29/05/2010
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's all important qualifying session, the air temperature is 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 39 degrees. Although it is bright there is still a lot of cloud, it is also quite windy.
Sebastian Vettel topped the timesheets this morning, however, the session wasn't without its problems for the Austrian team. Mark Webber, why suffered an engine failure in yesterday's second session, lost valuable time this morning as a result of a throttle problem. When he did get out again he appeared to have more than his fair share of handling issues running wide at Turn 8 on a couple of occasions.
With McLaren having topped the timesheets in yesterday's sessions, it was widely considered that Red Bull was simply biding its time. Now, despite the team's obvious pace, there is speculation that the Austrian might not be quite as (all round) strong as first suspected and that the team's well known reliability issues to could come back to haunt it.
Nico Rosberg popped in a late stunner this morning to go second, but for much of the weekend thus far he has looked less than impressive and a distinct second fiddle to his illustrious teammate. Will Turkey be where the German finally gets his championship back on track after a couple of off-colour races?
While the McLarens looked good yesterday they were not as impressive this morning, particularly when Hamilton got it all wrong at Turn 8 this morning, spinning 360 degrees and puncturing both his rear tyres in the process.
Alonso continues to dominate at Ferrari, the Italian team contesting its 800th Formula One World Championship Grand Prix this weekend. Though Felipe Massa finished tenth, the Brazilian appears a shadow of the man who took three back to back wins here not so long ago.
Renault continues to impress, particularly in terms of Robert Kubica. That said, running with the old rear wing yesterday, Vitaly Petrov gave his polish teammate a run for his money, so perhaps now that he too has the new wing we might see him add some more points to his tally this weekend. That's assuming there are no more screw ups in the forthcoming session.
Both Saubers have been looking good this weekend, but we've seen it all before and cannot help but feel that the Swiss outfit's dreadful reliability will be an issue once again.
Having crashed yesterday and suffered a technical problem this morning, Force India are looking just a little off colour, which plays straight into the hands of Toro Rosso who are looking much stronger this weekend.
Williams continues to disappoint, as the Grove team appears to fall back into the clutches of Lotus. Then again, according to what we are hearing the Malaysian team has its own problems. All will probably become clear over the summer.
It's business as usual for Virgin and Hispania, the two newbies continuing to struggle and clearly suffering from the restrictions on testing.
We expect Red Bull to take pole, most probably courtesy of Vettel, however, once again one has to wonder about the team's reliability.
Tyre options are hard (prime) and soft (option) with the softer compound only really good for one fast lap.
Minutes before the session is due to begin, Glock is advised that the wind has shifted, which means his car will feel different to how it felt this morning.
The lights go green and the two Virgins are first out, followed by the Lotus. Sutil is another early riser.
Glock sets the benchmark, the German crossing the line at 32.126, however, this is soon beaten by Kovalainen and then Trulli (31.722).
Button, Hamilton, Alonso and Massa are the first of the big guns to go out.
Sutil posts 30.433, however, Alonso goes quickest in the first two sector, finally crossing the line at 28.172.
Petrov goes second (28.461) but all eyes are on the McLaren duo, both drivers on hot laps. Button goes quickest (27.780) with teammate Hamilton (27.881) going second moments later.
As Massa goes fourth, only the Red Bull duo haven't appeared. Elsewhere, Alonso goes quickest in the second sector, consolidating third place with 27.894.
Repeating this morning's form, Rosberg posts 27.839 to go second as teammate Schumacher takes fifth with a 27.921.
Button improves with a 27.55 while Hamilton makes it a McLaren 1-2 again with a 27.667.
Webber posts 27.871 to go fifth, however, Vettel, who has gone quickest in the second sector, crosses the timing beam at 27.685 to go third.
Next time around, Vettel goes quickest again in the first sector, as Schumacher goes quickest in the second.
Webber goes quickest with a 27.500 but moments later his teammate posts 27.067 to make it a Red Bull 1-2. It begins. Kubica, currently eighth *27.840) improves to seventh with a 27.766.
With five minutes remaining, the usual suspects inhabit the danger zone; Chandhok, di Grassi, Senna, Glock, Kovalainen and Trulli. Liuzzi, Barrichello and the Toro Rosso duo are hovering.
Petrov posts personal bests in the first two sectors, improving from tenth to fourth with a 27.620. Buemi goes twelfth with a 28.534.
While Sutil is twelfth, teammate Liuzzi fails to improve on 29.598 and looks in danger of failing at the first hurdle. Kobayashi improves as does Alguersuari, while Liuzzi posts a personal best in the second sector. The Italian fails to improve and consequently he fails to make it into Q2.
Quickest in Q1 is Vettel, ahead of Webber, Button, Petrov, Rosberg, Hamilton, Schumacher, Kubica, Alonso and Sutil.
We lose Liuzzi, both Lotus drivers, both Virgins and both Hispanias.
The lights go green for Q2 and Jenson Button and Robert Kubica are first out. At which point the Live Timing system fails yet again, as it during this morning's sessions.
Kubica posts the benchmark, crossing the line at 27.487. Button goes second with a 27.586 but this is soon eclipsed by Vettel who goes quickest with a 27.188.
