2016 European Grand Prix grid

2016 European Grand Prix

18th June 2016, 15:076th September 2023, 0:04 | Written by Keith Collantine

Row 1		1. Nico Rosberg 1’42.758 Mercedes
	2. Daniel Ricciardo 1’43.966 Red Bull
Row 2		3. Sebastian Vettel 1’43.966 Ferrari
	4. Kimi Raikkonen 1’44.269 Ferrari
Row 3		5. Felipe Massa 1’44.483 Williams
	6. Daniil Kvyat 1’44.717 Toro Rosso
Row 4		7. Sergio Perez* 1’43.515 Force India
	8. Valtteri Bottas 1’45.246 Williams
Row 5		9. Max Verstappen 1’45.570 Red Bull
	10. Lewis Hamilton No time Mercedes
Row 6		11. Romain Grosjean 1’44.755 Haas
	12. Nico Hulkenberg 1’44.824 Force India
Row 7		13. Fernando Alonso 1’45.270 McLaren
	14. Esteban Gutierrez 1’45.349 Haas
Row 8		15. Felipe Nasr 1’46.048 Sauber
	16. Rio Haryanto 1’45.665 Manor
Row 9		17. Pascal Wehrlein 1’45.750 Manor
	18. Carlos Sainz Jnr* 1’45.000 Toro Rosso
Row 10		19. Jenson Button 1’45.804 McLaren
	20. Marcus Ericsson 1’46.231 Sauber
Row 11		21. Jolyon Palmer 1’46.394 Renault
	22. Kevin Magnussen** 1’46.348 Renault

*Five-place grid penalty for gearbox change
**Five-place grid penalty for gearbox change, pit lane start

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68 comments on “2016 European Grand Prix grid”

Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
18th June 2016, 15:09

Someone should follow the Merc drivers! They keep disappearing before getting their weights checked! After qualifying, after the race they disappear into the mechanics, I guess there needs to be some limit here.
1. pwaa (@pwaa)
  18th June 2016, 15:32
  
  That does remind me of a DTM race a few years back, when the winner was disqualified because they noticed that while he was celebrating with his mechanics, one of them thought it would be funny to pour some water into his race suit, which led to the race officials having to disqualify the poor wet driver!
  1. Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
    18th June 2016, 19:26
    
    @pwaa I think there are grounds for suspicion. Ham and Ros have never gone straight to the scales, it’s getting rather suspicious. Check it out for yourself, from at least australia 2016
    1. Wil-Liam (@wil-liam)
      18th June 2016, 22:22
      
      Please what could they be hiding ? @keithcollantine pls reply
      1. bosyber (@bosyber)
        19th June 2016, 13:17
        
        @wil-liam, especially since being disqualified for cheating by adding weight after race (only thing that would be of any use) , don’t you think @peartree that would be way too problematic for Mercedes allow themselves to risk it? (and here, being so far ahead especially)
      2. Sensord4notbeingafanboi (@peartree)
        19th June 2016, 16:16
        
        @bosyber I’m suggesting Merc is doing some trickery here, I say at least since the beginning of the year, Merc is playing with the drivers weight, the drivers open their suit and then jump to the mechanics or their helmets disappear or their cars get unsighted. I saw Herbie Blash snooping on Rosberg’s car and he handled his helmet, so I’m sure the FIA is always on the lookout that said I fear this is one grey area as drivers naturally lose an unpredictable amount of weight and it’s not worth to ruin the victory celebrations just because somebody maybe getting something like a 5kg advantage which is significant yet not easy to both police and also prove. I think it starts with the driver’s declared weights, I can’t believe most drivers being, short and gaunt are that heavy.
Hemal
18th June 2016, 15:09

What a drive by Perez! Poor chap will still start from 7th place
1. Sviat
  18th June 2016, 17:37
  
  Poor chap? It was his fault in the FP3, so he can only be ashamed of himself.
  1. drrapg (@drrapg)
    18th June 2016, 20:23
    
    Ashamed? after crashing and recovering like that? he went out and right all his wrongs, no room for shame here.
regs (@regs)
18th June 2016, 15:10

Rosberg and Kvyat showed Hamilton and Verstappen their places.
1. Gabriel (@naylamp)
  18th June 2016, 15:15
  
