18/04/2009
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's free practice session, the air temperature is 24 degrees C, and the track temperature is 38 degrees. Once again, it is bright and sunny.
As previously reported, Renault has dropped its KERS devices, as has Robert Kubica, leaving just Nick Heidfeld and the McLarens with the controversial systems on their cars this weekend.
Both McLaren drivers have a new interim diffuser, as does Fernando Alonso.
Timo Glock will incur a five-place grid penalty this afternoon after changing the gearbox in his Toyota, while both Red Bulls had limited track time this morning due to a problem with the driveshaft on the Austrian outfit's cars, eventually traced to a faulty seal.
The smart money, as far as today's pole position is concerned, has to be on Jenson Button, however, keep an eye on Jarno Trulli, the Red Bulls and Nico Rosberg.
The lights go green, and Fisichella leads the way, followed by Sutil, Buemi and Rosberg.
The two tyre options this weekend are medium and super-soft, which we will refer to as hard and soft. Surprisingly,
Fisichella appears to be the only driver using softs at this stage, as he crosses the line at 1:39.502 to set the benchmark. However, this is soon beaten by Sutil, Buemi and ultimately Rosberg, who posts 37.646.
Surprisingly, Raikkonen is using the softs, followed, moments later by his Ferrari teammate, also on the softs.
Both Toyotas on track, however, Trulli's 7.518 is almost instantly beaten by Rosberg who improves with a 37.513.
A 37.351 sees Vettel go quickest as attention shifts to the Brawn drivers who are both on track.
Button goes quickest with a 37.31 but again this is almost instantly beaten, this time by Webber, who crosses the line at 37.100. Moments later however, Massa goes even quicker (36.780) before he too is eclipsed by Vettel with a 36.633.
It's fast and furious with the order forever changing. However, with nine minutes remaining it is Hamilton who goes quickest, ahead of Raikkonen, Vettel and Button.
A 36.374 sees Barrichello go quickest, as Alonso heads back to the pits having posted the tenth best time. Webber also dives into the pits but almost does a Rosberg when he goes off into the gravel at the start of the pitlane. Luckily the Australian is able to keep going.
Kovalainen and Piquet are now on track on the softs. The Finn has yet to set a time. Rosberg is also back on track, he too is now running the softs.
As Kovalainen goes seventh (36.646), Trulli, Heidfeld and Glock are all in the danger zone, with Alonso, Webber and Massa hovering.
Heidfeld is back out, but surprisingly still on hards. Either a vary brave move or a dumb one by the German team.
Rosberg goes quickest with a 35.941, having gone quickest in the first and final sectors.
Webber goes quickest in the first sector, as Massa also looks set to improve. Button also on a hot lap, as is Glock.
Massa goes second but all eyes are on Webber and Button. The Australian goes quickest (35.751), but this is almost instantly beaten by Button and then Barrichello.
Hamilton goes quickest in the first sector, as Heidfeld improves to twelfth. The Englishman goes fourth with a 35.776, as Bourdais fails to improve as does Kubica, who is out at the first hurdle.
At the end of phase one, Button is quickest, ahead of Barrichello, Webber, Hamilton, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Massa, Buemi, Trulli and Glock.
We lose Bourdais, Piquet, Kubica, Sutil and Fisichella.
Phase two gets underway, however, as usual there is a slight pause before anyone heads down the pitlane. After a minute or so, it is the Williams duo that breaks the deadlock.
As Rosberg begins his first flying lap, he passes a very, very slow Ferrari with Kimi Raikkonen at the wheel. All but Kovalainen, Heidfeld and Vettel on track.
Nakajima posts the first time of this phase, crossing the line at 36.193, but this is soon beaten by his Williams teammate who posts 35.809.
Button goes second to Rosberg, but almost instantly teammate Barrichello goes quickest with a 35.784.
Hamilton and Webber going quickest in various sectors, as Trulli goes fifth. Webber goes quickest with a 35.632 as Hamilton goes second, ahead of Barrichello, Rosberg and Raikkonen.
As Alonso goes fifth, attention shifts to Heidfeld, who, like Kovalainen and Vettel, has yet to post a time in the phase. The BMW driver goes seventh with a 35.975, as Kovalainen begins the final sector of his first flying lap, not helped by a major lock-up. The Finn crosses the line at 6.032 to go ninth.
