14/04/2012
NEWS STORY
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While Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets this morning - just as he did yesterday - his team's decision to change the gearbox on his MP4-27 means that whatever he does this afternoon the very best grid position he can hope for tomorrow is fifth. Nonetheless, in an attempt to minimise the damage - and not find himself back with the "monkeys" - he'll pushing hard to take his third pole of the season this afternoon.
Teammate Jenson button was second quickest this morning, and therefore must be favourite to start from pole tomorrow afternoon, however, the McLaren driver is not yet 100 percent happy with his car.
The Mercedes duo continue to show good pace however, there remains that question mark over tyre performance, particularly when it comes to Sunday afternoons.
Red Bull continues to confuse, for a brief while this morning it appeared that Sebastian Vettel was at one with his car, however, the German, who always wears his heart on his sleeve, looks far from happy. On the other side of the garage however, Mark Webber appears a little more settled. The two drivers, for reasons best known to themselves, continuing to use different exhaust layouts, Vettel opting for the older system.
The only way Fernando Alonso is going to leave China with his championship lead intact is for the weather conditions to deteriorate again, Ferrari struggling for traction and speed. This afternoon, both drivers will have their work cut out to make it to Q3.
While Maldonado did well to finish sixth this morning, Sauber look likely to be best of the rest, ahead of Lotus - which has yet to reveal its true form here - Force India, Williams and Toro Rosso.
Tyre options are medium and soft his weekend, Pirelli expecting the difference on race day to be around 0.6s with two, possibly three, pit stops.
While grip was a lot better this morning than yesterday, thanks mainly to the sunshine, we still saw a lot of drivers running wide, while the bump(s) continue to catch drivers out - Paul di Resta having a particularly heart stopping moment at the very end of this morning's session.
As the lights turn green for the start of Q1, the air temperature is 21 degrees C, while the track temperature is 26 degrees, altogether different from yesterday. Humidity is 53 percent.
After almost two minutes of nothing, di Resta heads down the pitlane, followed by Massa and Kovalainen. Ferrari claiming that it will take a miracle to make it ot Q2 with both cars - it's that bad.
Di Resta crosses the line at 38.190, with Massa posting 37.964 moments later. Kovalainen goes third with a 39.893, Karthikeyan, on softs, posts 43.178.
Grosjean goes straight to the top of the timesheets with a 37.521 but this is almost instantly beaten by Button (37.165) and then Hamilton (36.763). A 37.226 sees Raikkonen go third.
All eyes on Vettel, Webber and the Mercedes duo as Perez goes fourth with a 37.323 only to be demoted when his Sauber teammate goes second overall with a 36.863.
On his first flying lap, Vettel can only manage third (36.911), while Rosberg posts 42.965. Moments later, Webber goes quickest (36.682) with Schumacher posting 36.922 to go fifth. Rosberg finally posts a sensible time, the German going seventh with a 36.999.
Button improves to second (36.746), all the front runners sticking with the prime rubber at present.
All the usual suspects in the danger zone with the Toro Rossos hovering. As the stewards announce they are investing an incident involving Kovalainen and Maldonado.
As Schumacher improves to fourth, Massa is back on track on softs - Ferrari clearly desperate.
Massa goes quickest in S1, but his time is barely better than that posted by his rivals on the harder rubber. He's quickest again in S2, but again, by very little. At the line the Ferrari driver posts 36.556, eclipsing Webber's 36.682. Alonso is also on track, and like his teammate, already on softs.
Raikkonen (prime) goes quickest in S1, as di Resta (soft) goes second overall with a 36.639. Raikkonen posts 36.850 to remain ninth.
As Grosjean goes quickest (36.343), Button is on track on softs, but it is thought that he is just wearing them in and not intending to post a time. Elsewhere, Alonso goes quickest (36.292) but is instantly demoted by Perez who is also on softs.
A super effort sees Maldonado improve to fourth (36.528) as Vergne fails to improve on eighteenth, appearing to miss the cut at the first hurdle. All eyes on Petrov who is hoping to improve on 39.256 and twentieth. He fails.
Q1 comes to a close and we lose Vergne, Kovalainen, Petrov, Glock, Pic, de la Rosa and Karthikeyan.