  Nah, a couple of mistakes. No more than that.
2. Miane
  18th June 2016, 15:16
  
  Massa too.
3. ES
  18th June 2016, 15:32
  
  Im not sure if you saw what happend during the Q’s…but Verstappen got screwed 2 times by Bottas. In his first run he had the same sectortime as Perez..and would have outpaced Ricciardo…..Bottas is a @%%$^$#
  1. Uzair Syed (@ultimateuzair)
    18th June 2016, 15:36
    
    Stop making excuses for Verstappen.
    1. Sravan Krishnan (@sravan-pe)
      18th June 2016, 15:43
      
      +1
    2. Spanco
      18th June 2016, 16:08
      
      -1
    3. fernendo
      18th June 2016, 16:09
      
      +1
    4. Traverse
      18th June 2016, 16:12
      
      =0
      1. Sravan Krishnan (@sravan-pe)
        18th June 2016, 16:14
        
        LMAO!!
      2. hzh (@hzh00)
        18th June 2016, 18:11
        
        Hahahaha
      3. Grosjean's smile (@testacorsa)
        18th June 2016, 18:12
        
        +1
      4. Traverse
        18th June 2016, 20:14
        
        Fernendo’s comment wasn’t there when I wrote my comment…
    5. ES
      18th June 2016, 19:39
      
      Bottas was at fault
      
      Valtteri Bottas said that he had no choice but to try to overtake Max Verstappen on his Q3 qualifying laps after difficult circumstances left him twice chasing the Red Bull driver across the line.
      
      Verstappen was left furious after twice finding Bottas attempting a move at Turn 1 as they began what should have been qualifying efforts.
      
      Although Bottas understands that Verstappen had every reason to be unhappy because the incidents cost the Dutchman, he says that his Red Bull rival must understand that difficult situation he found himself in.
      
      “You either abort, or you try to overtake, try to get back on your line and have a good lap with a nice top speed,” he explained
      
      “Today I was fighting for the track position a couple of times but it didn’t work out.”
      
      Difficult choice
      
      Bottas said that before the first incident at the start of Q3, he had not expected Verstappen to be going for a qualifying lap immediately.
      
      And by the time he realised what the Dutchman was up to, it was too late for him to try to build up a bit of a gap to the Red Bull.
      
      “I thought, and the team thought, that Verstappen was on a double out lap, as they had been doing all weekend,” explained Bottas.
      
      “I got the confirmation of that myself when exiting Turn 16. I saw his ERS lights flashing, so he was not in the [engine] mode yet. I was trying to get a good gap so I could get a nice slipstream to the lap and open the lap, but then he pulled away in Turn 19.
      
      “So I found out at Turn 19/20 that maybe he was going for the lap and at that place you cannot back off any more as you lose all the straight line speed. So I thought the only option for me was to try to overtake.
      
      “But it ruined his lap but also my lap. I got some dirt on my tyres and I don’t even call that a lap – there was a lap time on the board that put me for P8.
      
      “Then the second run I had the red flag with Lewis [Hamilton]. I went out again after the red flag, but I don’t think the lap would have been mega.
      
      “I felt with the tyres we lost quite a bit of temperature with the red flag, and there was just a bit of traffic. Everyone was trying to gain a track position and opening the lap I knew there was probably not much time left, so I didn’t have time to leave a proper gap to Verstappen.
      
      “Again I saw my only opportunity was to try to fight for the track position and try to overtake, but I couldn’t do it again. Again it ruined my lap and his lap.
      
      “I think it was really unlucky – and I was driven into really difficult decisions and situations today. Not my day at all.”
      
      When asked if he intended to speak to Verstappen, Bottas said: “I wasn’t planning to. He lost something with that, but he has to understand that I was also fighting for my track position and for my qualifying result. It can happen I guess.”
  2. Vinicius (@v27racing)
    18th June 2016, 16:03
    
    Bottas can’t get tired of being an idiot.
  3. Strontium (@strontium)
    18th June 2016, 18:51
    
    The first time was Verstappen’s mistake, Bottas saw him go wide and went through. That was minor though.
    
