22/09/2012
NEWS STORY
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Thanks to Vitaly Petrov, the true form ahead of this afternoon's all-important qualifying session remains a mystery.
While Sebastian Vettel has set the pace in all three practice sessions, the Russian's late clash with the barriers and subsequent red flag meant that most of his rivals never to complete a lap in qualifying mode with low fuel and supersofts.
There were three such incidents this morning, the others involving Sergio Perez and Mark Webber, however, the Russian's was the heaviest.
That aside, the Red Bulls, and in particular Vettel, do look strong here this weekend, which is pretty much what we expected.
The McLarens also look strong, with Jenson Button giving Lewis Hamilton a run for his money, determined not to give up on the title just yet.
Ferrari is also on the pace, with Fernando Alonso, a two-time winner here, one of the few to complete a quali-type run this morning.
While Mercedes and Lotus, in particular have not lived up to expectations, Force India is looking strong, the Silverstone based outfit targeting sixth place in the championship. To do that the India will need to overcome Sauber, the Swiss team's drivers really riding their luck this weekend as they attack the unforgiving kerbs full on.
However, while we focus on this afternoon, the leading teams will also be looking ahead to tomorrow. The difference between the soft and super-soft tyres is as much as 1.5s with some teams experiencing drop off with the options after just two laps. This leaves them with a dilemma in terms of tyre choice - and pit stop strategy - in the opening phase of the race, which is sure to impact their decisions ahead of Q3.
Ahead of the start of Q1, the air temperature is 28 degrees C, while the track temperature is 30 degrees. It is 21:00 local time.
Moments before the start, while most drivers are in their cars, some looking very, very sweaty, Vettel and Webber stand near to their cars looking very relaxed.
Other than a grid penalty for de la Rosa, following a gearbox change, Charles Pic has been his with a 20s penalty - to be added to his race time - and a day's community service for the FIA after passing four sets of red flags in this morning's second session.
Perez is first out, the Mexican having lost a lot of track time this morning following his brush with the barriers. Raikkonen is another early riser.
Drivers already pushing hard and making mistakes as a result, among them Rosberg, Raikkonen and Perez. Glock, Pic and Karthikeyan are already on options.
Grosjean goes quickest but is soon supplanted by Maldonado and then Alonso, the Spaniard posting a 49.511.
As di Resta goes third, Schumacher goes quickest in S1 and Hulkenberg in S2. Hulkenberg goes second overall with a 49.636 while Schumacher takes fourth with a 49.994 having lost time in Q3 behind Ricciardo.
A 49.494 sees Maldonado retake the top spot only to be usurped by Rosberg and his 49.563.
With 10:40 on the clock Vettel and Webber leave the pits whilst Hamilton makes a mistake at Turn 10 having gone quickest in S1. He aborts the lap.
As Alonso posts a 49.391 teammate Massa looks set to improve on eighth (50.131), the Brazilian subsequently crossing the line at 49.767.
As Hamilton goes quickest with a 48.285, the McLaren star quickest in all three sectors, Button complains about the handling of his car. Nonetheless, the Frome favourite makes it a McLaren 1-2 with a 49.381.
On their first flying laps Vettel goes second and Webber third, the Red Bulls looking more than a match for the Woking team. Vettel's 48.287 is just 0.002s off Hamilton's best.
Raikkonen really pushing it to the limit, and then some, as he posts 48.169 to go quickest, albeit on the option rubber. A clear sign of the Enstone outfit's desperation.
Di Resta, also on the softer rubber, goes quickest with a 48.028 only to be leapfrogged by Grosjean and his 47.688. The switch to the options by some is going to cause major problems for the old guard who thought they had done enough on the primes.
All the usual suspects in the danger zone but as the midfield improve on the options, some of the star names start to slip down the order. Massa drops to fourteenth, for example.
Ricciardo improves to seventh as Senna seeks to improve on seventeenth. Massa now in sixteenth.
Senna brushes the wall but is able to continue. With no further improvements the Williams drier makes Q2 by the skin of his teeth.
As it happens, most of the big guns escape, the midfield drivers unable to take full advantage of the softer rubber. That said, Kobayashi is a surprise victim, falling at the first hurdle.
Quickest is Grosjean, ahead of di Resta, Raikkonen, Vettel, Hamilton, Webber, Ricciardo, Perez, Button and Alonso. Of those ten, all except Vettel, Hamilton, Webber, Button and Alonso posted their times on the options. Ferrari claims that there is a 1.7s to 2s difference between the compounds.
We lose Kobayashi, Petrov, Kovalainen, Glock, Pic, Karthikeyan and de la Rosa.