Quickest was Perez, ahead of Alonso, Grosjean, Maldonado, Massa, di Resta, Senna, Webber, Button and Hamilton. Both Lotus through, though while Raikkonen did it on primes Grosjean had to use a set of options. Fastest runner not to use the softer rubber was Webber. All 17 drivers that made it to Q2 were covered by less than a second.
Kobayashi is first out for Q2, followed by Raikkonen and Perez. Alonso and Rosberg are also eager to get to work.
Stewards are also investigating an incident involving Senna and de la Rosa.
As Kobayashi begins his first flying lap, more and more drivers come out to play, all are on the softer rubber.
Kobayashi posts 35.962 but this is immediately beaten by Raikkonen and his 35.921. Rosberg posts 35.725 to go quickest while Alonso can only mange 36.710.
Schumacher makes it a Mercedes 1-2 with a 35.794, while Vettel goes sixth (36.047) demoting Button to seventh. Hamilton goes third (35.902), ahead of Raikkonen, Kobayashi and Vettel.
With 7:45 on the clock, Maldonado, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Senna, di Resta, Massa and Grosjean comprise the danger zone.
As in Q1, Vettel asks if his current time (36.047) is good enough to get him through to the next phase. As in Q1, he is told that it is doubtful. The German is worried that he will need to use another set of tyres.
A very messy lap from Grosjean, the Frenchman eventually aborting the lap.
While Vettel looks depressed, Webber is down in eighth over half-a-second off the pace. Currently, Mercedes has the edge.
With 3:40 on the clock, Kobayashi, Alonso, Massa and Perez are back on track, while the Mercedes drivers, Hamilton and Raikkonen appear to have settled for what they've already done. Vettel, Button and Webber are also in the pits, though the Australian subsequently guns his Red Bull out of the garage and down the pitlane. Vettel and Button also, fully aware that they are under pressure.
As the clock ticks down, only Rosberg, Schumacher and Raikkonen stay put, even Hamilton feels the need to improve.
Massa goes tenth (36.255), but it is unlikely to be enough. That said, di Resta fails to improve, as does Maldonado, however when Perez goes third (35.831), Massa drops into the danger zone.
Webber goes quickest with a 35.700, having been quickest in S2, Hamilton goes sixth while Vettel fails to improve on 36.031 and, unbelievably, fails to make the cut.
We lose Vettel, Massa, Maldonado, Senna, di Resta, Hulkenberg and Ricciardo.
Quickest was Webber, ahead of Rosberg, Schumacher, Perez, Kobayashi, Hamilton, Grosjean, Raikkonen, Button and Alonso.
Told that his time wasn't good enough, there is total silence from Vettel's car. For the last two years, the youngster has taken pole here.
As the lights go green for Q3, the big questions are can Webber uphold Red Bull's honour, can Hamilton limit the damage from his grid penalty, can Schumacher take his first pole since his return to F1 indeed, can Mercedes take its first pole since god knows when. (We'll do the research later). (Fangio at Monza in 1955 apparently).
Hamilton, Schumacher, Rosberg and Raikkonen take to the track, watched intently by their rivals. The Finn goes quickest with a 35.898 but this is almost instantly beaten by Rosberg and his 35.121. Schumacher can only manage 35.691 to go second, but is instantly demoted by Hamilton (35.626).
Webber heads posts 36.290 to go fifth as Perez and co leave the pits.
With 1:40 on the clock Rosberg is out of his car, the German confident that he's done than enough. With nine drivers on track that's a lot of confidence.
Perez can only manage sixth (36.524), while Button subsequently posts 36.191 to go sixth.
A 35.784 sees Kobayashi go fourth while Hamilton eases off knowing that he doesn't have enough.
In the Mercedes garage Norbert Haug applauds his driver while, on the pit wall, Ross Brawn allows himself a wry smile.
So, Rosberg takes pole, his first even in F1, and Mercedes first since 1955, with teammate Schumacher starting alongside - courtesy of Hamilton's penalty.
Kobayashi qualified fourth - but will start third - ahead of Raikkonen, Button, Webber, Perez, Alonso and Grosjean.
A great session, but the big question - bearing mind what we witnessed in the first two races, can Mercedes get the best out of its tyres tomorrow afternoon?
Check out our Qualifying gallery, here.