Chapter 224: The Third Flying Lap
Before qualifying, rain arrived as expected – but by the start of Q1, it had cleared.
"We need to stay out for a few extra laps to make sure we lock in a time good enough to progress," Jonathan said over team radio.
"Got it," Wu Shi nodded.
"Did you see the BBC report?"
"No – what did they say?"
"They're suggesting you're not suited to the Red Bull Ring, and that you'll drop from your usual front-running positions this weekend," Jonathan said with a smile.
"Haha – I drive for Williams, but it seems the local media isn't exactly a fan!" Wu Shi found it amusing.
"Who can say?" Jonathan shrugged.
Q1 – First Qualifying Segment
Q1 got underway with a damp, slippery track surface – a leftover from the recent rain that disrupted every team's initial strategy. Lap times would improve steadily as the track dried, so drivers who ran later held a clear advantage. Even front-runners Mercedes, Ferrari, and Williams were forced to adapt, with drivers constantly monitoring conditions to find the optimal window for their flying laps.
It's not uncommon for drivers to make mistakes in such conditions, and Q1 ran to a relatively rare 12 laps as most teams prioritized securing a safe time. Wu Shi qualified tenth, while Lewis Hamilton faced unexpected issues and scraped through in 13th – coming close to spinning off at one point. Nico Rosberg found a good window to set a 1:10.976, the only driver to break into the 1:10s.
The biggest surprise came with Kimi Räikkönen's elimination – Ferrari's strategy team had fitted intermediate tyres when the track was wet, but failed to switch to slicks as conditions improved. Jenson Button and Sergio Pérez were also knocked out; Button faced a 25-place grid penalty for a power unit change, and under this year's rules, any penalties exceeding grid positions were converted to in-race sanctions like drive-throughs or time penalties.
Q2 – Second Qualifying Segment
"No more rain coming for Q2," Jonathan confirmed. With clouds clearing, conditions were set to stabilize, and most drivers planned to use supersoft tyres for their flying laps.
"I'll do a reconnaissance lap on old tyres first," Wu Shi requested.
"Absolutely – we'll coordinate with the crew," Jonathan agreed.
Track conditions were still far from ideal, so many drivers followed Wu Shi's lead to test the surface. Only Sebastian Vettel remained in the pits – mirroring a strategy he'd used at other events, where he completed just one flying lap in Q2. This was high-risk at a track only recently returned to the calendar, but top talents often find their rhythm quickly: first lap to learn, second to familiarize, third to fly.
Wu Shi's old tyres weren't for setting fast times – he was mapping grip changes across the circuit. Rain and new asphalt meant grip levels shifted lap by lap, with curbs also varying in slipperiness. He needed to understand these trends before Q3.
After setting a 1:10.111 on used softs, he returned to the pits. Commentators noted the time, pointing out that if he didn't switch to new supersofts for a flying lap, the old set would become his mandatory race-start tyres – a significant disadvantage compared to starting further back on fresh rubber.
Mercedes quickly switched to new supersofts for their flying laps, while Fernando Alonso made multiple attempts in his underperforming McLaren, but his times hovered at the back of the 1:10s and he soon abandoned further efforts.
With five minutes left, Mercedes ran a second flying lap on new supersofts – not out of necessity, but to prepare for Q3. Then Vettel left the pits, with Wu Shi following shortly after.
Vettel completed his flying lap first, setting a blistering 1:09.392 to jump to third before returning to the garage. Wu Shi began his own lap on new supersofts:
- The main straight drops then rises to Turn 1 – a near-blind corner at the summit, where poor visibility and shifting grip make precision critical. Wu Shi had tested the entry earlier, hitting the left curb with minimal correction.
- Turn 2 is effectively a long straight, added to bring the track to 10 corners (a requirement for F1 venues).
- Turn 3 – the circuit's slowest corner at ~80km/h – sits at another summit, with entry relying entirely on experience.
- The long downhill to Turn 4 proved the toughest challenge: high speed, extended braking distances, and increased front-wheel load reducing steering grip. Misjudge it, and understeer into the gravel trap is almost guaranteed. Track limits here are strictly enforced, though drivers often use curbs to manage the entry.
Wu Shi crossed the line with a 1:09.621, placing fifth – not outstanding, but solid. Rosberg topped Q2 with a 1:08.634, followed by Hamilton (+0.4s) and Vettel (+0.7s).
"He looked smooth, but lacked pace," commentator David noted.
"Maybe he hasn't found the right rhythm here," John agreed.
"Does that mean his learning ability is weaker?"
"Look at how many new tracks he's faced in the first seven races," John countered. "It's more likely he's still refining his line through the high-speed corners, or hasn't locked in his qualifying approach."
While commentators reasoned that no driver excels at every track, Mercedes and Ferrari were not so dismissive.