    The second time (the one that counted) Bottas was plain foolish. He knew that manoeuvre would ruin both their laps, but still did it. It was his own fault for not leaving enough space to start the lap
Mashiat (@mashiat)
18th June 2016, 15:10

Well done Hamilton!
Xusen (@xusen)
18th June 2016, 15:11

Shocking by Hamilton’s standards, well done to Nico, he delivered when it mattered and made no mistakes.

I am looking forward to tomorrow’s race, few fast cars (Ham, Per, Ves & Hulk) out of place.
Malik (@)
18th June 2016, 15:12

Rivals tell Hamilton to stop causing yellow flags :D
ruliemaulana (@ruliemaulana)
18th June 2016, 15:13

Bottas ruin Verstappen lap twice!
1. hahostolze (@hahostolze)
  18th June 2016, 15:14
  
  Yeah, absolutely ridiculous. First time, actually, was fine, he has legitimate reason to pass, but his move wasn’t good enough so he forced Verstappen off which isn’t allowed. Second time was just being vindictive.
2. regs (@regs)
  18th June 2016, 15:16
  
  how is that? it was verstappen who blocked bottas when went off the track.
3. Uzair Syed (@ultimateuzair)
  18th June 2016, 15:18
  
  Verstappen was overreacting a lot to the two incidents, and Bottas did nothing wrong in the first incident.
  1. hahostolze (@hahostolze)
    18th June 2016, 15:20
    
    Nothing wrong but force him off the track, which, you know, isn’t allowed even during a race?
    1. Sviatoslav (@)
      18th June 2016, 17:40
      
      What? Verstappen simply made a mistake and that is why he landed into the off-track zone. Bottas simply reacted to that.
4. Lee (@leejo)
  18th June 2016, 15:20
  
  I’m not a professional, but it seems to me that the best way to avoid having your lap ruined in this manner is to be faster than the driver behind you.
  1. Michael
    18th June 2016, 15:45
    
    Both Bottas actions were in the first corner… and as we all know, it is a complete lap to know if your are faster, so bottas was way to close behind to be faster than a slower car.
    
    Besides that I think this will make the race really awesome. Hamilton and Verstappen behind of some slower cars.
    
    As showed last year Max will show that overtaking is an art!
Mashiat (@mashiat)
18th June 2016, 15:14

Once again Button is outqualified. I think he was quite good last year but this year he seems to be struggling. Vandoorne must de enjoying this!
Duc Pham (@ducpham2708)
18th June 2016, 15:14

Should be an easy win for Rosberg. I don’t care if Ricciardo or Vettel jumps him at the start, with that kind of speed advantage and such an easy track to overtake nothing is going to stop Rosberg from winning except for himself locking up or crashing.

Should be an interesting battle for 2nd though, Vettel and Ricciardo matched each other on pace today, I wonder who can claim 2nd in the race. Lewis will try to be in that competition but I doubt he can make up the time lost overtaking slower cars.
1. Gabriel (@naylamp)
  18th June 2016, 15:16
  
  Do not underestimate the walls and the SC.
2. Miane
  18th June 2016, 15:18
  
  It will be hard for him to overtake Perez and both Williams on the straight.
Neel Jani (@neelv27)
18th June 2016, 15:14

Great job by Ric…he is really shining. Also a good opportunity for Ferrari to score some healthy points although they are getting bust up by RBR as challengers to Mercedes.

Lewis, hope he doesn’t moan about the track or sunlight! Morale of the story…never have the mouth open with your brain closed.
1. Malik (@)
  18th June 2016, 15:17
  
  @neelv27: I can’t agree more :)
2. Traverse
  18th June 2016, 15:21
  
  Hamilton was right. Drivers were moaning like babies about the track, the fact that Ham crashed doesn’t change that. Your comment doesn’t hold water.
  1. OmarRoncal - Go Seb!!! (@)
    18th June 2016, 15:25
    
    But let’s wait to hear what he says, it might be just as @neelv27 says.
    1. Traverse
      18th June 2016, 15:43
      
      Precisely! Hamilton hasn’t spoken yet, so @neelv27 is prematurely judging.
3. Traverse
  18th June 2016, 15:25
  
  Also, if the sun hit his eyes (like Coulthard mentioned) and Hamilton confirms it, then that’s what happened. It’s not an excuse if it’s true.
  1. Sravan Krishnan (@sravan-pe)
    18th June 2016, 15:31
    
