13/11/2010
NEWS STORY
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Not for the first time this season, one has to preface a qualifying report with the words… "it would take a brave man…"
However, the fact is that after three practice sessions it is almost impossible to say who - if anyone - has the edge as we go into the final qualifying session of the year.
Sebastian Vettel has topped the timesheets in two of the session and Lewis Hamilton in the third. However, following this morning's surprisingly low key hour we are no closer to knowing who might take pole position for the season finale.
Naturally, all eyes are on the quartet of drivers fighting for the world championship. However, let's not forget that while Red Bull has won the constructors' title behind the Top 5 there is an epic battle between Williams and Force India for sixth and the newbies fighting for tenth. Furthermore, while it is the drivers' title that gets the publicity and kudos it is the teams' championship that decides the prize money.
Also, there are a number of drivers who have yet to secure seats for next season, therefore this is their last real opportunity to make a good impression… or not.
Then again, the main feature is the ongoing battle between Messrs Alonso, Webber, Vettel and Hamilton, the tightest season going into the final round since Aron, Sarti, Stoddard and Barlini headed to Monza for that ill-fated dice on the banking.
And let's face it, what we have this weekend is every bit as much Hollywood as anything John Frankenheimer was able to come up with. Indeed, as we have said before, even Turk Thrust and the Formula One Script Unit would be hard pressed to match the current scenario.
Tyres this weekend - Bridgestone final Grand Prix - are medium (prime) and super-soft (option), and while the softer rubber is clearly faster we didn't see any massive improvements in the final stages of this morning's session. Then again, the amount of dust on the track has hardly helped the drivers in terms of grip.
While there is talk of new components and all manner of speculation as to possible tactics tomorrow - some of them absolutely ludicrous - the best thing is to sit back and watch it all unfold for in many ways this is like one of those murder mysteries in which the director and write have deliberately held something back. You think you know the answer but are also certain that there is yet one more twist in the pipeline.
Whatever happens today or tomorrow this season isn't about one race or even two races it's about a whole season of nineteen races and the four protagonists all deserve their place in the spotlight. Whoever wins - assuming there is no silliness - will be a worthy winner, a true champion.
As Alguersuari and Buemi head down the pitlane to get Q1 under way, the air temperature is 28 degrees C while the track temperature is 33 degrees. Humidity is 49%.
Surprisingly, the McLaren duo are among the first to go out, their rivals at Ferrari and Red Bull opting to watch and wait. Indeed, let's not forget that the Ferrari duo chose to sit out the final minutes of this morning's session.
Alguersuari goes quickest (1:43.428), ahead of Buemi and Glock however, Hulkenberg, Button and then Hamilton (41.245) go quicker. The Ferraris and Red Bulls leave the pits.
A 42.237 sees Heidfeld go third as Button complains of a "massive vibration which is getting bigger and bigger".
Barrichello goes second (41.667) and Vettel third (41.886) as Schumacher goes quickest in S2. The German veteran crosses the line at 41.679 to go third overall.
Brazil hero Hulkenberg goes third only to be demoted when Alonso posts a 40.991. Hamilton consolidates his top spot with a 40.743.
Lots of drivers, including both Mercedes drivers, are running wide. No such problems for Massa who posts 41.268 to go fourth.
Vettel goes quickest in S1 however, he loses ground in S2. Webber improves to eighth with a 41.556 as Vettel goes quickest overall with a 40.617.
All four title protagonists are in the Top 5, Alonso going second overall with a 40.739 only to be demoted when Hamilton re-takes the top spot with a 40.335. However, the Mercedes duo is up there also, as is Massa.
Webber goes third with a 40.690 however, moments later he loses out to a 40.409 from Alonso. Massa posts 40.942 to take fifth.
Alonso goes quickest with a 40.170 posting personal bests in all three sectors. With 4:29 on the clock the Spaniard leads the way from Vettel, Hamilton and Webber.
Other than the usual suspects, Alguersuari, Kobayashi, Liuzzi and Buemi are up against it as we approach the closing stages of Q1.
All but the leading five are on track as the clock slowly ticks down. Surprisingly, Button drives out of the McLaren garage for a final run.
Petrov improves to eighth and Barrichello ninth as Button goes quickest in S2, the sector where the McLaren rule thanks to their F-ducts. However, he loses time in the final sector and fails to improve on fifth.
As Kobayashi improves to tenth (41.045), the Toro Rossos are battling to escape the drop. Buemi runs wide and thereby misses the cut, the Swiss possibly bringing his hopes of retaining his seat to an end.
A late charge sees Rosberg go second overall, as Alguersuari does just enough to make it to Q2.
