20/04/2013
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's qualifying session, the air temperature is 34 degrees C, while the track temperature is 42 degrees.
As if Mercedes wasn't having enough problems, the German team clearly struggling with its tyres and balance here, Lewis Hamilton has incurred a five-place grid penalty after his team opted to change the gearbox on his car. This, the result of a tyre failure in the final moments of this morning's session which damaged his suspension.
Of course, Mark Webber and Esteban Gutierrez also have grid penalties, both for incident in last week's Chinese Grand Prix.
While Fernando Alonso was quickest this morning, and Felipe Massa yesterday morning, it appears to be close call between Ferrari, Red Bull and Lotus, Kimi Raikkonen looking particularly strong here.
While McLaren and Mercedes are clearly struggling, Force India is looking good and could well pull a real surprise both today and tomorrow.
Sauber, on the other hand, looks all at sea, as do Williams and Toro Rosso, none of which appear to suit the conditions here.
Having been on the back foot in the opening rounds Caterham looks a lot stronger here, the Anglo-Malaysian outfit having brought back Heikki Kovalainen as test and reserve driver.
Tyres were always going to be the main talking point here and Hamilton's problem this morning will only add to that. However, with a three-week break until the Spanish Grand Prix, the start of the European season, Pirelli and the powers that be have some time to get things sorted. However, there appears to be some confusion as to extra tyres for Fridays, some thinking they are for rookie drivers only, others under the impression they'll be available to everyone.
While the dusty (sandy) surface has caught out as number of drivers this weekend, it was over exuberance that saw Alonso go off between Turns 2 and 3 this morning.
Tyres available here are hard (prime) and medium (option), while there are two DRS zones, one on the main straight and the other on the back straight linking Turns 10 and 11.
The lights go green and in the Mercedes garage mechanics are putting the finishing touches to Hamilton's car.
It is almost three minutes before the first car heads down the pitlane, Gutierrez, followed by his Sauber teammate. Both are on the hard tyre.
As Hulkenberg begins his flying lap, Van der Garde and the Toro Rossos are also on track. It's a scrappy lap from the German who crosses the line at 34.409. Gutierrez posts 35.027.
Chilton, Bianchi, Pic and the Williams duo already on the options.
As Vergne goes quickest (34.314), Rosberg, Grosjean and Massa head down the pitlane.
As Rosberg goes quickest in S1 he complains that there is something in his cockpit, near his leg, and it doesn't feel very nice. Nonetheless, he goes quickest (33.364), ahead of Grosjean (33.498) and Sutil (34.068).
Elsewhere, a big lock up for Raikkonen in T1, who simply takes too much speed into the corner.
In a surprise move, Perez leaves the pits on options. Elsewhere, Massa goes third with a 33.780, ahead of Raikkonen, di Resta and Sutil.
As Alonso goes quickest in S1, di Resta complains of the lack of communication from his team; "it's not good enough," he wails.
Alonso goes quickest (32.878) as Button leaves the pits, like his McLaren teammate, on options. Webber is on options also, as is Vettel.
Grosjean goes third and di Resta fourth as Perez - on options - can only manage eighth (34.310) before being leapfrogged by Button (34.071).
Webber goes seventh with a 33.966 as Hamilton loses a heap of time in S2. Indeed, he crosses the line at 51.104 as Vettel goes second with a 33.327.
With 2:20 on the clock, Gutierrez and Hamilton are in the danger zone with the usual suspects, with the Williams duo hovering.
Hamilton improves to fifth with a 33.498, just behind Grosjean. Maldonado improves to sixteenth, dropping Ricciardo into the danger zone.
Ricciardo sets PBs in the first two sectors, crossing the line at 34.120 to go twelfth. Bottas and Maldonado have posted identical times (34.425), but it is the Venezuelan who misses the cut. Ironically, Grosjean and Hamilton also recorded exactly the same time (33.498).
Quickest was Alonso, ahead of Vettel, Rosberg, Grosjean, Hamilton, di Resta, Massa, Raikkonen, Webber and Sutil.
We lose Maldonado, Gutierrez, Pic, Bianchi, Van der Garde and Chilton.
