26/11/2011
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 27 degrees C, while the track temperature is 43 degrees. We don't say 'all important' qualifying session because it is widely predicted that tomorrow's race will be wet, which is going to throw a damper on whatever is achieved this afternoon.
Despite earlier predictions that there would be rain this afternoon, at this stage it appears to have bypassed the circuit, however, it is understood that tomorrow's rain will be more widespread and last a lot longer.
Mark Webber led the way in yesterday morning's session, while Lewis Hamilton did the honours in the afternoon. This morning it was Sebastian Vettel's turn, the German edging out Jenson Button. However, ignoring the weather, it was noticed that the softs on certain cars, most notably the Red Bulls, were blistering.
The world championship is decided but there is still much to fight for. While, as Ron Dennis says, 'second is the first of the losers', Mark Webber would surely love to finish second in the Drivers' Championship, particularly considering the domination his teammate has enjoyed. However, let's not forget the in-team battle at McLaren, while Fernando Alonso's performance in Abu Dhabi was typical of the Spaniard's approach to this season.
F1, as you are well aware, is all about money however, and it is the Constructors' Championship that decides who gets what prize money. The difference between finishing fourth or fifth can mean many tens of millions of dollars, hence the fierce ongoing battle between Renault and force India for fifth and Sauber and Toro Rosso for seventh. Then again let's not forget the tussle between Lotus, HRT and Virgin for tenth.
Finally, let's not forget that a number of drivers have yet to secure seats for next season - including veteran Rubens Barrichello - therefore this a final chance, under race conditions, to set out their stall.
In just a few minutes the skies have darkened in the distance, consequently, we could see all the drivers come out much earlier than normal just in case.
Trulli leads the way, followed by Kovalainen, Buemi and Glock. Hamilton is one of the first out, as Alonso watches from the comfort of his car in the Ferrari garage.
As the Lotus begin their first flying laps, Alonso, Massa, Schumacher and Ricciardo are the only drivers not yet on track.
Trulli crosses the line at 16.940 as Ricciardo and Schumacher head down the pitlane, with Alonso following shortly after.
Hamilton goes quickest with a 13.876 with teammate Button posting 14.029 to go second. Buemi - sixth with a 15.639 - appears to be the only driver on softs. Certainly in terms of the more competitive teams.
As Massa leave the pits, Webber splits the McLarens with a 13.904 and di Resta posts a 14.692 to go fifth.
Vettel goes quickest with a 13.687 immediately locking up going into the first corner. Elsewhere, Buemi spins.
Having gone fifth on his first lap (13.986), Alonso backs off in order to give himself some clear air for his next flying lap. Hamilton goes second with a 13.817.
Replay shows Schumacher really struggling with the Mercedes in Turn 10, teammate Rosberg goes seventh (14.265). Despite his problems, Schumacher goes eighth (14.432).
A 13.467 sees Webber go quickest however, this is almost instantly beaten by Button who bangs in a 13.281.
All the usual suspects in the danger zone with the Williams duo just above. The Saubers and Toro Rossos are also looking none too safe, certainly as far as Q2 is concerned.
A massive lock-up for Alonso, the Spaniard now fifth, ahead of Sutil, Rosberg, Massa, Schumacher and di Resta.
Despite a Herculean effort, Kovalainen is unable to close the gap to Williams, who, at this stage, look likely to lose at least one driver. However, teammate Trulli posts 14.409 to go seventeenth, leapfrogging both Williams drivers in the process.
Senna goes tenth (14.458) as more and more drivers switch to the softs. Not Button, Webber and Vettel however, who remain in their garages.
With 4:11 on the clock, eleventh placed Massa is still in his garage. The Ferrari star drops to twelfth when Barrichello improves to ninth. A brilliant effort from the Brazilian veteran.
Buemi drops into the danger zone with the usual suspects, the Swiss appearing to pay the price for this morning's technical problems.
With 2:10 on the clock Massa heads down the pitlane on softs. Meanwhile, as Maldonado fails to improve on eighteenth, Hamilton posts 13.361 to go second. A 1-2 for McLaren.
Buemi improves to sixteenth as Perez struggles in Turn 10. Aware that he's made the cut, Massa aborts his lap.
