2016 Brazilian Grand Prix Qualifying: Hamilton On Pole For Key Race
Nico Rosberg could clinch his first Formula One world championship at the Brazilian Grand Prix but he’ll have to pass Lewis Hamilton for the victory.
The Brazilian Grand Prix has been the deciding race in many world championship hunts throughout the history of Formula One. Could the 2016 title fight be decided on the twists and turns of Interlagos on Sunday? If so, Nico Rosberg will have to fight past polesitter Lewis Hamilton, after Hamilton stormed to the top spot in qualifying on Saturday.
Hamilton topped Rosberg in Q3 by just over a tenth of a second. Despite the pole history may not be on Hamilton’s side; Rosberg has won at Sao Paolo each of the past two years. However, both drivers have a winning pedigree at the track and therefore the battle on Sunday should be one to watch for between the Mercedes duo.
Qualifying third was Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen, barely pipping Max Verstappen of Red Bull Racing for the spot. Verstappen qualified fourth, followed by Sebastian Vettel in fifth and Daniel Ricciardo in sixth. Romain Grosjean advanced his Haas F1 machine to Q3 for only the second time this season, qualifying in seventh.
While Grosjean had much to smile about following qualifying, Brazil’s native son did not. Felipe Massa, racing in his final Brazilian Grand Prix this weekend before retiring, did not advance out of Q2, and will start 13th on Sunday. It was also a disappointing run for McLaren’s Jenson Button, who languished in 17th after Q1.
Here are the full results from qualifying for the Brazilian Grand Prix:
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Be sure to tune in on Sunday for the 2016 Brazilian Grand Prix from Sao Paolo, Brazil. Can Rosberg claim his first-ever world championship, or will it come down to a winner-takes-all at Abu Dhabi? Watch live starting at 10 a.m. ET on NBCSN.
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