22/08/2009
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's qualifying session, the air temperature is 29 degrees and the track temperature is 44 degrees. It is bright, sunny and very, very warm.
We said at the beginning of this morning's free practice session that Friday's two session posed more questions than they answered. However, in this morning's session it was much of the same, with an engine failure on Vettel's car causing a twenty-five minute stoppage.
Consequently, we go into this afternoon's all-important session under the impression that Adrian Sutil is the pace setter ahead of Nakajima and Kubica. Now, no disrespect to any of these three drivers, but we do not expect them to be at the front of the grid tomorrow afternoon far less standing on the podium.
Certainly, Brawn appears to have rediscovered it's early season form, but it remains to be seen whether this is genuine progress or merely a blip down to the exceedingly high temperatures over the last couple of days. On the other hand, Red Bull has been disappointing here thus far this weekend, with Vettel's engine failure this morning merely compounding the Milton Keynes outfit's misery.
The limited running this morning, coupled with an off yesterday afternoon, has made it difficult to judge where McLaren stands, a situation made all the more difficult by the fact that Hamilton and Kovalainen are running two different chassis, the Englishman in a short wheelbase car and the Finn in the standard (longer) version. However, it was clear in Hungary that the Woking team has made a major leap forward.
Fernando Alonso topped the timesheets yesterday afternoon, and it is reasonable to expect the Spaniard to be one of the quicker men in the forthcoming session, eager to be ahead of the KERS runners on tomorrow's grid.
Ferrari hasn't looked too promising thus far this weekend, and with Badoer seemingly unable to kick life into Raikkonen it doesn't look as though the Prancing horse will be springing any surprises for the time being.
Toyota has also been disappointing, but the TF109 was off the pace in Monaco also, so maybe its simply this kind of track which doesn' suit the Japanese car.
On the other hand watch out for Williams, which continues to impress, and Force India, which, courtesy of a raft of upgrades, is really causing a stir here, especially in the hands of Adrian Sutil.
Normally, we would take this opportunity to make our prediction as to how the next hour will unfold, however, we simply don't have enough data on which to make a reasonable assessment. Therefore, we're going to stick our necks out and say Alonso on pole, ahead of Hamilton with Brawns right behind. Though, based on previous events this weekend we'll probably see Sutil on pole ahead of Nakajima and Kubica.
The lights go green and Badoer leads the way, on super-softs, followed by Buemi, Nakajima, Sutil and Fisichella.
Badoer crosses the line at 1:42.957, however, this is almost instantly beaten by Nakajima, Fisichella and then Sutil. The long, long line of cement dust, the result of Vettel's engine failure this morning, is still clearly visible.
As Buemi and Kovalainen both post fast sector time, Alonso remains the only driver who hasn't left the pits.
Sure enough, Buemi goes quickest, ahead of Rosberg and Raikkonen, only for Webber to take third with a 40.291. Moments later, Kovalainen takes the top spot with a 39.997. Elsewhere, Grosjean gets it all wrong at Turn 5.
Raikkonen improves with a 39.718, as Hamilton runs wide at Turn 1.
Kovalainen re-takes the top spot with a 39.652, ahead of Vettel, as Fisichella goes quickest in the first sector. Sutil also is on a hot lap.
As Rosberg goes quickest, Button improves to sixth, having gone quickest in the final sector. Hamilton can only manage 54.356 following his earlier mishap. Still no time from Alonso.
Fisichella posts 39.531 to go second, as Barrichello and Hamilton both look set to make major improvements.
Barrichello goes quickest (39.019) and Hamilton second (39.198), however, moments later Kovalainen splits the pair with a 39.107.
Both Toyotas in the danger zone, with Grosjean and Webber however, not to mention Alonso.
Hamilton goes quickest with a 38.649, as Alonso improves to eighth with a 39.603.
A fine effort from Grosjean sees the Renault new boy go fourth as Sutil and Fisichella stand sixth and seventh with just over four minutes remaining.
All but Hamilton and Alguersuari on track with just over three minutes remaining.
It's all over for Nakajima who stops off track. A bitter disappointment for the Japanese youngster.
Button goes quickest in the first sector as Alguersuari heads down the pitlane.
Webber goes quickest in the final sector and sixth overall, as Button, still on a good lap, drops into the danger zone. The Englishman crosses the line at 39.088 to go fourth.
A late improvement sees Buemi go third as Barrichello goes quickest in the first sector.
Kubica goes second as Glock goes fifteenth and a 38.531 sees Button go quickest.