Vettel is sitting in his car, and with just under four minutes remaining has yet to post a time. Meanwhile, many of the German's rivals are going out for their second runs. That said, Sebastian didn't look too concerned.
With 2:20 on the clock, Vettel leaves the pits, all fifteen remaining drivers now on track.
Button posts a personal best in sector 1, however, Buemi and Vettel are also quick.
While Barrichello aborts his lap, teammate Button goes quickest with a 35.556. Buemi goes eighth, but all eyes are on Vettel who goes quickest in the first sector.
Webber goes quickest with a 35.173, as Massa return to the pits his session over. Vettel goes quickest with a 35.130, giving Red Bull a 1-2 ahead of the two Brawns.
Quickest in phase two was Vettel, ahead of Webber, Barrichello, Button, Trulli, Hamilton, Alonso, Rosberg, Raikkonen and Buemi.
We lose Heidfeld, Kovalainen, Massa, Glock and Nakajima.
Replay shows Kovalainen being hindered by one of the Red Bulls on his final flying lap. It will be interesting to see if there is some form of punishment meted out for that.
Rosberg is first out for phase three, the German surely a good bet for pole position today. Alonso is also eager to get to work, as is Trulli.
Rosberg posts 39.131, but Trulli and Alonso both go quicker, the Spaniard posting 37.586.
Webber takes provisional pole with a 37.188, however, moments later he is demoted by Barrichello who crosses the line at 37.146. Button goes third with a 37.392. Buemi goes cross country as Raikkonen goes sixth.
Under three minutes and still no time from Hamilton or Vettel, both drivers leaving excruciatingly late. Indeed, Vettel, much like phase two, only leaves the pits at the very last moment.
It's a scrappy lap from Hamilton, as Rosberg can only manage fourth. The Englishman crosses the line at 38.595 to go seventh.
Webber goes quickest in the first sector, but will Vettel spoil his party? The Australian maintains his tremendous pace in sector two, as Alonso and Vettel turn up the heat.
Webber goes quickest with a 36.466, but all eyes turn to Vettel and Alonso as Button fails to beat the Australian's time.
Vettel goes quickest and Alonso second, with Webber slipping down to third, ahead of the Brawns. Hamilton can only manage ninth, just behind Raikkonen.
So, Sebastian Vettel take pole, the second of his career, ahead of Alonso, Webber, Barrichello, Button, Trulli, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Hamilton and Buemi.
Last time Vettel started from pole was at Monza last year, when he went on to take a magnificent victory. It remain to be seen whether such a feat can be repeated here tomorrow.
All in all a superb performance from Red Bull, which has been impressive since Melbourne, even if Lady Luck hasn't always smiled on the Austrian team, or indeed, its number one driver. While we don't yet know the fuel loads, it can be assumed that Sebastian and Mark's positions are genuine and that the duo will be competitive tomorrow.
Despite Alonso's undoubted skills, we have to remain sceptical that Renault has suddenly found the 'magic touch', not while Flavio Briatore still goes apoplectic at the mention of the word 'Brawn'. Therefore, we have to assume the Spaniard was running on fumes.
The Brawn due will be disappointed to be as far down the grid as fourth and fifth, but as we've said before, we've a sneaking feeling that the BGP001's dominance isn't limited to its diffuser, so we expect the duo to be battling for another win tomorrow.
We're surprised to see Trulli down in sixth, and even more surprised to see Glock down in fourteenth, before his grid penalty is taken into account. However, there are already whispers that both cars were running with heavy fuel loads. Time will tell.
Rosberg will also feel disappointed, having look so good this morning and for much of this afternoon's session. Then again, fuel loads and tyre management have to be considered and we have a feeling the German and his team should not be entirely ruled out.
While Buemi has every right to be delighted with his performance, Ferrari and McLaren still have a long, long way to go, as does BMW. For these three teams, this weekend, and indeed, Bahrain, has to be about damage limitation.
A great qualifying session which hopefully is the forerunner of a great Grand Prix. Surely after some of the recent negative publicity this sport, and its long suffering fans, needs something to smile about.