24/08/2013
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's sole practice session the air temperature is 20 degrees C, while the track temperature is 21 degrees. It is overcast with the threat of rain this morning and for much of the remainder of the weekend.
While Red Bull enjoyed a totally dominating Friday, attention overnight has focussed on the tyre failures suffered by Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso. However, following an investigation by Pirelli it has been revealed that the damage was done by "debris". However, drivers remain concerned at the issue, particularly on such a demanding, high speed circuit.
The Bulls enjoyed a clear advantage yesterday - though Alonso was quickest in the wet morning session - enjoying an 08s advantage over third placed Romain Grosjean.
Tyre options are hard (prime) and medium (option), while there are two DRS zone, the first on the short pit straight and the second on the Kemmel Straight leading up the hill to Les Combes. Detection points are before the chicane and the other on the run down to Eau Rouge.
While Lotus, Ferrari and Force India looked strong, Mercedes looked at sixes and sevens, Hamilton, in particular, struggling for grip.
The lights go green and Bianchi first out, followed by Grosjean, Gutierrez and Chilton. More and more drivers pour onto the track all sporting the harder prime rubber.
Having only run it in yesterday's wet session, surprisingly Lotus has opted not to run its passive DRS for the remainder of the weekend. Sauber has yet to make a decision on it version.
The Williams duo are the first to post times, Bottas crossing the line at 1:51.540. Moments later Perez stops the clock at 50.548.
As Hamilton begins his first flying lap of the day, Bottas reclaims the top spot with a 49.806, just ahead of Button (50.088). Yesterday it was Les Combes that caught out Hamilton today it is the chicane, he misses it and subsequently crosses the line at 53.863. Elsewhere, a lock-up and detour for di Resta at La Source.
Indeed drivers are struggling on various parts of the track, Hulkenberg getting it all wrong and running off track after Rivage.
A 49.759 sees Raikkonen go quickest, the Finn one of the few drivers not running a new engine this week on one of the most demanding of circuits.
Despite the fact that he is still unhappy with the handling of his Mercedes, Hamilton improves to third with a 49.857. Elsewhere, former teammate Button is out of his car, the McLaren thought to be suffering a suspension problem.
The cameras pick up something flying off Raikkonen's car as he comes out of the chicane.
Massa, who yesterday had oversteer, is now suffering understeer, the Brazilian runs wide at T9 which has already caused problems for di Resta and Hulkenberg. It's a fast, downhill left-hander that leads to the fabulous Pouhon.
Having posted PBs in the first two sectors, Hamilton locks-up and spins at the chicane. After recovering he dives back into the pits.
One driver who is happy is Pic who claims that overnight changes have made a world of difference.
Vettel posts 54.987 to go twenty-first, leaving Vergne as the only driver yet to post a time. Next time around the world champion improves to eighth (49.995), just behind his teammate.
Approaching half-time, and with the option rubber yet to make an appearance, it's: Vergne, Raikkonen, Bottas, Rosberg, Alonso, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Webber, Vettel and Button.
Having only completed 6 laps, and being the last driver to post a time, Vergne clearly hasn't entirely given up on the Red Bull seat. Hamilton, Gutierrez, Sutil and Van der Garde have all completed 11 laps.
A big lock-up for Sutil who flat-spots his right-front. Elsewhere, Raikkonen is all out of shape at La Source, as is di Resta.
Alonso goes quickest in S1 then backs off, just as reports suggests that spots of rain are falling. The Spaniard subsequently pits.
Button complains that changes to his car have not made a difference, describing the car as feeling "draggy".
With 20:20 on the clock, still no sign of the softer option tyres.
Vettel runs wide at T7 and kicks up a great cloud of muck that is spread all over the track. Elsewhere, lock-ups for both Lotus drivers.
Serious work being done on Buttons car, with the floor and rear wing getting special attention. It's understood that the plank has worked loose - something that caused Michael Schumacher problems here way back when.
At 13:22, Sutil, currently 18th (50.713), is the first to switch to the softer rubber.
The German doesn't do himself any favours when he locks-up in La source at the start of his flying lap. Nonetheless he goes quickest in S1 as more and more drivers switch to the options. It's only a PB in S2 while at the line the Force India driver posts 49.135 to go quickest.
Alonso (option) goes quickest in S1 and again in S2 as Rosberg posts a PB in the first sector. At the line the Spaniard posts 48.432, a clean sweep. Moments later, Rosberg goes second (48.993) only to be demoted when Massa slips in a 48.788.
With all but Vettel and Grosjean on track, all are on the softer rubber.
Raikkonen goes quickest in S2 but a mistake in Paul Frere looks to have cost him. Indeed, he crosses the line at 49.008, which puts him sixth.
As Vettel leaves the pits, teammate Webber goes second (48.533) having gone quickest in S2. Button posts 48.882 to go fourth just ahead of Gutierrez (48.930).
Ominously, Vettel goes quickest in S1. Despite a PB in S2 he is not the quickest, however, despite another PB in S3, he goes quickest overall, crossing the line at 48.327.
As Button goes quickest in S1, Vergne goes fourth overall (48.776), the Frenchman looking good this weekend. Hamilton, on the other hand, can only manage twelfth (49.046).
A massive lock-up sees Maldonado take to the run off at the chicane, the Williams driver failing to improve on eighteenth.
The session ends with Vettel quickest ahead of Alonso, Webber, Vergne, Massa, Button, Gutierrez, Grosjean, Rosberg and Raikkonen.
Ricciardo is eleventh, ahead of Hamilton, Sutil, Bottas, di Resta, Perez, Hulkenberg, Maldonado, Pic, Van der Garde, Bianchi and Chilton.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.