Spielberg, 21 June –Qualifying for the Austrian Grand Prix produced a surprising front row, while the Scuderia Ferrari drivers will be starting from the second and fourth rows. Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest in 1.09.285, equaling his best result of the season in Malaysia. Kimi Raikkonen will start from eighth, with a time of 1.10.795.
Both men had a relatively smooth passage into Q2, but from then on life got harder. Fernando was on a perfect lap but made a mistake at the end of the final corner, going off on the grass, which meant he had to try again. Kimi pushed hard all the way to squeeze through in last place for the top ten shoot-out.
The final stages were action packed. Fernando posted a strong 1.09.285, while Williams locked out the front row with Felipe Massa taking his first pole since Brazil 2008 in 1.08.759 and Valtteri Bottas doing a 1.08.846. In third was championship leader Nico Rosberg in 1.08.944, who was unable to improve as he came up behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton who had spun at Turn 2. Kimi never got a clean lap and could do no better than eighth.