We lose Buemi, Trulli, Kovalainen, Glock, di Grassi, Senna and Klien.
Quickest was Alonso, ahead of Rosberg, Vettel, Hamilton, Webber, Button, Barrichello, Massa, Hulkenberg and Petrov.
The Ferraris are amongst the first out for Q2 as are the Mercedes drivers.
Alonso makes an early charge, the Spaniard going quickest in all three sectors and crossing the line at 40.475, almost half-a-second quicker than teammate Massa who posts 40.906.
Button is quickest in S2 (again) as Hulkenberg goes third overall. The Englishman posts a 40.267 to go quickest however, Massa, who looks set to improve, loses a heap of time in S3.
Schumacher goes third and Liuzzi seventh as Hamilton goes quickest in S1. However, the McLaren driver is over 5s off the pace in S2 after out-braking himself, thereby ruining his lap. Elsewhere, Button consolidates his top spot with a 40.156.
All eyes on Vettel and Webber who begin their first flying laps. They go twelfth and thirteenth, improving to first (Vettel) and fourth (Webber) next time around. The German breaks the 1:39s barrier for the first time this weekend.
With 5:30 on the clock, Hamilton is still in the danger zone as are Heidfeld and Kobayashi.
Petrov goes sixth with a 40.658, the Russian giving a good account of himself today.
Vettel goes quickest in S1 as he and Webber begin another flying lap with 3:25 on the clock.
Replay shows Hamilton running off track and hitting a bollard in an incident involving Massa. The McLaren driver seemed totally unaware that the Ferrari was there, effectively ruining his lap. Could the Englishman be facing another trip to the stewards?
As Alonso goes quickest in S2, Hamilton is on a hot lap crossing the line at 40.119 to go second. Massa also improves, going fifth with a 40.311.
Kubica, who is still in the danger zone, begins his final flying lap. Sutil, Heidfeld Hulkenberg and Liuzzi also facing the chop.
Webber and Rosberg are both on hot laps, the Australian going third overall with a 40.074. Kubica runs wide in the final corner and consequently fails to improve and misses the cut.
Late charges see Rosberg go third and Schumacher eighth as Kubica, Kobayashi, Sutil, Heidfeld, Hulkenberg, Liuzzi and Alguersuari fall at the second hurdle.
Quickest was Vettel, ahead of Button, Rosberg, Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, Massa, Schumacher, Barrichello and Petrov.
And so, as we go into the final shoot out of 2010, we are none the wiser as to who really has the ultimate pace… though based on Q2 it isn't Hamilton. Then again, one wonders if the Englishman is facing punishment for the incident with Massa.
Button is first out for the final phase, the Englishman having admitted that his world championship hopes ended at Spa. Hamilton is also out early as is Webber.
Schumacher, Rosberg, Vettel and Petrov remain in their garages watching, will they be opting for one run?
As Vettel heads down the pitlane, Barrichello posts 41.092. Button posts 39.823 but this is soon beaten by his McLaren teammate who crosses the line at 239.582.
Alonso can only manage 40.058 and Massa 40.202, both over half-a-second off the pace.
Webber crosses the line at 48.117, the Australian having had a dreadful first lap. The McLarens and Ferraris head back to the pits.
On his next lap, Webber posts 40.004 to go third, having gone quickest in S3. Moments later Vettel posts a 39.448 to take provisional pole, the German carrying amazing speed through the final corner.
On his next lap, Vettel is quickest again in S2, maintaining the pace in S2. Webber fails to improve and remains fourth, while Vettel consolidates his top spot with a 39.394.
With less than a minute to go, and all ten drivers on track, Vettel once again goes quickest in S1. Hamilton, Massa, Schumacher and Alonso running as one and thereby getting in one another's way.
Webber and Vettel both fail to improve on their third flying lap, but has the German done enough?
Barrichello and Rosberg are both on quick laps, but nobody seems to be threatening Vettel.
Hamilton posts 39.425 to go second as Alonso goes third with a 39.792. A late improvement sees Button go fourth thereby demoting Webber to fifth.
Consequently. Vettel will start from pole position for the tenth time this season, ahead of Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Webber, Massa, Barrichello, Schumacher, Rosberg and Petrov.
So, one question is answered, but so many others remain. While Vettel takes another important step towards his first title, it is Alonso who clearly has the advantage.
Webber will be massively disappointed and rightly so, but at least he has the consolation of starting on the clean side of the track.
We started our report with the words… "it would take a brave man…" As we look ahead to tomorrow that would appear to be the mantra.
We can hardly wait.
To check out our Abu Dhabi qualifying gallery, click here