Qualifying report: Rosberg fastest, Ricciardo beats Ferrari, Hamilton engine failure.

  • Published on 16 Apr 2016 10:35
  • comments 3
  • By: Calle Nilsson

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg set the fastest laptime in todays qualifying session held at the Shanghai international circuit in China. The rain stopped in between the practice session and the qualifying session, and the track was almost completely dry when Q1 began.

Q1 stopped almost as soon as it began when Manor driver Wehrlein lost traction on a wet section of the track and hit a wall hard. Wehrlein himself was unharmed, but the car was severely damaged, and the session was stopped so the track mashalls could remove the debris from the track. The session was restarted 15 minutes later. Both Saubers outqualified the Renaults, Manors, and Haas' Gutierrez. This is the first time Sauber get into Q2 this year.

In Q2, Hamilton retired with a power unit failure. The defending champion will drop all the way down to the bottom of the grid in tomorrow's race. With only 8 minutes left of the session, Force India's Hulkenberg went off the track with a loose left front tyre, and the session was redflagged. Hulkenberg is now under investigation for leaving the pit under unsafe conditions. The premature end to Q2 meant that neither of the McLarens, Saubers, Grosjean or Massa could pursue Q3 positions.

Ferrari had a strong start to Q3, but neither Räikkönen or Vettel managed to get near Rosberg, and they will start from place 3 and place 4 respectively. Red Bull's Ricciardo impressed with a second fastest time in Q3, and team principal Christian Horner congratulated the Australian driver and joked that it was all thanks to his new, fast haircut. Ricciardo's team mate Kvyat managed to get into Q3 for the first time this year.

CN Shanghai International Circuit - 16 April 2016

Replies (3)

Login to reply
  • I dont necessarily like Ricciardo's new haircut, but it did a fine job for him this session. ;) Did anyone else hear Rosberg saying "sorry about the other car" over radio? ;)
    By the way, isnt it back to 10 cars in Q3 and 16 in Q2?

    • + 0
    • Apr 16 2016 - 11:19
    • Yup Nico was mocking Hamilton, I found it very funny and good on him to get some elbowing out. It will be great to watch that team implode.

      Shame both Ferraris made mistakes. Ricciardo a free ride to 2nd place.

      • + 0
      • Apr 16 2016 - 11:31
    • Yup top 16 go through to Q2 and then top 10 go through to Q3 for the final shoot out.

      • + 0
      • Apr 16 2016 - 11:59

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
22 - Mar 24
Australia
5 - Apr 7
Japan
19 - Apr 21
China
3 - May 5
United States of America
17 - May 19
Italy
24 - May 26
Monaco
7 - Jun 9
Canada
21 - Jun 23
Spain
28 - Jun 30
Austria
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
30 - Sep 1
Italy
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
29 - Mar 2
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
19 - Apr 21
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
21 - Jun 23
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team -
  • Points -
  • Podiums -
  • Grand Prix -
  • Country BR
  • Date of b. Apr 21 1981 (42)
  • Place of b. Sao Paulo, BR
  • Weight 59 kg
  • Length 1.66 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar