Saturday: Successful qualifying for Williams, Bottas ahead of Massa
After two rainy qualifying sessions, conditions that the FW36 does not favor, this third session took place on a dry track. The Williams drivers are more than satisfied, especially since Valtteri Bottas will be the first driver behind the Mercedes on the grid.
Valtteri Bottas – 4th and 4th [3rd on the grid]
After a contrasted Malaysian Grand Prix, Valtteri Bottas seized the opportunity to have a very good qualifying session on the Sakhir track. « It was a good qualifying session: I think we got the maximum out of the car. » After achieving the fourth fastest time, the Finn is pleased to have secured a good result on Saturday, unlike the two previous weekends.
The young Williams driver knows that by starting third [after Daniel Ricciardo’s penalty], there’s an opportunity to be seized in the race, even if some things still need improvement. « We haven’t done many laps this weekend, so there are things to improve for the race… » But a good strategy could help Williams secure a podium: « If we have the right strategy and take advantage of the opportunities that come our way, we should achieve a good result. »
Felipe Massa – 5th and 8th [7th on the grid]
While his teammate managed to secure the second row, the Brazilian struggled during qualifying: “I made a few mistakes during my lap in Q3 and had a bit of oversteer. I lost time and I really should have been faster.”
Just like Valtteri Bottas, Felipe Massa emphasizes that opportunities will arise: « We will start in 7th position after Ricciardo’s penalty, and it will be a long race. So many things can happen. » The former Ferrari driver also looks forward to being back at the front with a car he finds competitive: « We will be in the fight for tomorrow. »