    I foresaw comments like yours, isn’t the same true for the tunnel in Monaco? Also it wasn’t the first time he’d passed through there to be blinded by it, if that’s what you mean.
    1. Traverse
      18th June 2016, 15:38
      
      I don’t believe that the sun an issue @sravan-pe, I’m just parroting what David Coulthard said.
      1. Sravan Krishnan (@sravan-pe)
        18th June 2016, 15:45
        
        Fair enough. :)
4. Tata
  18th June 2016, 15:26
  
  I guess you were waiting to say that all day.
  He was right about the moaning though. He crashed like so many others but that does not make his statement wrong and he is not “moaning” about crashing. He just didn’t do a good job. It was not the fault of the track but his.
  1. grumpy
    19th June 2016, 0:13
    
    Did Hamilton blame the track … NO, did he blame the sun … NO, did he blame the car …NO, it strikes me that some dummy need to keep HIS mouth shut until HIS brain is in gear.
5. david mcgrory
  19th June 2016, 3:27
  
  lewis cant complain mercedes power down that massive straight it will be a shock if hes not at least 2nd tomorrow
Uzair Syed (@ultimateuzair)
18th June 2016, 15:16

Well done to Rosberg, fast and clean. Ferrari should thank Hamilton for the top 5 start. Ferrari and Hamilton were nowhere today.
1. Uzair Syed (@ultimateuzair)
  18th June 2016, 15:25
  
  And well done to Ricciardo too.
Gabriel (@naylamp)
18th June 2016, 15:18

So Marko was right. 1.2s behind.
1. John H (@john-h)
  19th June 2016, 7:51
  
  Didn’t he say they’d lose 1.2 seconds on the main straight?… but then there is the rest of the lap/straights where they are presumably losing a bit of time.
Sravan Krishnan (@sravan-pe)
18th June 2016, 15:19

What an exhilarating quali that was!
Rosberg was sublime (I HAD predicted a pole time of 1:42.758 but changed it between FP3 and Q, damn it).
Kudos to Perez, the Manors and Ricciardo!

Commiserations to Hamilton.
Puneeth
18th June 2016, 15:20

You take a cheap shot at your rivals and the next day crash and qualify 10th in the fastest car.. lol
1. j3d89
  18th June 2016, 18:42
  
  Hahahahahahahjaa i was thinking the same… that’s why you should never spit to the sky.. cuz the thing will come back to your face..
grumpy
18th June 2016, 15:22

Worst quali from Hamilton in years … dominates all three free practice sessions and then screws up qualifying big time, hope he gets through the first lap and gives us some entertainment but once again he will be looking at damage limitation.

Great result for Perez, shame about the penalty and well done Ricciardo.
OmarRoncal - Go Seb!!! (@)
18th June 2016, 15:28

Those Manors should try to stay calm tomorrow. The track is so narrow that they can thrive from others’ mistakes. Just a point from them in the season and Sauber can be packing home forever.
1. Sravan Krishnan (@sravan-pe)
  18th June 2016, 15:47
  
  True. They definitely won’t get overtaken so easily!
Still I Rise
18th June 2016, 16:04

He saw that new 2pac movie trailer on his dashboard freaked out and crashed. 😂
1. Still I Rise
  18th June 2016, 16:29
  
  BTW that was a joke I know Lewis like me is also a huge 2pac fan.
juampa_valve_rde
18th June 2016, 17:30

Srsly? Most of you seem to be completely ignoring that Checo nailed P2 con an SFI, half a second off Nico’s Merc. That was effing brilliant! And a pity that gearbox change. Ric lap also really a thing to watch with such engine.
1. John H (@john-h)
  19th June 2016, 7:55
  
  I’m reading quite a few comments above praising Perez tbh.
glacierre (@glacierre)
18th June 2016, 19:58

I don’t know if it pays off for HAM to change some engine parts and setup for the overtaking race he needs now. In my eyes, it is safer to start from the pit lane than from 10th, and Baku seems the best circuit to have to overtake a few cars extra.
SauberS1 (@saubers1)
19th June 2016, 0:42

This is a very exciting grid! :) I think that we will have a very interesting race!

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68 comments on “2016 European Grand Prix grid”