As Q2 gets underway, once again Raikkonen leads the way. Already, the Finn is on the softer rubber. He is joined by Grosjean, Perez, Alonso, di Resta and Massa. Surprisingly, all, like Raikkonen, are on options.
Raikkonen posts 48.261 as his teammate is mighty lucky not to hit the barriers at Turn 14. Replay shows he did indeed hit the wall, but not nearly as hard as he might have. He heads back to the pits.
A 48.058 sees Alonso go quickest while Rosberg goes third ahead of Massa and di Resta.
Still taking it very close to the walls, Webber posts 48058 to go second, only to be demoted by Vettel who bangs in a 46.791.
As attention shifts to Senna who arrives back in the pits after another close encounter with the barriers, Hamilton posts a 46.665. The Englishman and his German rival in a different league at present.
Determined not to lose out, Button goes third (47.661), ahead of Alonso, Webber, Raikkonen and Rosberg. Elsewhere, Senna climbs out of his car, his session over.
With 4:40 on the clock, Grosjean, who has yet to post a time, heads down the pitlane. Raikkonen, Hulkenberg and di Resta join him.
As the stewards investigate an earlier incident involving Glock and Webber, the Australian leaves the pits, as do Alonso, Rosberg and a few others. Hamilton, Vettel and Button stay put.
Grosjean goes third with a 47.529 with di Resta going fifth moments later.
Hulkenberg posts 47.975 to go sixth as Webber's 47.513 demotes Button - who is still in the pits - to fifth. As Rosberg goes ninth, Massa fails too improve on eleventh.
A late charge sees Schumacher go ninth (47.823), while Raikkonen fails to improve and Hulkenberg drops into the danger zone, both having run out of time.
Hamilton is quickest, ahead of Vettel, Webber, Grosjean, Alonso, Maldonado, Button, di Resta, Schumacher and Rosberg. Amazing performance from Grosjean when you consider that incident involving the wall just a few minutes earlier.
We lose Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Massa, Perez - some big names there - along with Ricciardo, Vergne and Senna.
Ahead of Q3, it's a close one to call, but, barring a major upset, it appears to be between Vettel and Hamilton. Button and Webber are thereabouts, as is Alonso, but not, based on Q2, quite in same league as the other two.
Clearly looking ahead to tomorrow, the Mercedes duo leave the pits on soft, while Vettel, Webber et al are on the super-softs. Eight cars on track, Alonso and Grosjean remain in their garages.
As Button goes quickest in S1, di Resta heads back into the pits. Moments later Rosberg goes quickest in S2 and Hamilton in S1.
As expected, Rosberg dives into the pits, while Button posts 47.238 only to be instantly demoted by Hamilton's 46.362.
Vettel can only manage third, the German crossing the line at 47.694. Teammate Webber pits, as does Schumacher and the rest. Just the three times on the sheets with 4:35 on the clock.
As Hamilton arrives back at the pits Grosjean leaves, followed by Maldonado.
As the Mercedes are shod with options, Alonso heads own the pitlane on a brand new set of the softer tyres.
With 1:43 on the clock the Mercedes duo are still in the garage. Indeed, Rosberg climbs out of his car, as does Schumacher.
Another very hairy moment for Grosjean, the Frenchman on the ragged edge.
PBs for Maldonado and Alonso, the Williams driver going second with an amazing 46.804.
Alonso fails to improve while Button and Vettel look unlikely to challenge Hamilton. Indeed, the German can only mange third while Button takes fourth.
A late, great charge sees di Resta claim sixth, as non-runners Schumacher and Rosberg slip to ninth and tenth. Elsewhere, Hamilton has brushed the wall on his final lap, no significant problems outwardly.
Consequently, Hamilton will start from pole ahead of Maldonado, Vettel, Button, Alonso, di Resta, Webber, Grosjean, Schumacher and Rosberg.
Hulkenberg qualifies eleventh, ahead of Raikkonen, Massa, Perez, Ricciardo, Vergne, Senna, Kobayashi, Petrov, Kovalainen, Glock, Pic, Karthikeyan and de la Rosa.
Looking uncharacteristically sweaty, Hamilton is unemotional as he removes his balaclava. Meanwhile, McLaren tweets that his superb performance comes forty years after the late Peter Revson - heir to the Revlon cosmetics empire - claimed McLaren's first F1 pole.
The dashing American failed to convert his pole into a race win, subsequently finishing second to Jackie Stewart, with McLaren teammate Denny Hulme taking third. An omen, or will Lewis make it three wins from four races personally and four out of four for his team.
Check out our Qualifying gallery, here.