07/06/2008
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's qualifying session, the air temperature is 27 degrees C, while the track temperature is 42 degrees. Like this morning, it is sunny, with no threat of rain.
Nico Rosberg set the pace in this morning's free practice session, however, two accidents - both involving Toro Rosso drivers - meant drivers were unable to run on light fuel loads and soft (super-soft) tyres in the final stages. This means a number of drivers have been compromised ahead of this afternoon's all-important session.
Just moments before the session, the stewards reveal that Vettel will miss the session, his car not having been repaired in time, while Bourdais receives a five-place penalty after changing his gearbox. Bad news for the Faenza-based outfit.
The lights go green, and first out is Piquet, followed by Sutil, Glock and Fisichella. Raikkonen is another 'early riser'.
Adrian Sutil posts the first time of the afternoon, the Force India driver posting 1:20.785. Moments later, Piquet crosses the line at 19.726.
An 18.660 sees Raikkonen go quickest, ahead of Coulthard, Glock, Piquet and Barrichello. They're all running on the hard (soft) option, and most drivers appear to be able to improve on their second flying lap… Glock being a prime example, the German improving to 18.618.
A 17.684 for Raikkonen as Massa makes it a Ferrari 1-2 with a 17.797. However, all eyes are on Hamilton and Kovalainen, who are both on track.
As Hamilton goes fifth (18.479), Raikkonen goes quickest in the first two sectors, eventually crossing the line at 17.301. Kovalainen posts 17.681 to go second, splitting the Maranello duo.
With half the first phase completed, Rosberg, Webber and the BMW drivers have yet to post a time.
Piquet, on soft (super-soft) goes ninth (18.523), as Hamilton takes the top spot with a 16.909. Moments later, his McLaren teammate takes second with a 17.287.
Webber is on track on softs, the Australian going thirteenth at his first attempt. Next time around he improves to sixth. Moments later, Coulthard, also on softs, goes eighth.
Kubica (hard) goes fifth, slotting in behind Alonso. His BMW teammate is still down in fifteenth.
As Barrichello goes twelfth (18.256), Button remains nineteenth, over 5s off his teammate's pace. With under four minutes remaining, the Englishman is in the pits, apparently suffering from a transmission problem. Indeed, he climbs from the car, his day's work clearly at an end.
Having gone quickest in the first sector, Massa (hard) goes sixth overall, crossing the line at 17.602. Webber (hards) improves but remains eighth. Elsewhere, Trulli takes his Toyota for a spin.
Hamilton, Kovalainen and Raikkonen have settled for their times, as Webber goes quickest in the second sector. Despite a poor final sector, the Red Bull driver moves up to seventh.
Along with Vettel and Button, Fisichella, Sutil and Bourdais all fail to make the cut and are therefore eliminated at the first hurdle.
Hamilton is quickest, Ahead of Massa, Kovalainen, Raikkonen, Alonso, Kubica, Webber, Nakajima, Rosberg and Trulli.
The second phase gets underway, and, surprisingly, Kovalainen is first out. Followed, moments later, by Rosberg. Raikkonen, Glock and Hamilton.
Kovalainen (soft) crosses the line at 1:18.160, as news comes through that sections of the track are breaking up, despite overnight repairs. This would account for the fact that the front runners are out so early, and on softs.
As Rosberg goes quickest (17.970), Trulli has another spin, this time at Turns 6/7. This compromises all the drivers who were on hot laps.
Behind Rosberg and Kovalainen, it's Raikkonen, Glock, Hamilton, Barrichello and Piquet.
A 17.400 sees Hamilton go quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Webber, Glock and Kovalainen. All the front runners, indeed, everyone on softs.
As Raikkonen goes second (17.590), Hamilton improves again, crossing the line at 17.034. Alonso takes fourth, ahead of Rosberg and Glock.
Massa goes quickest in the first sector, finally crossing the line at 17.353 to go second.
Heidfeld (hard) can only manage eleventh, while his BMW teammate, on softs, goes fourth, having gone quickest in the second sector. Moments later, Kovalainen goes fifth (17.034).
With four minutes remaining, Nakajima, Piquet, Trulli, Coulthard and Heidfeld are all in the 'danger zone'. Glock, Barrichello and Rosberg are hovering just above.
Raikkonen is on track, as Hamilton, Massa, Kubica and Kovalainen appear to have settled for their times.
The Finn, on softs, what else, stays third, despite going quickest in the second sector.
With a minute remaining, Nakajima fails to improve, still time for another lap, however.
Alonso goes fourth with a 17.575, only to be demoted by Webber moments later.
Despite a banzai attempt, Nakajima fails to improve, and therefore misses the cut, along with Piquet, Trulli, Coulthard and Glock. Trulli having his third big spin of the day.
Right at the end of the phase, on his in-lap, Webber spins and clouts the wall with the right-front of his car. There's no major damage, but it certainly won't have improved the car. Question is, will he take part in the final phase or settle for tenth?
Quickest was Hamilton, ahead of Massa, Raikkonen, Alonso, Webber, Kubica, Kovalainen, Heidfeld, Rosberg and Barrichello.
In the last couple of outings, Barrichello has appeared to have the edge over his Honda teammate. We're sure we're not the only ones to have noticed.
With David Coulthard already eliminated, there is further bad news for Red Bull with the news that Webber will play no further part in the day's activities.
The final phase gets underway, and the McLaren duo leads the way. Hamilton (soft) leading the way from Kovalainen (hard). At the start of his first flying lap, the Finn gets it wrong and takes to the grass.
Hamilton posts the benchmark, crossing the line at 18.721, as Massa goes second, ahead of Raikkonen and Kovalainen. Both Ferraris on the soft tyre.
Webber admits that his spin was due to the track breaking up, predicting that it will cause problems for everyone as the weekend progresses. Indeed, he suggests that Moto-Cross bikes might be better choice tomorrow as opposed to F1 cars.
Against all odds, Alonso (soft) goes second as Hamilton improves with an 18.510.
Kubica (hard) goes fourth, splitting Massa and Raikkonen, as Kovalainen seeks to improve on sixth.
Raikkonen sets a personal best in the first sector, then best of all in the second. At the line it's 18.735, the World Champion going second.
A 19.024 sees Rosberg go fourth, as Massa goes quickest in the first sector. Just under two minutes remaining.
Worried that his pole is under threat (sorry!), Hamilton goes out again.
Massa stays fifth, but there's time for one more lap.
All eyes on Kubica who goes quickest in the first sector. He's quickest again the final sector and takes provisional pole, however, Hamilton is still on track.
At the second split, Hamilton is 0.3s up on the Pole, going quickest in the final sector to take pole by 0.6s. A stunning lap form the McLaren driver, and just when he needed it.
Therefore, Hamilton starts from pole, ahead of Kubica, Raikkonen, Alonso, Rosberg, Massa, Kovalainen, Heidfeld, Barrichello and Webber.
Something of a topsy-turvy grid, but considering the state of the track, maybe not.
A superb performance from Lewis, but kudos also to Robert, Fernando, Nico and Rubens.
No doubt the track will undergo further repairs overnight, but what with a couple of support races, not to mention at least ninety minutes of F1 action tomorrow, it remains to be seen whether there will be further damage.
And let's not forget the threat of rain.