After four years in the doldrums at Ferrari,
a visibly emotional Massa seemed overwhelmed to be top of the pile once
more. His last taste of champagne was so long ago that even his
four-year-old son Felipinho – who gave Massa a plastic figurine of World Cup
star Neymar ahead of the session – had not been born. It also predated his
life-threatening crash at Hungary in 2009.
Close to tears, the Brazilian said: “I’m so happy with what’s happened today
for us. It was such a great moment. After a long time that I couldn’t be in
this place, hopefully this is the beginning of some great possibilities, not
just in qualifying but in the race. It’s very emotional for me. He
[Felipinho] never saw me in the first place, so it’s the first time. It’s
make a father feel nice. It’s a great feeling.”
Hamilton was left with contrasting emotions after squandering another golden
opportunity. “I haven’t helped myself today,” the 29-year-old admitted. If
he misses out on a second championship this year, untimely mistakes like
those displayed here with surely haunt him. The Briton is always talking
about how much he misses race through the field: in Austria it becomes a
necessity.
Hamilton said: “I’m excited for it. Starting from pole always makes thing
easier, but often being able to use your abilities to fight your way through
is a really cool experience. I’m going to give it absolutely everything and
get as many points as possible.”
Although it is a narrow track here, the straights are long enough and the
Mercedes is dominant enough that there should be ample opportunity for
Hamilton to carve his way through the field.
While the Briton was surprisingly optimistic, the mood at Red Bull was
downbeat after a qualifying to forget on their homecoming. At the sparkling
refurbished venue, in the stunning Styria mountains, Sebastian Vettel was a
distant 13th, but will start one place further forward after Sergio Perez’s
penalty. His younger team-mate, Daniel Ricciardo, shone with more lustre
once again to qualify fifth. Questions continue to be asked about the
German’s performances this season.
The reigning champions have been making noises all weekend that after next
year they could ditch their feeble Renault engine and build their own. This
qualifying session might have just tipped them over the edge.
Elsewhere there were other examples of young guns outdoing more experienced
pros. Kevin Magnussen was an impressive fifth for McLaren, while Jenson
Button struggled after missing morning practice and will start 11th. Daniil
Kvyat, the 20-year-old Russian, also impressed to qualify seventh.
The session had unfolded without surprise until the dying minutes, when
Williams threw a spanner in the works. Bottas was quickest before Hamilton
went faster than anyone in the first two sectors. Then, at turn eight, which
has caught out countless drivers this weekend, the critical mistake came. He
ran wide and had to abandon the lap. On his second effort, now chasing
Massa, Hamilton span at turn two for no obvious reason. Rosberg had to slow,
sparking wild celebrations at Williams.
The Grid
1 Felipe Massa (Bra) Williams 1min 08.759sec
2 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Williams 1:08.846
3 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes 1:08.944
4 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Ferrari 1:09.285
5 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:09.466
6 Kevin Magnussen (Den) McLaren 1:09.515
7 Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:09.619
8 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:10.795
9 Lewis Hamilton (GB) Mercedes No Time
10 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Force India No Time
11 Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 1:09.754*
12 Jenson Button (GB) McLaren 1:09.780
13 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull 1:09.801
14 Pastor Maldonado (Ven) Lotus F1 1:09.939
15 Jean-Eric Vergne (Fra) Toro Rosso 1:10.073
16 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Lotus 1:10.642
17 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Sauber 1:10.825
18 Esteban Gutierrez (Mex) Sauber 1:11.349
19 Jules Bianchi (Fra) Marussia 1:11.412
20 Kamui Kobayashi (Jpn) Caterham 1:11.673
21 Max Chilton (GB) Marussia 1:11.775*
22 Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Caterham 1:12.673
(Perez and Chilton have five- and three‑place grid penalties from the
Canadian Grand Prix, so will start the race from 16th and 22nd respectively.)