13/04/2013
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's free practice session the air temperature is 32 degrees C, while the track temperature is 48 degrees. The smog, which we have become accustomed to over the years, but was missing yesterday, has returned.
Ferrari appeared to have the edge yesterday, Felipe Massa, in particular, setting an incredible pace, according to his engineer Rob Smedley. The Brazilian topped the timesheets with his Spanish teammate, Fernando Alonso, finishing third.
Kimi Raikkonen split the scarlet duo but one couldn't help but feel that there was a certain uncertainty about the Lotus, particularly when it came to stability.
Having set the pace in the morning, Mercedes wasn't quite as strong in the afternoon when its drivers switched to the option (soft) rubber. In some cases the soft Pirellis didn't appear to last one lap, Lewis Hamilton making no secret of his unhappiness.
The dusty track and the tyre degradation meant there were plenty of incidents with Sergio Perez a 'victim' in both sessions.
Still making the headlines for all the wrong reasons, Red Bull is 'up there', as you would expect it to be', though Sebastian Vettel is unhappy about his pace.
Once again Marussia is looking strong, though it was only really Jules Bianchi who appeared to benefit, teammate Max Chilton missing much of the afternoon session due to a problem with his engine.
The Force India continues to impress, even if Pitpass sources insist all is not what it appears, while Williams still has much work to do.
The lights go green and Bianchi leads Gutierrez, Sutil and Ricciardo out into the Shanghai sunshine.
In moments almost all have been out, save Raikkonen who sits in his car as mechanics work on it.
While most return to their pits after an installation lap, Pic stays out and posts the first lap of the day (41.995). Moments later Van der Garde posts 41.924.
As Van der Garde raises the bar, sort of, with a 41.434, Perez is on track. The Mexican needs a good days after yesterday's errors, particularly the morning's incident when he crashed in the pitlane.
As one would expect, Perez goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 38.769.
"I have very poor traction," complains the Mexican, this in spite of the fact that all yesterday's marbles have been swept from the track.
Elsewhere, an ambulance takes away a Marussia mechanic who is understood to have suffered a leg injury.
A 38.323 sees Raikkonen go quickest, while teammate Grosjean posts 38.717 to make it a Lotus 1-2.
No messing from Rosberg who goes straight to the top of the timesheets with a 37.699. All action thus far on the prime (medium) tyre.
On his out lap Hamilton is running at a ludicrously slow pace trying to save his tyres.
Perez improves to third (38.437) only to be demoted when Hamilton bangs in a 37.042. Moments later Vettel goes second, albeit 0.486s off Hamilton's pace.
While both Red Bull drivers are running a new rear wing, both Ferrari drivers are running a new front wing. Along with Webber and Maldonado the Ferrari duo are the only drivers yet to post a time.
Hamilton goes faster still, the first driver to break the 36s barrier (36.961), Mercedes looking to have recovered yesterday morning's form.
As Webber begins his first flying lap his car snaps wildly, a heart in mouth moment for the Australian who goes on to post a 37.905 and go fourth.
Alonso is the first of the Ferrari drivers to go out, the Spaniard going fifth with a 37.964. Moments later Massa goes sixth with a 38.099.
Webber improves with a 37.617 but remains fourth as Gutierrez fails to improves on 40.238. Seemingly, despite Hulkenberg currently being eleventh, all is not well at Sauber. Then again, the Toro Rossos are also off the pace.
As ever, before focussing on qualifying, the drivers concentrate on longer runs.
With 17:30 on the clock, the Mercedes duo are first to switch to the option rubber, as do Raikkonen and Massa.
Hulkenberg runs wide at T2 as Rosberg complains that his car is bottoming out and he suspects a problem with the springs. He heads back to the pits. Once there, he climbs out of his car and removes his helmet, his session over.
Back on track, Hamilton, having gone quickest in S2 on his out lap, goes purple again in the same sector on his flying lap. He crosses the line at 36.065. That's an improvement of around nine-tenths.
Capt. No Grip complains of, guess what, a lack of grip.
Raikkonen looking as committed as ever as he goes quickest in S1. Oversteer in T9 loses him a little time, the Finn crossing the line at 36.605 to go second, albeit 0.540s off Hamilton's pace. Grosjean, who posts PBs in all three sectors, can only manage seventh (37.813).
A 36.549 sees Sutil go second, the German just 0.484s off Hamilton's time though, certainly in F1 terms, that's a lifetime away.
Massa goes quickest in S2 but Alonso responds. Elsewhere, Ricciardo posts 37.205 to go fourth.
Massa posts 36.013 to go quickest but this is immediately beaten by his Ferrari teammate who crosses the line at 35.391. Replay shows Massa losing time behind Sutil.
Di Resta can only manage eleventh (37.487), as Rosberg reveals that he suffered a "hydraulics issue".
As Button goes sixth (36.693), the McLaren driver clearly struggling, Webber goes quickest in S1. The Australian crosses the line at 36.420 to go fourth, 1.029s off Alonso's pace.
Despite posting PBs in all three sectors Vettel can only manage 36.286 which, if nothing else, puts him ahead of his teammate.
The session ends with Alonso quickest ahead of Massa, Hamilton, Vettel, Webber, Sutil, Raikkonen, Button, Perez and Hulkenberg.
Vergne is eleventh, ahead of Ricciardo, Maldonado, Rosberg, Bottas, di Resta, Gutierrez, Grosjean, Bianchi, Pic, Chilton and Van der Garde.
On the evidence thus far, and hydraulic issues notwithstanding, it appears to be Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.