05/10/2013
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 33 degrees. It remains bright but there is a lot of cloud.
After Lewis Hamilton dominated both of yesterday's sessions, this morning Red Bull finally began to show its hand, Sebastian Vettel heading a Red Bull 1-2. That said, both Mercedes drivers, particularly the Englishman, were hampered by traffic, so perhaps this afternoon we might get the fight yesterday's sessions suggested we would have.
Of course, Red Bull's 1-2, not to mention its 0.3sc advantage over Mercedes is all very well until you consider that Mark Webber has to forfeit ten grid places following that taxi ride with Fernando Alonso in Singapore.
As yesterday, behind the Red Bulls and Mercedes there was almost perfect symmetry with Ferrari and Lotus enjoying their own little battle ahead of the next group.
Having been 'best of the rest' yesterday, this morning McLaren was under pressure from Sauber, Wlliams and Force India, though in most cases one driver appears to be slightly more competitive than his teammate, Perez, di Resta and Bottas all struggling.
Tyre options this weekend are medium (prime) and supersoft (option), while, unlike 2012, this year there are two DRS zones. The detection point of the first is 70m after Turn 2, with activation 360m after Turn 2. The second detection point is 60m before Turn 16 with activation 95m after Turn 18.
The first corner here is fairly notorious and consequently pole position is important. If Vettel takes it the likelihood is that he will disappear into the distance, much as he has done for the last couple of races, the German given further impetus by the booing at the last couple of races and the talk of cheating at the Austrian outfit. Then there's some of the s**t-stirring been done by the media, with the help of fellow drivers.
A number of teams, most notably Lotus, whilst showing great race pace, are losing out in qualifying meaning they have it all to do on Sunday afternoon. Ferrari has been struggling with its handling all weekend, no doubt writing off qualifying and hoping that Alonso can pull a rabbit out of the hat tomorrow as he did in Singapore.
If it is to stop the Red Bull/Vettel steamroller, Mercedes must take pole today, even better it must lock out the front row. However, based on this morning's form, and the last couple of races, this seems to be a mighty tall order.
With each race, more and more teams are admitting that focus has switched to 2014, understandable given the huge swathe of new rules, yet Red Bull continues to introduce updates, such is its determination. Perhaps, rather than talking of traction control, some of its rivals should be showing the same commitment and determination.
Gutierrez is first out, the Sauber waiting all alone at the end of the pitlane for the lights to turn green.
As the Mexican starts his flying lap he is joined on track by Button, Perez, Rosberg, Hamilton and a heap of others.
At the line the Sauber driver posts 1:41.058, his lap having been somewhat erratic.
In moments the Mexican is demoted to fifth as Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Perez and Button all go quicker, the Englishman crossing the line at 40.169. Rosberg subsequently posts 39.415 as Hamilton takes second with a 39.737.
All but Webber, Vettel and Grosjean are on track.
Alonso goes quickest in S1 as Perez also shows strong pace in the opening sector. Alonso goes second (39.504) while Perez can only manage sixth (39.926). Vettel heads down the pitlane.
A 38.574 sees Hamilton go quickest while Raikkonen takes fourth. Webber is now on track.
As Vettel begins his first flying lap, Gutierrez (15th on 41.058) goes quickest in S1, the Mexican the first driver to switch to the option rubber. At the line the Sauber driver posts 38.725 to go second, his pace no doubt causing concern for those drivers hoping not to have to make the switch to the softer rubber this early.
Vettel goes third (39.199), only to be leapfrogged by his teammate moments later, Webber stopping the clock at 39.138.
As Grosjean finally emerges from the pits (on primes), Raikkonen and Massa switch to options.
Hulkenberg (options) goes quickest in S1, as Rosberg and Alonso switch to the softer rubber.
A 38.427 sees Hulkenberg go quickest as Button is warned that the cut-off is likely to be 38.8. The Englishman, currently fifth, is on 38.882.
As Hamilton and Gutierrez are the only drivers not on track, Rosberg goes quickest before being beaten by Raikkonen, the Finn posting 38.341.
