17/03/2012
NEWS STORY
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While it was always said that this afternoon's qualifying session would tell us who's really hot and who's not, this morning's practice session, especially in the wake of yesterday's pick 'n' mix effort, gave us a few clues.
Firstly, the McLaren, unlike 2011, has pace straight out of the box, Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button both looking at ease with the MP4-27.
While Sebastian Vettel's off deprived us of a run on low fuel, teammate Webber's pace, especially on the harder rubbers, indicates that Red Bull is more than capable of picking up where it left off last year.
While there is talk of protests regarding the legality of its rear wing, Mercedes has clearly taken a step forward, though those repeating a re-run of 2009 - when Brawn dominated the early season - may be jumping the gun.
And then there's Ferrari. While some had been claiming that the Maranello outfit was sandbagging, this morning's performance, on the back of yesterday's, reveals that the Italian team is really struggling. Indeed, there are some who claim one or both drivers might fail to make it to Q3. Bottom line is that the car has no grip, though there's a lot more to it than that. When Pat Fry warned the tifosi not to expect a podium this weekend he wasn't joking.
While Maldonado's late charge to eighth appears to confuse the issue, Grosjean's excellent lap on softs indicates that Lotus has real pace, though teammate Raikkonen is still at ease with certain aspects of the E20.
While the Force Indias disappointed and Sauber appeared typically Swiss, the Toro Rosso duo looked good and well matched.
Despite the promise of pre-season testing, Caterham has not made the leap forward expected, while Marussia and HRT remain rooted at the back.
It's all far too early to call, but even at this stage we feel it's safe to say that McLaren and Red Bull have the edge, with Mercedes to keep them company, and Ferrari appears set for a long, difficult season.
Although there was no doubting the dominance of the Red Bull/Sebastian Vettel package last year, there is no doubt that Sunday afternoon's were made that little bit easier by what usually happened the previous afternoon. If Hamilton, Button or whoever is to seriously challenge for the title this season, they must take on the German in qualifying and win. And today is the perfect time to start.
In the minutes before the session gets underway, the air temperature is 19 degrees C, while the track temperature is 28 degrees. Like this morning, it is bright and sunny.
That said, dark cloud are gathering, not in the sky but in the paddock, as Lotus reveals it will protest the legality of the Mercedes rear wing after qualifying. Ho hum.
The lights go green, however, it is almost forty seconds before the first car leave the garage (Glock). Moments later, Pic heads down the pitlane in the second Marussia. The Russian team, along with HRT, faces a tough task in making the 107% cut this afternoon, having had virtually no pre-season testing and not very much here.
As Glock completes his first flying lap, posting the first qualifying time of the season, 1:32.997, Raikkonen, Vettel and Hamilton head down the pitlane. Pic posts 32.349 to take the top spot, for now.
Senna loses time as he closes on Glock, the German on his in-lap. Consequently, the Williams driver can only manage third (33.635). Teammate Maldonado goes quickest with a 28.370 ahead of di Resta (28.617).
Vettel's first flying lap sees the German go fourth (31.455), as Senna improves with a 28.223 to go quickest. A Williams 1-2, a long time since that's happened.
Vettel goes quickest in S2, while Alonso loses a heap of time behind Karthikeyan. As the Spaniard fails to pass the HRT, Hamilton runs wide in Turn 3.
Kobayashi goes quickest and Hamilton second (27.053), despite it being a very untidy lap.
Button goes fourth with a 27.121 before improving with a 26.986 to go quickest.
It's absolutely frantic, with 9:50 on the clock, all but Petrov and de la Rosa have posted times.
Drivers continue to run wide, Schumacher being one of them. Rosberg posts 35.067 s Schumacher bangs in a 27.055. Next time around Rosberg goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 26.763 to go quickest.
Hamilton improves with a 26.800 as Vettel gets it all wrong at Turn 9 and Schumacher also makes a little mistake.
With 6:50 on the clock, Massa is still in the danger zone, along with the Caterhams, HRTs and Marussias.
Rosberg is quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Button, Kobayashi, Schumacher, Senna, Alonso, Vettel, Maldonado and Webber.
Webber improves to sixth with a 27.117, as the top five look likely to sit tight and stick with the times already posted. All but the HRTs are within the 107%.
In an effort to make it to Q2, Massa is forced to fit a set of softs, as does di Resta, the Force Indias clearly struggling. Alonso is also back on track and like his teammate on softs.
Senna, currently seventh, goes quickest in S1, however, moments later his time is eclipsed by Perez.
Senna goes fifth overall (27.004), while Ricciardo goes seventh (27.024). Perez posts a 26.596 to take the top spot only to be demoted by Vergne (26.493).
Massa improves to sixteenth, which pushes Raikkonen into the danger zone. The Finn fails to improve after running wide at Turn 12, the Lotus driver missing the cut.
