2015 F1 Round 8, Austrian Grand Prix qualifying: Hamilton and Rosberg both make final-lap errors, earlier times secure front row

Hamilton took pole position in qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix on June 20 with a 1:08.455, beating Rosberg by 0.200 seconds. Vettel was third as Mercedes locked out the front row.

The track was still damp from the morning rain when Q1 began. Drivers initially used intermediate tyres before switching to dry tyres as the surface dried, with lap times improving steadily. Rosberg ultimately topped the session with a 1:10.976.

Räikkönen failed to complete a valid lap quick enough in the closing stages of Q1 and finished only 18th. Pérez was 16th and Button 17th, with Merhi and Stevens 19th and 20th respectively. All five were eliminated in the first session.

Rosberg led Q2 with a 1:08.634, while Hamilton recorded a 1:09.062. Vettel advanced with the third-fastest time of the session, while Bottas, Hülkenberg and Verstappen also qualified for Q3.

Maldonado was eliminated in Q2 in 11th place, followed by Ericsson in 12th, Sainz in 13th, Ricciardo in 14th and Alonso in 15th. Ricciardo was hampered by braking problems, while McLaren and Red Bull also faced grid penalties for power-unit changes.

On their first runs in Q3, Hamilton set a 1:08.455 and Rosberg a 1:08.655. Neither improved on his final run: Hamilton spun at Turn 1, while Rosberg went off into the gravel at Turn 9, leaving their earlier times to decide the front row.

Vettel was third with a 1:08.810, followed by Massa in fourth, Hülkenberg in fifth and Bottas in sixth. Verstappen was seventh, Kvyat eighth and Nasr ninth.

Grosjean reached Q3, but a problem with his car’s brake-by-wire system prevented him from setting a valid time in that session. He was nevertheless classified tenth in the official qualifying results. Qualifying results should be distinguished from the actual starting-grid positions after penalties.