he's been quick all weekend," said Hamilton. "On my side, I just didn't put the lap together... ultimately it just wasn't a good enough job.

 

"It's great for the team to have this one-two so we'll try and convert that into a one-two (on Sunday) and if I can reverse it I'll be happy."

 

Mercedes have won the first four races one-two, a record start for any team, despite Ferrari setting the pace in pre-season testing.

 

"I think we got everything out of the car in the first run," said Vettel. "In the second run I had to try something different and it didn't work.

 

"The car doesn't feel bad but obviously we are not quick enough. In terms of balance we got it more or less right," added the German, who said Ferrari were still down on grip through the slower corners.

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-05-12

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Yes, I'm getting ready for the usual Spanish Grand Prix, by making sure that I can sleep soundly in my chair while the whole boring precession goes on. I can't remember the last time I managed to stay awake and watch a whole GP from beginning to end. 

Ferrari only managed to match the times they set in winter testing while Mercedes bettered them by 1 second. As far as the race goes chances are it will be won at the first corner and with the slipstream Hamilton has a good chance of passing Bottas if his start isn’t 100% perfect.

 

Bottas has had a great start to the year but I would question if he has the mental strength to hold off Hamilton for a full season. Hamilton knows what it takes and has done it 5 times before.

2 hours ago, Pilotman said:

Yes, I'm getting ready for the usual Spanish Grand Prix, by making sure that I can sleep soundly in my chair while the whole boring precession goes on. I can't remember the last time I managed to stay awake and watch a whole GP from beginning to end. 

could save on your energy bill and use the off button...

1 hour ago, AJBangkok said:

Ferrari only managed to match the times they set in winter testing while Mercedes bettered them by 1 second. As far as the race goes chances are it will be won at the first corner and with the slipstream Hamilton has a good chance of passing Bottas if his start isn’t 100% perfect.

 

Bottas has had a great start to the year but I would question if he has the mental strength to hold off Hamilton for a full season. Hamilton knows what it takes and has done it 5 times before.

and Hamilton has always done better in the latter part of the season.

 

The real winner is the guy who makes the silverware cabinets for Mercedes though I would not like to be the guy who has to polish the lot.

40 minutes ago, Basil B said:

could save on your energy bill and use the off button...

yep, I don't know why I don't really. A 30 year habit I guess, like drinking  alcohol when you don't really need it,  or even like it that much.  

The TV should show more of 'what else' is happening in the race. I am tired of watching 98% of the race devoted to the top three teams and hardly a mention of the other teams. Like watching only 3 or 4 of the people playing football or rugby.