Hulkenberg qualifies 10th for Austrian GP, Perez to start 16th

Spielberg, Austria: Nico Hulkenberg will begin Sunday`s Austrian Grand Prix in 10th place while his Sahara Force India teammate Sergio Perez will start 16th on the grid due to a five-place grid penalty.

Hulkenberg`s timing of 1:09.624 was good enough to get him into Q3 but the German decided not to set any timing in the final qualifying session. Perez (1:09.624), who was marginally behind Hulkenberg was eliminated in Q2 to settle for 11th position. Since he copped a five-place grid penalty for causing a collision in the last race in Canada, he will have to start from the 16th position on the grid. Felipe Massa secured his pole position since 2008 as Williams locked the front row of the grid sensationally. Valtteri Bottas will join Massa on the front row after a supremely successful Qualifying session. Championship leader Nico Rosberg was third while his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton did not set a time in Q3 and will start ninth ahead of Hulkenberg.