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Hamilton grabs pole, Vettel second for Spanish GP

Published on 13 May 2017 14:54
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By: Fergal Walsh

Lewis Hamilton has taken pole position for the Spanish Grand Prix, after setting a lap time of 1:19.149. His time was only half a tenth faster than that of Sebastian Vettel, who will start alongside the Brit on the front row tomorrow.

It was an all-Finnish second row as Valtteri Bottas got ahead of Kimi Raikkonen by half a tenth also. Max Verstappen got the better of his teammate Daniel Ricciardo and will start in front of the Australian for tomorrow's race.

As the green light was issued, there was no heavy rush to depart from the garages. However, the McLaren of Stoffel Vandoorne was first to take to the track.

He was then followed by Sebastian Vettel who appeared to be going unusually slowly. There was then a call over the team radio, with management asking for Vettel to stop out on track. However, he was able to keep going and set a lap good enough to put himself into Q2.

Bottas crossed the line next and set a lap one tenth slower than Vettel before Hamilton blitzed ahead of both going four tenths up on Vettel's time. Raikkonen could only go fourth.

There was a heavy scrap to get into Q3 with many drivers improving their times. Stroll couldn't produce the maximum from his car, while Kvyat reported that something was wrong with his Toro Rosso, not allowing him to make any gains.

Drivers out after Q1: Ericsson, Palmer, Stroll, Vandoorne & Kvyat

Raikkonen ventured out first, followed closely by Hamilton as it appeared both Ferrari and Mercedes wanted to get their runs in early. Hamilton set the pace with a 1:20.210.

Raikkonen couldn't get close, unlike teammate Sebastian Vettel, who's time was less than a tenth behind Hamilton who ended the session on top. Verstappen was once again faster than teammate Daniel Ricciardo.

The battle for the top ten followed, with all drivers improving. Alonso made an impressive jump to P7 but was pushed down by Perez and Ocon.

It still looked likely for the Spaniard however, and then Romain Grosjean made a mistake at turn 13 once again and failed to improve, handing a spot to McLaren in the final qualifying session.

Drivers out after Q2: Magnussen, Sainz, Hulkenberg, Grosjean & Wehrlein

The session started with both Mercedes' heading out in front of the Ferrari's and it was all building up nicely to a mega climax as we waited to see who would come out on top.

Bottas set the initial fastest time, but Hamilton knocked him off the top spot by going two-tenths faster. Vettel then crossed the line but was a long way off Hamilton's time, with Raikkonen just ahead of his teammate.

On the final runs, Ferrari looked much quicker in the second sector but Vettel couldn't do enough to take his second pole position of the season, finishing a mere half a tenth of a second away from Hamilton.

Fernando Alonso set an absolutely sensational lap in a struggling McLaren-Honda and will line-up seventh on the grid. Sergio Perez will sit alongside him on the fourth row, while Felipe Massa and Esteban Ocon completed the top ten.

BREAKING: @LewisHamilton takes pole for Sunday’s #SpanishGP ?? Vettel second, Bottas third #F1 pic.twitter.com/hfoWi1pZh6
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 13, 2017