Mercedes-GP drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg closed out the front row for Sunday’s race. But here are some of the interesting storylines to emerge from qualifying.
Red Bull mix it up
While the majority of the front-runners will start on the ultrasoft compound, Red Bull Racing have chosen to go on the supersoft tyre. They ran it in the second part of qualifying, the session that decides on which tyres the top 10 will start the race on. Not as fast as the ultrasoft, it is more durable, and it will allow Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen to run a longer first stint than their rivals.
Raikkonen keeps good form
The 2007 champion has been much closer on pace to Ferrari teammate Sebastian Vettel in the second half of the season, and the Finn highlighted that again in qualifying. He was fourth compared to the German’s fifth and will want to maintain this form into next year.
Massa still has it
Felipe Massa is defending a rare achievement going into the final race of his Formula One career. The Brazilian is the only driver to have scored points in every race at Yas Marina Circuit he has raced in. The Williams man qualified 10th and if he holds that position he will keep that run going, which began in 2010, having not competed in the 2009 race.
Wehrlein’s good timing
Pascal Wehrlein did his hopes of staying in F1 in 2017 no harm with an impressive display to qualify 16th for Manor Racing. The German is without a confirmed seat for next year, but reaching the second part of qualifying will have boosted his negotiating power. He has been linked with staying with Manor and a move to Sauber.
Toro Rosso’s tough weekend
A lack of track time caught up with the Toro Rosso team as Daniil Kvyat was only 17th and Carlos Sainz Jr 21st in qualifying, their worst performance on a Saturday this year. The team missed most of practice dealing with suspension issues that caused Kvyat to twice have left-rear punctures on Friday.
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