Once they were underway in qualifying, there was a poignant and touching
remind that while they were haring around, the drivers’ thoughts were
partially elsewhere. The message “Jules we are supporting you” was
emblazoned across the main straight via the magic of television graphics.
Rosberg, put in the shade by his team-mate for most of the weekend so far,
laid down the early benchmark in the first segment, only to be eclipsed with
five minutes to go.
At the back, there was little succour for Marussia after a traumatic week. Max
Chilton gave it his all, but still ended up 21st and last. Chilton said
afterwards: “It’s been a difficult weekend for us all so far. It’s not been
easy, so all in all considering the situation we’ve done well. With the
whole team around me we can try to do the best job we can for Jules.”
Surprisingly, Felipe Massa also left the stage in Q1, with some kind of engine
issue. They were joined by the two Caterhams and the Lotus of Pastor
Maldonado.
In front of a half-empty main grandstand, more surprises were to come in
qualifying two. Sebastian Vettel continues to look a shade of his former
self, only managing 11th fastest. His team-mate, Daniel Ricciardo,
comfortably made it through in seventh. “I just didn’t have the grip at the
rear that we wanted,” a downcast Vettel said. “I’m fairly unhappy that we
didn’t get the best out of the car.”
Fernando Alonso, the man Vettel will replace at Ferrari, also struggled for a
while, doing just about enough in the dying minutes. Out front, the Mercedes
were comfortably fastest and look to be unchallenged for pole position.
In the final shootout, it showed. Hamilton lead down an off-colour marker,
which Rosberg immediately eclipsed, going a second clear of the field.
In the final few minutes, Hamilton went fastest and then faster again. Rosberg
tried and failed, but then Bottas came out of nowhere. The Finn’s first two
sectors were quicker than anyone else. Under pressure in the final few
corners, he faltered, locking up once before running wide. Hamilton had a
subdued pole position.