Nico Rosberg dominates qualifying in Singapore

In difficulty last year on the Marina Bay Circuit, the Mercedes W07 Hybrid seem to have found the right formula, at least as far as Nico Rosberg is concerned. The reigning vice-world champion dominated the qualifying session for the Singapore Grand Prix by taking pole position ahead of the Red Bull de Ricciardo.

We expected a lot from the RB12, benefiting from engine improvements, but also from Ferrari de Hag and Räikkönen, but none of Mercedes' rivals were able to rise to the level of Rosberg for the pole win.

Rosberg completed a lap of the Marina Bay track in 1’42”584 in Q3, and ultimately ahead of Daniel Ricciardo by more than five tenths. The Australian was inserted between the two W07 Hybrids and will start in front Lewis Hamilton et Max Verstappen.

Kimi Räikkönen places the first SF16-H in fifth place, nine tenths behind, and the only one in the top 10, following the setbacks of Sebastian Vettel. The 2015 winner was eliminated in the first part of the qualifying session, following a mechanical problem on his SF16-H.

The German complained about a potential breakage of his front anti-roll bar, but his mechanics looked at the rear axle of the car. car Italian on the return of the quadruple world champion to his box.

The first part of the grid is completed by the two Toro Rosso de Sainz and Kvyat. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India), Fernando Alonso (McLaren) and Sergio Pérez (Force India) climbed into the top ten, but the Mexican received an eight-place grid penalty.

A top 10 in which does not appear Romain Grosjean, who continues his complicated weekend in Singapore. The Frenchman made a mistake in Q2, after losing control of his Haas VF-16 braking for turn 10, and ended its race by hitting the protective wall. Without physical consequences fortunately for the former GP2 Series champion, who will start 15th behind his teammate Esteban Gutiérrez.

Eliminated like Grosjean in Q2, where he suffered a puncture after brushing against one of the walls of the track, Jenson Button (McLaren) will start from 13th position, behind the two Williams de Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa, absent from the last part of the qualification. THE Renault de Magnussen and Palmer did not cross the Q1 milestone, just like the Manor of Pascal Wehrlein and Esteban Ocon.

Note that Max Verstappen, like his teammate Daniel Ricciardo at Red Bull Racing, will start the Grand Prix tomorrow in super-soft tires, a different strategy from Mercedes. The Australian admitted before the weekend that the selection made for the Asian event, and the choices for the race should have a role tomorrow.

The Singapore Grand Prix will be followed tomorrow with live commentary with our live text from 14 p.m.

Qualification results