2013 Spanish F1 Grand Prix starting grid

Top 3 qualifyers: 1. Rosberg 2. Hamilton 3. Vettel

Mercedes F1 driver Nico Rosberg has clinched his third F1 career pole position, ahead of his team mate Lewis Hamilton. Pole position was set on Pirelli’s white medium F1 tyres, which have been nominated alongside the new orange hard tyres this weekend.

Rosberg’s 2013 Spanish F1 GP qualifying time of 1m20.718s on the medium compound was more than a second a half quicker than the 2012 pole position set by Williams driver Pastor Maldonado (1m22.285s) on last year’s soft, despite the fact that usage of the DRS was unlimited last season. Historically a strong qualifying performance is vital in Barcelona, as only once has the race been won from beyond the front row of the grid.

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa went quickest in the final free practice session this morning, sealing fastest time by just 0.006 seconds from Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen right at the end of the hour, using the medium compound.

The Pirelli mystery strategy predictor: The fastest strategy for the 66-lap Spanish F1 GP on Circuit de Catalunya set to be a three-stopper in Spain this weekend, as was the case last year. It goes as follows: start on the medium tyre, switch the medium on lap 16, medium again on lap 33 and a final stop for hard tyres on lap 50.

Alternatively, there is another effective three-stop strategy. Start on the medium tyre, switch to the medium on lap 17, switch to the hard on lap 34 and a final stint on the hard tyre from lap 50.

Esteban Gutiérrez of Sauber picked up a three-place penalty for impeding Kimi Räikkönen and will start 19th in stead of 16th. Felipe Massa also receive a 3 place grid penalty for impeding Red Bull’s Mark Webber.

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