At the end of Q1, it's: Button, Hamilton, Kubica, Kovalainen, Raikkonen, Buemi, Webber, Barrichello, Heidfeld and Rosberg.
We lose, Fisichella, Nakajima, Trulli, Alguersuari and Badoer.
Raikkonen leads the way as Q2 gets underway, the Finn followed by Kubica, Heidfeld, Buemi and Rosberg.
Raikkonen posts the benchmark, crossing the line at 1:38.823., 0.020s up on his best Q1 effort. Moments later however, it is Barrichello who goes quickest (38.645) before he too is demoted by Button (38.601). The Brawns looking good.
A 38.579 sees Kovalainen take the top spot, as Vettel goes third and Webber fifth.
For a few brief seconds Rosberg is quickest before his time is beaten by Barrichello and then Hamilton.
As in Q1, Alonso is leaving it very, very late, he and his Renault teammate being the only drivers still to post a time.
Kovalainen goes quickest in the first sector, however, he fails to improve his overall time.
Grosjean goes fourteenth (39.742), the Frenchman unable to repeat his Q1 pace. Surprisingly, his teammate is also struggling. Indeed, Alonso can only manage 38.853, which puts him eleventh.
Just over three minutes remaining, and Alonso, Grosjean, Glock, Buemi and Sutil are still in the danger zone.
Webber makes a mistake and has to abort his lap, as Button, Heidfeld and Raikkonen all look set to improve. All but Hamilton, who heads the timesheets, are on track.
Barrichello goes quickest in the second sector, however, a poor final sector sees him fail to improve.
Vettel posts 38.285 to go third as Kovalainen goes quickest in the first sector. Fellow Finn is in eighth, just above the danger zone.
Barrichello goes quickest with a 38.076 as Alonso improves to eighth, thereby dropping Raikkonen to tenth.
Q2 ends with Barrichello quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Kovalainen, Vettel, Rosberg, Button, Webber, Alonso, Kubica and Raikkonen.
Out go Heidfeld, Sutil, Glock, Grosjean and Buemi.
Kubica is first out for the all-important Q3, followed by Kovalainen, Raikkonen and Rosberg.
Kubica posts the first time, the Pole crossing the line at 41.381. However, moments later Rosberg goes quicker until he too is beaten by Raikkonen and then Hamilton who is 1.5s faster than the Ferrari driver.
A 40.945 sees Alonso go fourth, only for the Spaniard to be demoted by Button who stops the clock at 39.905 to go second.
With just over four minutes remaining, all but Webber, Vettel and Barrichello have posted times.
As Barrichello goes quickest in the first sector, Hamilton leaves the pits, with 1:58 on the clock.
Kovalainen goes quickest in the first sector, as Barrichello goes second overall with a 39.563. The Brazilian is instantly demoted as Kovalainen posts 39.532.
Hamilton starts his final lap with just 8s to spare.
Kovalainen is quickest in the first sector, and again in the second. The Finn is flying, however a mistake in the final sequence of corners sees him fail to improve.
All eyes on Hamilton who goes quickest in the second sector. However, knowing that his previous time cannot be beaten the World Champion dives into the pits taking his first pole position since China last year.
Kovalainen takes second, giving McLaren its first front-row lock-out since Hungary 2008.
Barrichello finishes third quickest, ahead of Vettel, Button, Raikkonen, Rosberg, Alonso, Webber and Kubica.
There was never any question that Hamilton's win in Hungary was a fluke, indeed, from outset of the weekend in Budapest it was clear the Woking team had made a major step forward.
However, the British team's determination to catch up with the opposition, as witnessed thus far this weekend, is breathtaking. Other than the standard updates, the Woking team has even gone to the trouble of producing a short wheelbase version, which, though flying in the face of cost cutting, underlines the team's fighting - dare we say bulldog - spirit.
If the truth be told even the Woking boys will be surprised to have locked-out the front row, all that remains now is for Lewis and Heikki to do the business tomorrow… a move which might secure the Finn a third season with the Woking team.
With the Brawns starting third and fifth this is a much, much better result than any of us were expecting this weekend. However, like their Woking rivals. The Brackley squad must ensure that they also convert their qualifying positions into good race results.
Another strong result for Rosberg while Alonso was clearly struggling, and as for Red Bull, their hopes seem to rest on Mark Webber.
An intriguing qualifying session, which, like so many of this weekends session, poses so many questions.
Hopefully we'll get some answers tomorrow.