Weather dictates unpredictable F1 qualifying at Silverstone - Rosberg takes pole position ahead of surprising grid lineup
Published by Christine
Each of the three qualifying sessions for the British Grand Prix featured the same pattern - on and off again rain that meant tyre decisions were crucial. In the first session, both Ferrari and Williams left it too late to send their drivers back out on a drying track before the rain kicked in again, meaning Alonso, Räikkönen, Bottas and Massa all dropped out in Q1.
The second session was slightly more manageable, but saw both Sauber drivers out of it. Adrian Sutil had ended up in the gravel in Q1 and was unable to take part, whilst Esteban Gutiérrez spun backwards into the barrier in Q2. Jules Bianchi and Max Chilton, both through to the second session, ended up 12th and 13th in a great qualifying for Marussia.
The top ten shoot-out saw Hamilton take an early pole position and the rain move in once more. Some drivers opted for a tentative final run and found conditions to have improved, but Hamilton gave up on his final lap. That allowed Rosberg to snatch pole, Vettel to move into second and a surprising Jenson Button and Nico Hülkenberg to secure second row grid slots. Hamilton ended up in sixth place, with Daniel Ricciardo down in eighth.
