24/05/2008
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's all-important qualifying session, the air temperature is 20 degrees C, while the track temperature is 23 degrees. It is bright and sunny.
This morning's free practice session was a 'game of two halves', with the first half hour being run in dry conditions while the second half was somewhat wet. While Kovalainen was quickest in the dry, ahead of Hamilton and Raikkonen, Alonso was quickest in the wet, ahead of Kubica and the Ferraris.
We understand that Giancarlo Fisichella changed his gearbox following this morning's session, which means he will almost certainly be demoted five grid places. Sebastian Vettel has already been informed that he too will take a five-spot hit, as he is using a different gearbox to that used in Turkey. The fact that he is driving a different car (the STR3) meaning little to the stewards here.
There is only a 20 percent chance of rain during the forthcoming session, with nothing expected in the first thirty minutes.
The lights go green, and first out is two-time Monaco winner, David Coulthard, who had limited running this morning following an oil pressure problem. The Scot is followed by Sutil and Vettel.
Coulthard posts the first time of the session, crossing the line at 18.539. Sutil posts 19.575 as Heikki Kovalainen heads down the pitlane.
A 17.862 sees Vettel go quickest, however, moments later Coulthard re-takes the top spot with a 17.732.
Vettel goes quickest in all three sectors, crossing the line at 16.955, a great time, considering that much of Thursday's runner has been washed away.
Kovalainen goes quickest in the first and final sectors, crossing the line at 16.806, to go quickest ahead of Raikkonen (16.839), who was quickest in the second sector.
Massa goes quickest with a 16.604, but is almost instantly demoted by Kovalainen who posts a 16.315. However, Rosberg, who has been consistently quick this weekend, takes the top spot with a 16.116.
More misery for Piquet, who is on the super-softs, who gets it all wrong at Ste Devote and heads down the slip road.
A 16.646 sees Alonso go fourth, however, with only half the first phase of the session complete there is still a long, long way to go.
As Raikkonen posts 15.717 to go quickest, Hamilton raises the benchmark with a 15.582. Elsewhere, the BMW duo heads down the pitlane.
On his first flying lap, Kubica goes sixth (16.496), however, he is almost instantly leapfrogged by Webber and Glock. Heidfeld goes twelfth.
Bourdais, on the super-softs, cuts the Nouvelle Chicane for the second successive lap. Elsewhere, Coulthard moves up to seventh with a 16.390.
With less than five minutes remaining, Piquet and Nakajima are still in trouble, while Trulli and Button are hardly what one might call safe.
Kovalainen, on the soft option, goes quickest with a 15.295. The Finn continues to look good this weekend, despite that error this morning.
The top four - Kovalainen, Hamilton, Raikkonen and Massa - have clearly settled for their times, as has Kubica, however, for the rest it's time to make that final assault.
Piquet gets it all wrong at Portiere, the Brazilian only just managing to avoid the rear end of his Renault hitting the barriers.
Coulthard improves to eighth and Trulli tenth, however, it's not looking good for Piquet. Sure enough, the Brazilian can only manage sixteenth, which isn't good enough.
Massa, who opted to make a surprise final run, posts 15.190 to go quickest, the Brazilian clearly having a point to prove.
Therefore, at the first hurdle, we lose Bourdais, Piquet, Vettel, Sutil and Fisichella.
Quickest was Massa, ahead of Kovalainen, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Rosberg, Kubica, Webber, Coulthard, Barrichello and Button.
The lights go green, signalling the start of the second phase. Though it remains bright and sunny, the rain clouds are definitely closing in.
Most of the running thus far, as in Turkey, has been on the harder (soft) option tyre, as opposed to the soft (ok, super-soft) option.
Over two minutes into the session, Fernando Alonso is first out. Moments later, clearly having seen those clouds, Raikkonen, Massa, Rosberg and Nakajima are heading down the pitlane.
Alonso posts the first time of the second phase, the two-time champion crossing the line at 16.511. However, Raikkonen is on a hot lap, the Finn going quickest in the first two sectors. At the line the 2007 world Champion posts 15.404 to go quickest, Rosberg goes second.