Q1 ends with Button quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Webber, Sutil, Vettel, Schumacher, di Resta, Petrov, Alonso and Rosberg.
We lose Maldonado, Kovalainen, Trulli, Liuzzi, Ricciardo, d'Ambrosio and Glock.
As we await the start of Q2 Ferrari reports that the rain is 2.5 km away, a claim proven by the sheer number of cars at the end of the pitlane. This means, given the current wind speed, the rain should hit about five minutes before the end of this phase.
Both Ferraris are on softs, as are the Renaults. Indeed, everyone appears to be on the softer rubber.
Sutil is the first driver to post a time, the German crossing the line at 13.276. Moments later, as di Resta posts 13.584, Vettel goes quickest with a 12.446.
A 12.569 sees Rosberg go second, ahead of Button, Webber and Hamilton.
Schumacher, struggling through the first series of corners, goes eleventh with a 13.684, as Hamilton goes quickest in S1. The McLaren driver loses pace in S2, finally crossing the line at 12.811 to consolidate fourth.
With 6:00 on the clock there is nobody on the track, the drivers preparing for the final assault. The danger zone comprises Schumacher, Alguersuari, Buemi, Kobayashi, Petrov, Barrichello and Perez.
At 5:58, Alguersuari leaves the pits, followed by teammate Buemi and Sutil.
The top six wait resolutely in their garages, eighth placed Massa, as in Q1, makes a late to decision to run again.
Di Resta stays tenth, three places behind his Force India teammate. Meanwhile, Massa, on his last set of softs, makes a pig's ear of Turn 3.
Schumacher improves to tenth (13.571), demoting di Resta, while Buemi complains of a loss of power.
Again, di Resta fails to improve, while Barrichello posts a PB in S1. The Williams driver has a poor S2 and dives into the pits, thereby allowing Schumacher to make the cut.
Quickest was Vettel, ahead of Rosberg, Webber, Hamilton, Button, Alonso, Sutil, Massa, Senna and Schumacher.
We lose di Resta, Barrichello, Alguersuari, Buemi, Petrov, Kobayashi and Perez.
As we await the start of Q3, it appears that, despite earlier appearance, McLaren doesn't have the pace of the Red Bulls. And while, the Ferraris continue to struggle, Rosberg, certainly based on the evidence of Q2, could be the spanner in the works.
As it happens, Rosberg is first out, the German youngster clearly on a mission here. Moments later, Hamilton heads down the pitlane.
As the German begins his flying lap, Alonso can be seen in the background leaving the pits.
Rosberg posts a 16.581 as Massa, Schumacher, Senna and Sutil remain in their garages.
Hamilton posts 17.588 to go second, both drivers clearly opting to bring their tyres in slowly. Could this be something to do with the blistering we saw earlier today and yesterday?
No messing about from Vettel, the German slams down the gauntlet with a 12.268. No sooner has Button gone second (12.613) than Webber posts 12.518. Alonso goes fourth when he crosses the line at 12.821.
With 3:24 on the clock, Sutil is the only man on track, still only six times on the timesheets.
As Sutil posts 13.348 to go seventh, Vettel heads down the pitlane. Moments later, all ten drivers are on track.
Unbelievably, Vettel goes quickest in S1, and again in S2, crossing the line at a soul destroying 11.918. Surely this is game, set and match.
Alonso improves to third with a 12.591, but a late charge sees Button posts 12.283 only to be demoted by Webber's 12.099. Hamilton goes fourth (12.480), both McLaren drivers putting in a brave effort but no match for the Vettel/Red Bull steamroller.
Therefore, Vettel takes pole position, his fifteenth of the year and thereby setting a new record. Teammate Webber will start from second, ahead of Button, Hamilton, Alonso, Rosberg, Massa, Sutil, Senna and Schumacher.
Di Resta will start eleventh, ahead of Barrichello, Alguersuari, Buemi, Petrov, Kobayashi, Perez, Maldonado, Kovalainen, Trulli, Liuzzi, Ricciardo, d'Ambrosio and Glock.
As we look forward to another Sunday of total domination by young Seb, how many fans, indeed, how many of his rivals will be hoping that the weather gods will make an appearance. Then again, the German youngster has proved on numerous occasions that he is no slouch in the rain, far from it.
Check out our qualifying gallery, here.