The stewards, who are already investigating the Alonso/Karthikeyan incident are now looking at another incident involving Schumacher and Ricciardo.
Unseen, Kobayashi has gone quickest, ahead of Vergne, Grosjean, Schumacher, Perez, Alonso, Rosberg, Vettel, Hamilton and Maldonado.
We lose Raikkonen, Kovalainen, Petrov, Glock, Pic, de la Rosa and Karthikeyan. Other than The Iceman, pretty much as expected.
Massa, who finished seventeenth, just about made the cut, as did the Force India duo.
A cynic might suggest that Raikkonen's failure to make the cut will only add to his team's determination to protest the legality of the Mercedes. But nobody has ever called Pitpass cynical.
As di Resta gets Q2 underway the stewards reveal that they are investigating another incident involving de la Rosa and Kovalainen.
Within seconds of the start of Q2, nine drivers are on track.
Di Resta posts the first time, the Scot crossing the line at 27.304. Moments later Ricciardo crosses the line at 26.624.
Alonso goes quickest but is instantly leapfrogged by Vettel who posts 25.982. As Hamilton goes quickest with a 25.626, Alonso goes off at Turn 1 after running wide on to the grass and appears to be stuck in the gravel.
As the Spaniard climbs from his car, the session is red flagged. It goes from bad to worse for the Italian team. Alonso is clearly furious that nobody will help him extricate the car from the kitty litter.
Hamilton is quickest, with Button second, ahead of Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Ricciardo, di Resta, Hulkenberg, Massa and Senna. Schumacher and Rosberg have yet to post times.
Alonso walks back to his garage, helmet firmly in place, clear proof of who he really holds responsible.
The session resumes with 7:55 on the clock and, ironically, it is Massa who is first out. The Brazilian is joined by the Mercedes duo.
Schumacher goes quickest in S1 as his teammate is quickest in S2. Rosberg crosses the line at 26.763 to go quickest, with Schumacher posting 25.751 moments later. Massa improves to ninth with a 27.497 but is clearly in danger.
Grosjean digs deep to post 25.973, which is good enough for fifth. Elsewhere, Webber, currently seventh, runs wide in Turn 1.
With 2:15 on the clock, Kobayashi, Perez and Vergne have yet to post times, while Massa, Hulkenberg, Senna and Maldonado make up the rest of the danger zone.
Maldonado goes quickest in S1, as Webber fails to improve. Maldonado improves from sixteenth to seventh with a 26.206, a magnificent effort from the Williams driver.
Vergne goes eleventh and has run out of time, however, Hulkenberg's 26.314 drops Alonso into the danger zone.
A late charge sees Ricciardo grab tenth which further compounds Alonso's misery.
Rosberg is quickest, ahead of Schumacher, Hamilton, Button, Grosjean, Vettel, Maldonado, Webber, Hulkenberg and Ricciardo.
We lose Vergne, Alonso, Kobayashi, Senna, di Resta, Massa and Perez.
So, with Ferrari out of the game, all attention is focussed on the battle for pole, which, based on the evidence thus far, is all about McLaren and Mercedes. But what exactly does Red Bull have up its sleeve?
The lights go green, ad though there is the sound of a lone engine, nobody appears eager to get to work. It will also be worth noting which drips opt for less running in order to save tyres, Grosjean, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Maldonado?
Rosberg is immediately on a blistering pace, as is Hamilton. The German goes quickest (25.847) despite a major error in the final section. Moments later however, Hamilton posts 24.922 as Schumacher takes second (25.716) and Button third.
A 25.668 sees Vettel go second as teammate Webber finally leaves the pits, the Australian probably on a one run strategy.
On the pit-wall, Ross Brawn looks stunned by Hamilton's pace, the Englishman around 0.8s quicker than Schumacher.
As Webber posts 25.651 to go second, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo and Maldonado leave the pits.
The final shoot out begins, and Vettel is lost in the drawn-out train of cars aiming for pole, just it usually was last season.
Again Rosberg locks up, this time at Turn 3, the German clearly under pressure. However, Button goes quickest in S1.
Rosberg goes fourth with a 25.686 but is demoted when Button goes second, Grosjean third and Schumacher fourth. In fact, for a fleeting moment Grosjean was second, however, the Frenchman was almost instantly demoted by Button.
Webber qualifies fifth, ahead of Vettel, Rosberg, Maldonado, Hulkenberg and Ricciardo.
So now we know, sort of. McLaren does have the edge, while Mercedes is more than able to take on Red Bull - protests willing.
A superb lap from Hamilton, while Rosberg will be kicking himself for his silly mistake, and rightly so.
However, the over riding memory of the day, other than the failure of Ferrari and Raikkonen, is the performance of Romain Grosjean, an absolutely magnificent effort from the French youngster.
A great session which sets us up nicely for tomorrow.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.