Two red flags in qualifying can’t halt Hamilton’s charge - Maldonado and Vettel stop proceedings, as Mercedes top the times
Published by Christine
Pastor Maldonado brought out the first red flag in qualifying in Spain, just five minutes into the first session, when he hit the kerbs awkwardly and spun off into the wall. The Lotus was retrieved allowing the session to continue without him.
At the other end of qualifying, Sebastian Vettel also caused a red flag period in the final top ten shoot-out, after his Red Bull stopped out on track with a gearbox problem. He, thus, qualified tenth and last in that session, and was then given a five place grid penalty for his trouble. Teammate Daniel Ricciardo was best of the rest up in third, with Lewis Hamilton sweeping to his fourth pole position of the season.
Romain Grosjean boosted the spirits at Lotus somewhat by finishing in fifth, just behind Valtteri Bottas who put in an impressive run for fourth. Home favourite Fernando Alonso disappointed the crowds by dropping back behind teammate Kimi Räikkönen in seventh, whilst Jenson Button clawed into the top ten, after Kevin Magnussen’s McLaren developed a power unit issue that stopped him participating in Q2.
