28/07/2012
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's all important qualifying session, the air temperature is 30 degrees C, while the track temperature is 45 degrees. It remains hot and sunny with the earlier threat of rain now abating however there remains the threat of rain during tomorrow's race.
Mark Webber topped the timesheets this morning with teammate Sebastian Vettel finishing third, while Lewis Hamilton, quickest in both of yesterday's sessions was second.
The pace of the Red Bulls earlier appeared to dispel talk that the Austrian team is hurting following the FIA's closing of the engine mapping loophole, however, there is now talk of the world champions being suspected of adjusting their cars ride height between practice and the races.
That said, speaking to Sky F1, team boss Christian Horner denied the ride height allegation, claiming that the first he'd heard of it was ten minutes earlier.
While the Red Bulls have pace, as does Hamilton, Jenson Button, who finished tenth, appeared to be struggling, witness the look on the faces of his engineers when he failed to close the gap to his rivals.
Biggest disappointment this morning had to be the Mercedes duo, Michael Schumacher narrowly edging out his teammate for seventeenth. On the other hand, cool as a cucumber Fernando Alonso - who goes into the summer break leading the title race whatever happens tomorrow - appeared to have everything under control.
Kobayashi was the quicker of the two Saubers drivers, and Paul di Resta dominating in the Force India camp, however, Williams, most notably in the form of Bruno Senna, and Lotus appear the real dark horses here.
Difference between the two tyres - medium and soft - is said to be around 0.8s however, this morning it was noticeable that the McLarens and Ferrari were better with the medium compound and Red Bull the soft.
Grosjean is first out, the Frenchman eager to make up for the misery of Hockenheim. Shortly after he is followed by Ricciardo and di Resta.
"Brake balance appears to be completely wrong," says Grosjean as he posts 27.333. Moments later, Raikkonen posts 23.273 as Vergne goes second, di Resta fourth and Ricciardo fifth.
At 14:45, only the Caterhams have yet to emerge, on track Hulkenberg goes second (24.269) only to be demoted by his teammate's 23.676.
Massa locks up and runs wide at T1 as Alonso gets up close and personal with Pic. The Spaniard subsequently posts 24.173 to go fifth.
Raikkonen consolidates his top spot with a 22.689 as Massa complains about being blocked by Schumacher, the Brazilian locking up again. Lots of cars running wide at various corners, Hamilton being a good example at T4.
Button goes second with a 23.348 but is leapfrogged when Massa posts 23.123. Schumacher goes tenth and Rosberg fifth.
A 22.922 from Grosjean momentarily makes it a Lotus 1-2 before Hamilton bangs in a 22.371. Massa complains of a lack of grip as Alonso is unable to improve on twelfth (23.642). All the front runners on mediums thus far, only the usual suspects on softs.
Senna, on mediums, goes second with a 22.660, demonstrating that this morning's pace was no fluke. Webber improves to fourth and teammate Vettel sixth.
With 6:36 on the clock both Toro Rossos in the danger zone.
Hamilton goes quickest in all three sectors to raise the ante with a 21.794. Vergne (softs) pops up in fourth with 22.799.
Surprisingly, Alonso, currently seventeenth, is back on track on softs, whilst Button complains of massive understeer.
Alonso and di Resta are both on track on softs, both eager to escape the humiliation of falling at the first hurdle. The Scot goes quickest in S2. Alonso posts 22.095 to go second but is demoted moments later by di Resta (21.912).
Hulkenberg improves to fifth as Grosjean and Raikkonen remain the only drivers on mediums. Schumacher improves to eighth (22.436).
As Perez goes quickest in S2, Button locks up, the Englishman subsequently improving to third overall with a 22.028. Perez crosses the line at 22.110 to go sixth as Vettel, currently sixteenth, is told to pit.
All eyes on Kobayashi who needs to improve on 23.625 in order to make the cut. The Japanese crosses the line at 22.801 to go fifteenth. Both Red Bulls make it by the skin of their teeth,
Hamilton is quickest, ahead of di Resta, Button, Rosberg, Alonso, Perez, Hulkenberg, Massa, Raikkonen and Senna.
We lose Ricciardo, Kovalainen, Petrov, Pic, Glock, de la Rosa and Karthikeyan.
Schumacher is first out for Q2, followed by teammate Rosberg. Both are on softs.
