Chapter 158: Q1 Preparations
After winter testing, both Wu Shi and Felipe Massa had reached the same conclusion: the FW37 could not afford to sacrifice too much straight-line speed for balance.
As a result, Williams had clawed back some top-end performance.
The price was paid elsewhere.
Reduced rear-end stability meant the car was now more prone to oversteer on corner entry, especially through low-speed sections.
That weakness became apparent on Wu Shi's first flying lap.
Despite posting strong sector times early on, he lost momentum through the final sector's slow corners, crossing the line with a time of 1:30.366.
Kimi Räikkönen fared little better.
The Ferrari driver—on soft tyres—managed only 1:30.188.
Whether it was the tyre compound, a minor mistake, or Ferrari simply struggling for balance, no one could say for certain.
What was clear was that Ferrari hadn't extracted the expected advantage from the softs.
That result gave several midfield teams pause. Those considering switching to soft tyres to secure Q2 began to hesitate.
As for the backmarkers, Q2 had never been part of the plan. Either their tyre allocation was already compromised, or they were saving everything for Sunday.
Then Massa's lap appeared.
1:30.246.
The Williams pit wall immediately overlaid both drivers' telemetry against Ferrari's.
Jonathan Carter and Dave Robson studied the traces.
Both Williams cars were losing time in Sectors 1 and 3—but were competitive, even strong, through Sector 2.
Jonathan keyed the radio.
"Medium tyres are taking longer to reach the working window," he said. "We need another push lap. Focus on cleaner entries in Sectors 1 and 2."
"Understood," Wu Shi replied.
He stayed out.
Qualifying sessions typically offered two ideal windows:
One early, immediately after the out lap.
And one at the end—crossing the line just before the chequered flag.
Wu Shi was aiming for neither.
He wanted efficiency.
While he cruised, Sebastian Vettel completed his lap.
1:29.307.
The Ferrari jumped to the top of the timing screens.
Vettel backed off immediately and returned to the pit lane. Three laps on that set of medium tyres—enough to safely progress.
Clinical. Ruthless.
That was Vettel.
The rest of the field followed, but no one matched his pace. Most laps hovered in the low 1:30s.
Wu Shi checked in.
"Has everyone finished their first run?"
"Yes," Jonathan replied. "Your current time is inside the top fifteen."
"Conditions okay?"
"Track's improving. You're clear to push."
Wu Shi didn't want to waste laps.
Even if these tyres wouldn't be used in the race, there was no reason to burn them unnecessarily.
Approaching Turn 16, he replayed the entire lap in his head—where he'd hesitated, where he'd corrected, where he'd compromised.
The plan was clear.
---
Car number 59 charged across the start–finish line.
Top speed: one kilometer per hour faster than the previous lap.
A small gain—but confirmation that the tyres and track were now in a better window.
Grip had finally arrived.
The medium compound took longer than expected to switch on today, and Wu Shi had been cautious earlier.
Now, with improved rear traction, wheelspin was reduced. Several corners no longer required corrective inputs.
The lap flowed.
The FW37 cut cleanly through the final corner.
1:29.141.
Wu Shi had beaten Vettel.
Jonathan's voice came back immediately.
"Good job."
Behind the radio message, faint applause could be heard on the pit wall.
"That should be enough," Wu Shi said calmly.
In the commentary booth, David Croft's voice lifted.
"That's an excellent lap from Wu Shi—one minute twenty-nine point one four one on medium tyres."
"But Nico Rosberg is still on a flying lap, and his first two sectors are already faster."
The camera switched to the silver Mercedes.
Car number 6 carved through the final corners.
1:28.906.
Effortless.
Mercedes was still Mercedes.
Breaking into the 1:28s on medium tyres looked almost routine.
But that no longer concerned Wu Shi.
Back in the pit lane, mechanics rushed to attach cooling fans to the brake ducts. A timing monitor was rolled in front of him.
He lifted his visor.
Massa, Hamilton, and Pérez were all on second flying laps.
Several others waited for further track evolution.
Kimi Räikkönen's second lap time stood out.
1:29.754.
Four tenths slower than Vettel.
On soft tyres.
The gap between Ferrari teammates was unusually large.
Wu Shi frowned slightly.
Is Ferrari's soft compound struggling today?
Before he could think further, Hamilton crossed the line.
1:28.586.
Three tenths quicker than Rosberg.
"Tsk," Wu Shi muttered. "Those two are really pushing each other."
Hamilton didn't need that lap. His earlier time was already safe for Q3.
But rivalry didn't care about necessity.
Jonathan stayed focused.
"What's your estimated limit on mediums?"
"High one-twenty-eight," Wu Shi answered. "Low one-twenty-nine comfortably."
"And cruise pace?"
"Two-point-one to two-point-two slower."
Jonathan nodded, comparing it to the simulation output.
Later tonight, he'd go over every discrepancy with Wu Shi.
Right now, there was no time for distractions.
A minute later, Massa crossed the line.
1:29.246.
Williams sat third and fourth—right behind Mercedes.
For a moment, it felt like 2014 again.
David Croft shared the sentiment on commentary.
As Q1 wound down, the final laps came in.
"The McLarens are struggling—one thirty-one four and one thirty-two zero. The Honda power unit issues clearly persist."
"Kvyat stops after a one-thirty point four zero two. That may just be enough—bold call from Red Bull."
"Pérez improves Force India into the one-twenty-nine nine range. Hülkenberg still slightly ahead."
"The Toro Rosso rookies are still pushing—using every lap for experience."
"And Max Verstappen goes 1:29.248—what a lap! Toro Rosso right at the front of the midfield."
"Sainz follows with a one-twenty-nine five nine seven—slower than his teammate."
"Ricciardo crosses the line… one twenty-nine seven eight eight."
"Remarkably, both Toro Rossos ahead of Red Bull Racing. That feels like a flashback."
The chequered flag waved.
Q1 ended.
Eliminated:
Ericsson, Button, Magnussen, and the two Manor drivers—Stevens and Merhi—who hadn't run at all.
Five drivers out.
As Q2 began, Wu Shi watched mechanics rush to fit soft tyres.
Jonathan leaned in.
"Cloud cover's increasing."
Wu Shi glanced at the weather radar.
No rain yet—but uncertainty was rising.
"Understood."
"What's the cutoff prediction?" he asked.
"About one twenty-eight six."
Wu Shi nodded.
"Then I'll go out early."
Car number 59 rolled toward pit exit.
Q2 was about to begin.