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Massa Leads Suprising Williams 1-2 Front Row In Austria

Felipe Massa celebrates his surprising pole victory Saturday in Austria. The win was the first for the Brazilian since 2008.  [Photo by Getty Images]
SPIELBERG, Austria- Following most rounds where the qualifying sessions consisted of a Mercedes 1-2 front row, Saturday afternoon at the Red Bull Ring proved more of a different situation as Felipe Massa made a late charge to record a fast lap time of 1:08:846 in the final session, to just edge teammate Valterri Bottas and lock out a Williams Grand Prix front row for Sunday’s Austrian Grand Prix. Series leader Nico Rosberg finished in third.
For Massa, it was his first pole victory since the Brazilian drove for Ferrari at his home race in 2008.
“I’m so happy with what’s happened to day with us, our team,” said Massa. “It was such a great moment. It was a very long time when I had my last pole position, which was Brazil 2008, so it’s an incredible moment. For sure we need to concentrate on the race tomorrow but it’s a very difficult and important race for us. It’s a great moment, the best place to be is here, the first place. It’s something I’ve had the chance to be many times in my career and I am again now.
At the beginning of the first session, Lewis Hamilton began by having the fastest car of the day, by recording a 1:09:514 best time. The biggest surprise of the day, was Russian Dani Kvyat, who placed his Toro Rosso into second place, his best qualifying result so far this season. However, Sebastian Vettel and Pastor Maldonado just barely squeaked through to the next round by placing 15th and 16th, respectively.
Nico Rosberg continued Mercedes domination by taking the second session, with a best 1:08:974 recorded time. But the hard times for Vettel and Maldonado continued, and both were eliminated from the session, along Jenson Button, Romain Grosjean and Jean-Eric Vergne among the top drivers.
In the final session, it was certain that Mercedes would continue the dominance of qualifying, but at the beginning of the session, Lewis Hamilton went too wide at turn two and spun, never being able to drive another lap. His actions slowed Rosberg, and with this section under caution, it was able to give the Williams pair the chance to improve their times. Fernando Alonso led the best of the rest with fourth, followed by Canada winner Daniel Ricciardo in fifth. Kevin Magnussen was sixth in his McLaren, while Kvat ended up in seventh. Kimi Raikkonen was eighth in the second Ferrari, while Hamilton ended up ninth and Nico Hulkenebrg finished tenth without even taking a lap.
After having to play second driver while at Ferrari, the pole in Austria was a welcome relief that his move to another team was a good decision.
“After a long time that I couldn’t be in this place I hope this is maybe the beginning of some great possibilities again, not just in qualifying but in the race too. Massa added. “The race is tomorrow but I’m so happy, very emotional. Not just for me but I think it is a similar feeling from what I feel and what Williams feel. Williams Martini has had an incredible career in the past and they are back to the top, back to the fight, there’s a lot to do but the work is going in that line and I’m so pleased for me and for Williams too.”
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