Di Resta loses time behind Bianchi, the Scot currently fourteenth. Alonso drops to sixteenth but moment later he posts 38.520 to go fifth.
Di Resta is told to “box”, the Scot appearing to have a problem. The Force India driver makes the cut by the skin of his teeth however, no such luck for Maldonado who had seemed so impressive this morning.
Quickest was Raikkonen ahead of Rosberg, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Ricciardo, Hamilton, Vettel, Gutierrez, Button and Massa.
We lose Bottas, Maldonado, Pic, Van der Garde, Bianchi and Chilton. It's the fourth time this season that both Williams have been eliminated in Q1.
Ricciardo is first out for Q2, followed by Raikkonen. Both are sporting option tyres.
In no time at all, all but Grosjean and the Red Bulls are on track, just like Q1.
Raikkonen posts 39.236 but is subsequently beaten by Hulkenberg and then Alonso (38.504), while Hamilton goes best of the lot with a 37.824.
A 38.031s sees Rosberg go second, thereby making it a Mercedes 1-2, meanwhile the Red Bulls head down the pitlane.
Gutierrez goes fourth (38.922), the Mexican continuing to impress.
Webber goes second (37.840) having posted a trio of PBs. Moments later, having gone quickest in S3, Vettel crosses the line at 37.569 to take the top spot, around 0.25s quicker than Hamilton.
With 2:10 on the clock, Di Resta, Perez, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Sutil and Vergne comprise the drop zone. The Frenchman has yet to post a time.
Less cars than in Q1 but it still seems very busy with lots of traffic.
Raikkonen improves to sixth (38.181), but he still appears far from safe. Indeed, Alonso and Hulkenberg are both very quick in S1.
The top five, Vettel, Hamilton, Webber, Rosberg and Grosjean have settled for their times.
Hulkenberg goes fourth (37.913) and Alonso fifth, while Massa can only manage ninth.
Surprisingly, we lose both McLarens, Perez heading the losers in Q2, ahead of Button, Ricciardo, Sutil, di Resta and Vergne.
Quickest was Vettel, ahead of Hamilton, Webber, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Rosberg, Grosjean, Raikkonen, Massa and Gutierrez.
How topsy-turvy is that, both Saubers survive to Q3, whilst we lose both McLarens and Force Indias.
The lights go green and Webber is straight out of the box. Soon after he is followed by the Mercedes duo and Grosjean. Vettel is another early riser.
As Webber begins his flying lap, the Ferrari duo, Sauber duo and Raikkonen sit it out in the pits.
Webber is the pace setter in S1 but Vettel goes quicker. The Australian crosses the line at 37.464 with Rosberg going second (37.679). Moments later, Hamilton goes second (37.508) and Grosjean third, only to be demoted when Vettel bangs in a 37.202 to take provisional pole.
As the clock ticks down to 2:00 all but Vettel are on track, finally, the German heads down the pitlane. Gutierrez in the first of the 'train' ahead of Rosberg, Webber and Grosjean.
Alonso goes quickest in S1 but Hulkenberg, running behind the Ferrari, goes quicker.
Hamilton goes quickest in S2 as Webber dives into the pits. The Englishman crosses the line at 37.420 to take second, at which point Vettel eases off, job done.
Grosjean is third quickest, but like the next few drivers, benefits from Webber's penalty, whilst Alonso can only manage sixth and Raikkonen a disappointing tenth.
To summarise, Vettel is quickest ahead of Hamilton, Webber, Grosjean, Rosberg, Alonso, Massa, Hulkenberg, Gutierrez and Raikkonen.
Perez is eleventh ahead of Button, Ricciardo, Sutil, di Resta, Vergne, Bottas, Maldonado, Pic, Van der Garde, Bianchi and Chilton.
Whilst Hamilton will be disappointed with second, the fact that the gap was only 0.2s offers some hope, while Rosberg must have a little more in reserve, at least according to Ross Brawn.
The biggest loser here is Webber, who much be kicking himself that for that Singapore taxi ride.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.