A 27.013 sees Hamilton go quickest with Webber (27.080) going second.
Michael Schumacher posts 27.512 to go fourth as Vettel raises the benchmark ever higher with a 26.925.
Whereas most of the times in Q1 were set on the prime tyre, we're now seeing the option compound put to use.
Kobayashi goes ninth with a 27.544 as teammate de la Rosa, who makes a mistake and runs wide, remains in the danger zone. Alonso is also down there as is Rosberg.
With 3:40 remaining, The Red Bull and McLaren drivers head back down the pitlane.
Schumacher posts a personal best in the first sector, and again in the second. Massa is also on a good lap as Schumacher improves from seventh to fifth (27.438).
Webber goes quickest of all in the first sector, as Alonso gets out of shape and ruins his lap. Webber goes quickest of all, crossing the line at 26.818.
Rosberg posts 27.141 to go fourth, but as the clock shows 0 Alonso remains in the danger zone. The Spaniard fails to improve and therefore misses the cut while Vettel posts 26.729 to go quickest.
A beautiful slide for Alguersuari, but it ruins his lap and therefore, like fellow Spaniards Alonso and de la Rosa, he is out at the second hurdle.
Quickest was Vettel, ahead of Webber, Hamilton, Rosberg, Massa, Button, Petrov, Kubica, Kobayashi and Schumacher.
We lose Sutil, Alonso, de la Rosa, Buemi, Barrichello, Alguersuari and Hulkenberg.
Kubica kicks off Q3, the Pole straight out of the box the minute the lights go green.
As Kubica begins his first flying lap - his only flying lap considering these option tyres - more and more of his rivals pour on to the track. Indeed, all but Kobayashi are on track.
Kubica crosses the line at an impressive 27.039 but moments later Hamilton posts an even more impressive 26.542. Button goes second with a 26.781.
Vettel goes second with a 26.760 with fellow-German Schumacher going fourth (26.857).
Despite all his previous problems, Webber posts 26.510 to go quickest, edging out Hamilton by 0.032s.
With 4:02 on the clock, Kobayashi finally leaves the pits. He has a clear track on which he will make full use of his one remaining set of softs.
As Kobayashi begins his sole flying lap, Webber, Mass and Petrov leave the pits.
The Japanese driver posts 28.122 which leaves him right where he started, in tenth.
Webber begins his final flying lap as the shoot-out reaches its climax. While the Australian posts a personal best, Hamilton is quickest of all. Massa and Petrov also on good laps.
Webber improves with a 26.295, and while he's quickest in the final sector, a poor second sees Hamilton remain second.
Vettel heads into the pits as Schumacher makes a pigs ear of Turn 8, just about missing the barriers. However, unlike Hamilton this morning, the German is unable to extract himself from the gravel trap.
Consequently, we don't get the climax we expected, and Webber has pole position all to himself, his third successive pole, which surely augurs well in terms of his third successive win.
Behind Webber, it's Hamilton, Vettel, Button, Schumacher, Rosberg, Kubica, Massa, Petrov and Kobayashi.
In light of his problems in the previous sessions, Webber will be mighty relieved to have got through qualifying unscathed, far less taking yet another pole. The Australian is clearly on a roll and while he is unlikely to have it his own way tomorrow, certainly compare to Monaco, he has to go into the race as favourite.
A strong performance from Hamilton which came very close to ruing the Red Bull party, the Englishman knowing that the key to tomorrow's race is a strong start and no mistakes. The McLaren has the quickest straightline speed, however, the Newey-designed Red Bull has the advantage through the corners, particularly Turn 8.
Vettel looked untypically peeved at the end of the session, then again he is aware that his mistake cost him any chance of pole. That said, with Randy Mandy beneath him he must go into tomorrow knowing that if anyone can stop the Webber steamroller it is him.
Michael Schumacher did what was needed when it was needed, however, one has to wonder if he might have qualified even higher up the grid had it not been for that mistake on his final run. On the other hand, teammate Nico Rosberg will be frustrated to lose out to the German once again.
Another strong performance from Robert Kubica who looks likely to add to his points tally tomorrow, while full credit to Vitaly Petrov for keeping it all together and making it into Q3 and qualifying ahead of the Ferraris.
Once again, Felipe Massa gets to overshadow his illustrious Ferrari teammate, however, once again, this is more about Fernando Alonso's shortcomings as opposed to a significant improvement from the Brazilian.
Kamui Kobayashi will be delighted to have made it through to Q3, especially when he out-qualified the likes of Alonso, however, we don't expect the Japanese driver or his team to figure significantly in tomorrow's race.
Toro Rosso had the edge over Williams, while Force India will be understandably frustrated. While Sutil appeared to be paying the price for his lack of tracktime, Liuzzi really does need to raise his game.
Lotus continues to get on with it, while Bruno Senna will be delighted to have qualified not only ahead of his teammate but also Lucas di Grassi.
The final shoot-out wasn't quite as exciting as we'd hoped, however, at least it appears that tomorrow might not be the Red Bull walkover we'd expected. Let's hope so.