As the lights go green for Q2, there's excitement in the Marussia garage where there appears to have been a vapour fire on Bianchi's car, which is now covered in extinguisher foam.
Hulkenberg is first out, followed by Webber, both on the option rubber. Vettel, on the softer rubber, joins them.
Hulkenberg is quicker than Webber in Q1 however, the Australian has the advantage in S2. The German crosses the line at 34.947 but this is instantly beaten by Webber's 33.907. Moments later Vettel bangs in a 33.471 to beat them both. All but Grosjean and the Mercedes duo are on track.
A 33.335 sees di Resta go top, as Raikkonen goes fourth and Sutil sixth. Moments later Massa posts 33.501 to go third.
On his first flying lap Alonso goes quickest (33.316) despite only posting PBs in each sector. Elsewhere, Hulkenberg almost trips up over Massa, the German having complained of no grip, too much oversteer and no traction.
Rosberg, yet to post a time, goes quickest in S1 and again in S2 as Hamilton goes third overall (33.346). Rosberg crosses the line at 32.867.
With 3:20 on the clock, Grosjean begins his first flying lap of the session. Posting PBs in the first two sectors he crosses the line at 33.762 to go seventh. With teammate Raikkonen currently ninth Lotus appears to have lost the pace it was showing yesterday.
Webber (eighth) posts a PB in S1 as Button and Perez look set to miss the cut. The Australian, having gone quickest in S3, posts 33.098 to go second.
Raikkonen working hard to generate heat into his tyres, the Finn under real pressure as the clock counts down.
Sutil (eleventh) posts a PB in S1 as the chequered flag is waved. He posts another PB in S2, crossing the line at 33.378 to go sixth.
Vettel ups the ante with a 32.746 as Grosjean fails to make the cut, while a last gasp effort sees Button live to fight another day.
Quickest was Vettel, ahead of Rosberg, Webber, Raikkonen, Alonso, di Resta, Hamilton, Massa, Sutil and Button, who is clearly delighted to have avoided the chop.
We lose Grosjean, Perez, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Bottas and Vergne.
A major surprise to see Lotus suddenly on the back foot as Red Bull appears to be the new favourite. Although he was fourth, the Iceman has been making a number of unnecessary mistakes. A great performance from Rosberg, but even should he do the impossible, he has his work cut out tomorrow.
As we await the start of Q3 it looks to be a straight choice between Vettel and Alonso. Time will tell.
Unlike China, there cars on track from the outset, di Resta, ahead of Rosberg and Hamilton, with Alonso also keen to get to work.
Di Resta posts 33.398 but this is immediately beaten by Rosberg (32.543). Alonso can only manage a 32.667 and Hamilton 32.762.
Sutil goes out on the prime tyre and then returns to the pits. Vettel, Webber, Massa, Button and Raikkonen sit and wait.
With 4:00 on the clock there are only four times on the board and nobody on track.
At 3:15, Webber breaks the deadlock, he heads down the pitlane followed by Sutil. Both on the option rubber. Massa leaves his garage on the prime rubber.
All ten drivers are on track, with Webber leading the way and Button at the very back.
It's a scruffy lap from Webber as Rosberg's 32.543 remains the time to beat.
The Australian posts 33.078 to go fourth as Rosberg goes quickest in S1. As Alonso goes third and Vettel second, Rosberg takes pole when he improves to 32.330.
What a turnaround, Mercedes takes pole for the second successive race, though this time it's the real home boy who will start from the front. That said, Nico will have his work cut out tomorrow.
Vettel starts from second, and must be a hot favourite going into tomorrow's race, ahead of Alonso, Hamilton, Webber, Massa, di Resta, Sutil, Raikkonen and Button.
Grosjean is eleventh on the board, ahead of Perez, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Bottas, Vergne, Maldonado, Gutierrez, Pic, Bianchi, Van der Garde and Chilton.
With penalties, Gutierrez will start from the back of the field, Webber will start from seventh and Hamilton ninth.
Felipe Massa will start the race on primes, while Button, having not posted a time, is free to choose.
An interesting session, but what will be really interesting will be to see if Rosberg can convert his impressive pole performance into a win or even a podium.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.