Williams has revealed both Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa were hampered by software issues during qualifying for the Belgian Grand Prix.
Massa was actually quickest in Q1 after needing an extra set of supersofts to progress, and both drivers made it through to the final part of qualifying. However, Bottas could only qualify eighth - behind both Force Indias - and Massa was slowest of the ten runners after a lock-up at La Source.
Williams confirmed after the session that both of its cars were hurt by an engine software issue, which Mercedes High Performance Powertrains (HPP) is now investigating. The team says the problem prevented it from running its qualifying mode and cost it lap time, estimating Bottas should have qualified in sixth place ahead of Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg.
Although hampered by the issue in qualifying, Williams is confident the problem will have no impact on its race pace.
Williams is currently locked in a tight battle with Force India for fourth place in the constructors' championship this season, holding just a 15-point advantage in the standings ahead of this weekend's race.
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