Brazilian F1 Grand Prix 2015: Qualifying results

Nico Rosberg is on pole; he won the race from pole last year

Mercedes continued to dominate proceedings as they have this year, following their wins at the drivers’ and constructors' championships. Teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg fought it out through 3 qualifying sessions for the German to come out on top. Rosberg was also polesitter at last year’s race, beating Hamilton to P2 in qualifying and eventually the race, which he won from pole.

It’s Rosberg’s 5th pole position in a row, although he has not been able to convert many of these to wins. Hamilton is yet to win at what is now his 9th Grand Prix at the Autodromo Jose Carlos Pace – more commonly known as Interlagos. With Rosberg taking his 6th pole of the year overall and the 21st of his career, Hamilton was denied his 50th.

In what appears to have become routine, Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel rounded up the top 3, with a Mercedes 1-2 and a Ferrari P3 beginning the race tomorrow.

Full qualifying results:

Image courtesy: Formula One

Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo takes a 10 place penalty for engine upgrades and will begin the race in 19^th. Felipe Nasr of Sauber will also take a 3-place penalty for impeding Felipe Massa.

Williams’ Valtteri Bottas qualified in 4^th, but received a 3-place grid penalty after he was found to have been overtaking under red flags, which were brought out after Fernando Alonso’s McLaren had engine issues.

Bottas admitted to the offence – which saw him take 2 penalty points on his super licence in addition to the penalty.