"Wu Shi set 1:09.621 – he's close behind you," Bono told Hamilton.
"What about Massa?" Hamilton asked immediately.
"1:09.719."
"Then Wu Shi's true pace is at least 1:09.2, and he'll break 1:08 in Q3," Hamilton stated firmly. When Bono asked for his reasoning, he added: "No basis needed – he's never been outqualified by Massa, and he's always top three. This isn't his real speed."
Vettel made the same assessment to his team, and Jonathan relayed these comments to Wu Shi over radio.
"Looks like the champions have high expectations for you?"
"Haha – that's quite the compliment! Please thank them for me," Wu Shi joked.
Commentators laughed when they heard the exchange: "We may need to revise our views – he's not struggling here; he's just holding back."
Q2 ended with Valtteri Bottas eliminated in 11th (just 0.003s behind Daniil Kvyat), followed by Marcus Ericsson, Carlos Sainz Jr., Daniel Ricciardo, and Alonso. Max Verstappen progressed to Q3 in sixth with 1:09.631 – just 0.010s behind Wu Shi.
Q3 – Pole Position Shootout
Back in the pits, Wu Shi told Jonathan: "Track's still slippery – conditions aren't ideal."
"Understood. We've planned two flying laps for you," Jonathan replied. "Given the earlier skids, we recommend you run early."
Wu Shi was hesitant – later runs would benefit from a more rubbered-in track – but trusted the team's data-driven strategy. He was the first to leave the pits when Q3 started.
"Wu Shi's out early!" commentators noted, as most pole contenders saved their fastest laps for the final five minutes. "Maybe our initial assessment was right – he's not confident enough to wait."
Nasr and Kvyat joined him on track. During his warm-up lap, Wu Shi found grip still low in the first four corners, with track temperatures too cool for supersoft tyres to reach working temperature.
"Can I do a second warm-up lap? Any traffic behind me?" he asked.
"Only four cars out now – no issues," Jonathan confirmed.
Wu Shi increased his pace on the second warm-up lap to build tyre heat, adjusting brake bias and using heavy braking to warm the front brakes. He found himself envying Mercedes' "Magic Button" – a system that accelerates tyre warming by adjusting brake balance and diverting MGU-K energy to generate additional heat.
With tyres up to temperature (brakes slightly below), he prepared to start his flying lap:
"Going for the lap now."
"Clear ahead – Nasr's on his flying lap and won't block you."
Wu Shi exited Turn 10, opened DRS on the main straight, and the car surged forward. He nailed Turn 1, carried speed through Turn 2, and hit Turn 3's apex perfectly. At Turn 4, he braked 50 metres early to manage understeer, riding the left kerb almost to the gravel before regaining control.
The rest of the lap was clean, and he crossed the line with a 1:08.708 – just 0.074s off Rosberg's Q2 time, and firmly in the fight for pole.
"Looks like the champions were right!" commentators exclaimed.
Hamilton was next to set a time, but slid at Turn 4 and managed only 1:09.225. Rosberg responded with a 1:08.655 – fractionally faster than Wu Shi. Massa, Kvyat, Nasr, and Verstappen all set times but couldn't break 1:08, while Verstappen's 1:09.612 was slower than his Q2 pace, forcing him to plan a second lap.
As Q3 entered its final five minutes, drivers streamed out for their last attempts. Wu Shi had switched to a new set of supersofts – standard practice for one-stop tracks like this. He noticed the track had improved, with Turn 4's curbs now more grippy after multiple cars had used them.
As he approached the main straight, he spotted Verstappen's Toro Rosso ahead and tucked in for slipstream – Verstappen accelerated to help. The broadcast cameras locked onto car #59.
The first three corners were 0.15s faster than his previous lap. "He's going to beat his own time! Can he take pole?!"
Down the hill to Turn 4, a headwind hit – but Wu Shi welcomed it, knowing it would help with deceleration. He braked later than before, and the car screeched into the corner, riding the kerb to the edge of the track before snapping back into line.
"Incredible skill!" David shouted. "That wasn't luck – that was pure control!"
At the Turn 4 mini-sector, he was 0.2s up on his prior lap. With no later runners to gauge against, he pushed flat-out to the finish.
1:08.408 – provisional pole, 0.247s faster than Rosberg's best.
The Williams garage erupted in celebration. "Perfect lap, Wu Shi!" Jonathan cheered over radio. "Bring her back – do your best, and we'll wait for the others."
Wu Shi smiled to himself – he knew he could have gone faster if he'd run last, but kept it to himself.
Hamilton was next to complete his second lap, setting a 1:08.455 – faster than Rosberg but still 0.047s behind Wu Shi. It was clear he'd need a third flying lap.
As Hamilton began his cool-down lap, Rosberg launched his final attempt – determined to reclaim pole position!