A 15.110 sees Massa go quickest, however, all eyes are on Hamilton, who goes quickest in the first sector. He loses pace in the second sector, making a minor mistake at the hairpin, consequently, he can only manage third (15.420).
Next time around the Englishman improves to second, splitting the Ferraris, while Kovalainen goes fourth, ahead of Webber, Coulthard and Glock.
Kubica goes sixth, splitting the Red Bulls, with a 15.815. Heidfeld can only manage twelfth (16.455).
Alonso (currently thirteenth) watches from his garage, the Spaniard clearly knowing that his only hope this weekend is the weather.
Kubica improves to fifth, as Rosberg heads down the pitlane on the harder option. Just over four minutes remaining and Kovalainen is back on track. As the Finn sets a personal best in the first sector, Hamilton goes quickest in the same sector. Overall, the Finn fails to improve, while once again Hamilton gets it wrong in the second sector.
Rosberg goes second, the German posting a highly impressive 15.287. A brilliant lap from the youngster.
Less than a minute remains and Alonso, Heidfeld and Button are still very much in danger.
Trulli goes seventh and Alonso ninth, but a wheel rolling down the road brings out the yellow flags. It is some time before we get to see who the wheel belonged to… it is the property of David Coulthard. The Scot clouts the barriers after exiting the tunnel, in the braking zone for the Nouvelle Chicane, and though he makes it through to the final phase he will play no further part in today's session. There is no apparent reason for the incident, which suggests that it was some kind of technical failure. Not really what you want at 185 mph.
We lose Glock, Button, Heidfeld, Nakajima and Barrichello.
Quickest was Massa, ahead of Rosberg, Hamilton, Kovalainen, Raikkonen, Kubica, Trulli, Webber, Alonso and Coulthard.
The final phase gets underway, and Heikki Kovalainen leads Nico Rosberg out on to the track. Both men looking very good here this weekend.
The Finn posts the first time of the phase, crossing the line at 16.621. Moments later, Hamilton goes quickest (16.313) and Rosberg third (17.594).
A 16.112 sees Raikkonen go quickest, as teammate Massa gets a little out of shape. The Brazilian takes third with a 16.399.
Webber goes sixth on the harder tyre, as Kubica begins his first flying lap.
Hamilton (super-soft) is running ahead of Kubica (also super-soft), the Pole moving up to second with a 16.233). That was despite a time-wasting lock-up at Rascasse.
With just under three minutes remaining, Hamilton goes out for his final assault. He currently has a clear track, but that won't be the case for long. Most but not all are on the super-softs.
Hamilton goes quickest in the first sector, as Raikkonen consolidates top spot with a 15.815, despite a mistake at Rascasse.
Kovalainen goes second, but is demoted moments later by his McLaren teammate. However, it is Massa who takes pole position with a final lunge, the Brazilian posting 15.787 to make it a Monaco lock-out for Ferrari.
Kubica qualifies fifth, ahead of Rosberg, with Alonso seventh, ahead of Trulli, Webber and Coulthard.
A superb effort from Massa and indeed Raikkonen, as Ferrari prove the pundits wrong with a sensational display.
Of course, with the 'experts' still predicting rain tomorrow, this could all be academic, however, it has to be admitted that nobody really expected Ferrari to be on pole here, far less a front row lock-out.
McLaren will be somewhat disappointed with third and fourth, while Kubica and certainly Rosberg will be delighted with their efforts.
A typically bullish performance from Fernando Alonso, who continues to do the best he can with the equipment at his disposal, while Jarno Trulli once again gets the Toyota into the final shoot-out.
Ordinarily, Red Bull would be delighted to have both cars in the top ten, however, Coulthard's accident, and indeed, it's sheer ferocity, will keep the team fully occupied ahead of tomorrow's race.
As ever, strategy will play a major part tomorrow, but so will the weather.
Some drivers are sure to be doing rain dances late into the night tonight, other will be hoping and praying that conditions remain the same.