2010 Formula One European Grand Prix at Valencia * Qualifying * 26/06/2010
In spite of improvements made by Ferrari and Renault changing the way the exhaust is directed to a lower position behind the driver, making the bodywork
much smoother and redirecting airflow in an improved form, Red Bull returns to their dominance in qualifying. This time Vettel was able to out qualify team
mate Webber who took second. Hamilton did a great effort to take third, and failed to improve in the final seconds due to an error in sector two of the Valencia
track. Alonso and Massa followed, who although both Ferrari drivers improved, it was not enough to do better.
Robert Kubica at one point looked as though he would qualify higher, he finished sixth, which shows not only the re-emergence of team Renault, but how fast
Kubica is, beating Button of McLaren who followed him in seventh. Hulkenberg out qualified teammate Barrichelo and both Williams drivers finished inside the
first ten taking eighth and ninth, a clear improvement for the Williams team. Finally rookie Petrov managed tenth spot.
Unfortunately the Valencia track, a street circuit, will not give us the excitement that the Montreal streets gave us two weeks ago. Passing in this track is very
difficult, so the race will be about tires, tire strategy, reliability, and of course, not making errors.
Alonso will have to improve from his current position in order to continue having a chance at the title, otherwise, Vettel, Webber and Hamilton may start to widen
their respective gap. This applies to Button, Massa, Kubica, and Roseberg. Interesting to note that both Mercedes drivers are beginning to lag more than in previous
races. Indeed Roseberg who had been getting good race finishes and somehow staying with the leading group, now both Mercedes did not make the final ten
Special mention for Swiss driver Buemi who just failed to make the best 10th taking eleventh in the Toro Rosso, ahead of Roseberg and surprisingly both Force
India drivers, Sutil and Liuzzi.
Pos Driver Team Time Gap
1 Vettel Red Bull 1:37.587 124.220 mph
2 Webber Red Bull 1:37.662 0.075
3 Hamilton McLaren 1:37.969 0.382
4 Alonso Ferrari 1:38.075 0.488
5 Massa Ferrari 1:38.127 0.540
6 Kubica Renault 1:38.137 0.550
7 Button McLaren 1:38.210 0.623
8 Hulkenberg Williams 1:38.428 0.841
9 Barrichello Williams 1:38.428 0.841
10 Petrov Renault 1:38.523 0.936
11 Buemi Toro Rosso 1:38.586
12 Rosberg Mercedes 1:38.627
13 Sutil Force India 1:38.851
14 Liuzzi Force India 1:38.884
15 Schumacher Mercedes 1:39.234
16 de la Rosa Sauber 1:39.264
17 Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1:39.458
18 Kobayashi Sauber 1:39.343
19 Trulli Lotus 1:40.658
20 Kovalainen Lotus 1:40.882
21 di Grassi Virgin 1:42.086
22 Glock Virgin 1:42.140
23 Chandhok HRT 1:42.600
24 Senna HRT 1:42.851
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