16/03/2012
NEWS STORY
With the first half of this morning's session compromised by the weather it appears that we are in for much of the same this afternoon.
About half an hour ago, Mat Coch described the conditions as similar to Adelaide 1991. He then reported: "Rain has eased and they're on track sweeping away the standing water".
This was followed by: "Circuit isn't flooded anymore... Borderline wet/inter conditions, probably the little standing water that's around offline will mean wets. There's a nice puddle on the exit to the pitlane, but once a few cars have been through it that should disappear.
While Jenson Button led a McLaren 1-2 this morning, ahead of Schumacher, the big talking point was the handling of the Ferraris, Massa ending his session stuck in the kitty litter after running wide and touching the grass.
For the most part there was little to indicate who's hot and who's not, though it appears HRT is in for another difficult weekend. Pedro de la Rosa didn't get any running, while teammate Narain Karthikeyan suffered an engine problem.
World champion Sebastian Vettel was down in eleventh, but don't read too much into that, indeed, don't read much into any of it.
As the session is about to begin, the air temperature is 20 degrees C, while the track temperature is 21 degrees.
The lights go green and Perez is first out, followed, shortly after, by his Sauber teammate. Soon the Swiss team is joined by Toro Rosso, though the rest of the teams, especially the big guns, show no sign of leaving their garages just yet.
While the Saubers return to the pits, Vergne posts 1:52.220, shortly after teammate Ricciardo posts 48.874. Elsewhere, Senna and Karthikeyan leave the pits.
Karthikeyan's first lap sees the Indian go third, his HRT crossing the line at 55.886. Maldonado and Hulkenberg are now on track.
Hulkenberg goes third with a 48.870, the German clearly not enjoying the conditions.
Talking of not enjoying… the live timing screen is playing up yet again. A sceptic might get around to thinking that Bernie is pushing fans into buying the app.
Kobayashi splits the Toro Rossos, the Japanese driver posting a 47.170, and Perez taking fifth with a 49.144.
As Hulkenberg goes quickest (46.779), Maldonado spins. Moments later a 46.098 sees Kobayashi go quickest.
Button is the first of the big guns to go out, the McLaren driver posting 47.246 to go sixth.
Half-an-hour into the session, just eight drivers have posted times, indeed, only eleven drivers have ventured out.
On his first flying lap, Alonso immediately goes quickest (42.171), the Spaniard on inters.
As Alonso returns to the pits, his place is taken by Massa, also on inters. After his mistake this morning the Brazilian will be looking to improve this afternoon.
It's a good sign when Massa goes quickest in S1, and again in S3, crossing the line at 41.976 to go quickest. Elsewhere, Webber and di Resta leave the pits.
As di Resta goes third and Webber fourth, Maldonado (inters) goes quickest in all three sectors, finally crossing the line at 40.721 to go quickest.
More and more drivers pour on to the track, including Button, the Englishman immediately banging in a 39.497. Demoted to second, Maldonado improves with a 39.586.
Vettel's first flying lap sees the world champion go fourth (40.548), ahead of Ricciardo, Webber, Massa and Hulkenberg.
At half-time, it's: Maldonado, Button, Vergne, Vettel, Ricciardo, Webber, Massa, Hulkenberg, Alonso and di Resta. No times yet from Senna, de la Rosa, Petrov, Kovalainen, Pic, Hamilton or the Lotus duo. Indeed, Hamilton and the Lotus haven't even been out for an installation lap.
Schumacher shoots straight to the top of the timesheets, the German posting a 37.649 on his first timed lap.
The sun is shining and Pirelli believes we are close to seeing the first running on slicks. Vettel goes third with a 37.971.
As teams ponder whether to switch to slicks, a couple of drivers, including Kovalainen, discover why inters remain the order of the day right now.
Kobayashi waves to the TV cameras as his teammate goes quickest with a 37.189.
With 32:00 on the clock there is absolutely nobody on track, driver appear to have done all they can on the inters and are now waiting for someone to take a gamble and go out on slicks. The fans in Albert Park certainly getting value for money today. Not.
In the Red Bull garage, Webber is having a set of softs fitted, as opposed to the other dry compound, the medium.
Took the words right out of our mouths; "a boring session" tweets Ferrari. It certainly is, especially after all the hype of recent weeks.
After almost five minutes of total nothing, Karthikeyan heads down the pitlane on a set of mediums. For the fans in the stands it's not a lot but it's better than nothing.
Karthikeyan crosses the line at 48.730 to go nineteenth - of nineteen. However, back in the pits an engine fires up and moments later Vergne heads down the pitlane.
As Vergne begins his lap, Ricciardo and Vettel get to work, followed, at last, by Hamilton. Indeed, with 16:00 on the clock more drivers are emerging. Should be a frantic finale to the session.
While Vettel posts a PB in S1, he fails to improve in S2. At the line, having gone quickest in S3, the world champion posts 36.975 to go quickest. Moments later however, Grosjean posts a 36.190.
Glock goes quickest of all in S2, as Webber goes second overall with a 36.770.
No sooner has Glock gone fourth (36.801) than Vettel ups the ante with a 34.545.
Massa (mediums) posts 34.001 to go quickest, but this is beaten by Kovalainen and then di Resta (32.302).
Unseen, Hamilton has moved up to ninth with a 34.969, two spots behind his McLaren teammate. Hulkenberg (softs) goes fifth, while his teammate (on mediums) remains quickest.
Raikkonen goes thirteenth with a 35.459, while Schumacher, who had strong first and second sectors, loses time in the third. Next time around the German makes no mistakes, going quickest in the final two sectors and quickest overall (30.643).
Hulkenberg goes quickest in all three sectors, the German crossing the line at 29.808 and serving up the prospect of a fascinating in-team battle at force India this season.
Perez goes second and Alonso third as the times continue to tumble. Elsewhere, another little wobble for Maldonado.
Schumacher goes quickest in the final sectors, but fails to overhaul Hulkenberg, the gap now down to 0.011s.
A moment for Kovalainen, the Finn running wide, running across the grass and somehow managing not to collect a Sauber and Ferrari as he rejoins the track.
Talking of Saubers, a massive moment for Kobayashi as he enters the pit straight. The back end snaps out and the car fishtails as he fights it, somehow he keeps it under control and out of the barriers.
At the death, Schumacher pops in a 29.183 to go quickest, the German demonstrating that he's lost none of his enthusiasm or commitment.
So, at the end of the second session, it's: Schumacher, Hulkenberg, Perez, Alonso, Kobayashi, di Resta, Massa, Kovalainen, Rosberg and Vettel.
Webber is eleventh, ahead of Glock, Petrov, Grosjean, Button, Hamilton, Maldonado, Raikkonen, Senna, Vergne, Ricciardo, Pic, Karthikeyan and de la Rosa.
With both of today's sessions compromised by the weather, the good news is that dry conditions are forecast for the rest of the weekend.
Check out our Friday gallery, here.