Both Ferrari drivers are on track, according to the Maranello outfit on the same (soft) tyres they used earlier.
Schumacher posts 30.813, the German clearly having aborted the lap halfway through. Moments later Rosberg posts 30.686 before Massa posts a far more sensible 21.951.
A 21.906 sees Hulkenberg take the top spot only to be demoted when Button crosses the line at 21.880.
Schumacher improves to 22.723 and Rosberg 22.413 as Vettel bangs in a 22.003 to go fourth.
As Raikkonen goes quickest in S1, Grosjean goes quickest overall with a 21.854. Raikkonen subsequently crossing the line at 21.614 having gone quickest in S3 also.
As Button locks-up, teammate Hamilton can only manage fifteenth (28.467). Next time around however, Hamilton goes quickest in S1 as Webber goes second overall with a 21.844.
Having gone quickest in all three sectors, Hamilton takes the top spot with a 21.060, around 0.6s quicker than Webber. "I got held up," says Hamilton, suggesting he has even more in hand.
Third placed Webber is told that he will be running again; "we're not miles clear of P11," he is warned. Currently, with 4:40 on the clock, Senna, di Resta, Vergne, Rosberg, Kobayashi, Schumacher and Maldonado comprise the danger zone.
PBs in all three sectors see Massa go second (21.534) as Alonso and Rosberg both look set to improve. The Spaniard goes quickest in S2, crossing the line at 21.598 to go third. Rosberg can only manage eighth (21.895).
Button improves to sixth (21.618) and Senna eighth (21.754). Perez matches Roberg's time (21.895) but the German posted it first. Elsewhere, as di Resta fails to improve, Hulkenberg goes quickest in S2. The German goes eighth (21.653) and Senna tenth (21.697) dropping Webber into the danger zone.
A brilliant late charge, including a minor excursion, sees Maldonado go third, the Williams driver breaking the beam at 21.504.
Quickest is Hamilton, ahead of Vettel, Maldonado, Massa, Raikkonen, Alonso, Button, Hulkenberg, Grosjean and Senna.
We lose Webber, di Resta, Rosberg, Perez, Kobayashi, Vergne and Schumacher.
Looking ahead to Q3, as we recover from the shock of Webber missing the cut, one has to feel that pole is Hamilton's to lose.
Hulkenberg gets the final phase underway, the Scot followed by the McLaren duo and Raikkonen. All are on softs.
A slight wobble in T1 for Hamilton on his first flying lap, however, he remains quickest of the lot. He crosses the line at 26.781 while teammate Button, who backed off in S2, can only manage 32.429.
Raikkonen takes provisional pole with a 22.717 as Hulkenberg and Senna both return to the pits without posting a time suggesting that they may opt not to run.
Next time around Hamilton improves with a 21.260 to go quickest while Grosjean goes second (21.763) ahead of Button and Raikkonen as Vettel finally leaves the pits. The Ferraris have yet to emerge.
As Vettel begins his first flying lap, we learn that Maldonado is on three timed laps.
Vettel goes quickest in S2, crossing the line at 21.416 to go second, the German having run wide in T14.
Senna locks up in T1 as Hamilton says he got in the way of Maldonado. Vettel goes off through the gravel in T6. Hulkenberg struggling for grip.
As Vettel climbs from his car his session over, Alonso goes fourth (21.844) and Massa fifth (21.900).
Grosjean goes quickest in S2 as Hamilton ups the ante with a 20.953. Grosjean snatches second from Vettel with a 21.366 as Button goes fourth and Raikkonen fifth.
Hamilton takes his third pole of the season, ahead of Grosjean, Vettel, Button, Raikkonen, Alonso, Massa, Maldonado, Senna and Hulkenberg.
Webber will start eleventh, ahead of di Resta, Rosberg, Perez, Kobayashi, Vergne, Schumacher, Ricciardo, Kovalainen, Petrov, Pic, Glock, de la Rosa and Karthikeyan.
A session of real surprises, what with the early loss of Webber, not to mention the Mercedes. On the other hand, while Alonso was almost out-qualified by his teammate for the first time this year and Grosjean earned his best ever grid position, Williams get both cars in Q3 for the first time this season.
All this, and the threat of rain tomorrow, should ensure that some of the spotlight focuses on Hungary tomorrow rather than that event in London.
Check out our Qualifying gallery, here.