12/10/2013
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 25 degrees C, while the track temperature is 36 degrees. It remains very windy, especially on the main pit straight. Indeed, the wind direction has changed since this morning which could prove problematic for some drivers.
As witnessed by the times earlier this morning, the track is much grippier today, and consequently considerably faster. That said, once the options were bolted on for the final fifteen minutes of the session there were few really significant improvements.
The tyres on offer this weekend are hard (prime) and medium (option) with around 0.5s between them, as far as most drivers are concerned.
As in 2012 there is one DRS zone and it is on the main pit straight, albeit slightly longer than last year.
The big talking point was a KERS issue on Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull which meant the German didn't get to run on the softer rubber. However, the fact that his teammate, Mark Webber, topped the timesheets, should give the world champion a significant confidence boost.
After yesterday's numerous incidents this morning the drivers were a little more circumspect, all except for Adrian Sutil who sent into the barriers at Spoon after running wide on to the Astroturf. Unfortunately, Force India needed to change the gearbox on the German's car thus incurring a five-place grid penalty.
A number of drivers, most notably Hamilton and Grosjean, continue to push their luck, and only time will tell if they take it just that little bit too far.
Overall, Red Bull appears to have the upper hand, though, as in Korea last week, Mercedes looks strong as does Lotus. Ferrari still appears to be on the back foot.
While most attention is focussed on the title 'fight', which could be wrapped up by Vettel this weekend, let's not forget that there is much, much more at stake.
First off there is the Constructors' Championship, the championship that decides who gets what prize money. At a time of rising costs and shrinking (sponsor) budgets every single point is precious.
Then there is the fight to find/secure a seat for 2014. At present only a few drivers have contracts for next year and even then no contract is cast iron. Therefore, the drivers have a few more opportunities to impress prospective employers or convince their current paymasters that they're worth retaining.
The lights go green and Gutierrez heads down the pitlane. Vettel's car looks ready to go as does Sutil's.
As he begins his flying lap Gutierrez has the track entirely to himself. As he completes the second sector Button, Perez, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Hulkenberg and di Resta decide to join him.
At the line Sauber driver posts 1:33.547.
Of the first wave, di Resta and Button look quick, the Scot posting 33.059 and then his English rival banging in a 32.606. Raikkonen goes second (32.841) only to lose out when his teammate stops the clock at 32.747.
As Hamilton heads down the pitlane, leaving Bianchi and the Red Bulls as 'no shows', there's drama in the Sauber garage where there are flames shooting up from Gutierrez' car. On track, teammate Hulkenberg goes fourth.
A 32.371 sees Alonso go quickest, watched by his quite beautiful girlfriend.
Grosjean improves to third having gone quickest in S2, while Rosberg can only manage eighth (32.906). Hamilton takes second with a 32.526 as Vettel finally leaves the comfort of the Red Bull garage.
As Webber leaves the pits, with 7:50 on the clock, the top fifteen are covered by just 1.009s.
A massive lock-up for Maldonado at the chicane, the Venezuelan having a torrid weekend.
As Vettel begins his first flying lap, Hamilton goes quickest in S1. At the line the Mercedes driver posts 32.340 to go quickest while Vettel's 32.297 is good enough for third. However, moments later, Webber goes quickest with a 32.271.
Despite that fire Gutierrez is back on track, the Mexican currently seventeenth.
Bianchi, who carries over a ten-place grid penalty from Korea - as does Van der Garde - heads down the pitlane with just under four minutes remaining.
Another fire, this time for Vergne who grinds to a halt at Spoon, his rear brakes appearing to be to blame. As marshals descend on the car thick smoke billows across the track thus necessitating a red flag. Toro Rosso suffered a brake issue last weekend, the team stopping Vergne after an issue on Ricciardo's car resulted in the Australian crashing.
With 2:55 on the clock, the red flag has frustrated a lot of drivers. When the session re-starts (at 14.22 local time) there is a mad scramble to get back to work. Rosberg heads the queue.
Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, Vettel and Button remain in their garages. A brave move in terms of the McLaren driver. The top fourteen are covered by 0.985s
Of those on track all are on options except Grosjean who is on primes.
Lots of PBs, but Rosberg is first to post a purple, the Mercedes driver going quickest in S2.
Di Resta goes third and Raikkonen sixth as Button drops to ninth. A 31.824 sees Grosjean go quickest with Massa going second (31.994) moments later.
So, quickest was Grosjean, ahead of Massa, Rosberg, Webber, di Resta, Hamilton, Alonso, Raikkonen, Vettel and Hulkenberg.
We lose Sutil, Vergne, Chilton - who not only out-qualified his teammate but the Caterhams also - Pic, Van der Garde and Bianchi.
Di Resta is first out for Q2, the Scot really needing a result this weekend after crashing out of the last four races.
The Lotus and Saubers duos join di Resta, Raikkonen and Grosjean both on the harder rubber.
Di Resta crosses the line at 33.059, around 0.8s slower than his pace in Q1.
Hulkenberg momentarily tops the timesheets with his 32.969 before being toppled by Raikkonen and his 32.020. Grosjean makes it a Lotus 1-2 with a 32.079.
Hamilton posts 31.852 but this is soon eclipsed by Alonso (31.828). Moments later, Button posts an impressive 31.889 to go third, having gone quickest in S1.
The Red Bulls are finally on track, unlike Ricciardo who might well play no further part in this session as his team investigates the issue which eliminated his teammate.
Vettel is super-quick in S1 and again in S2, at the line the German posts 31.290, 0.6s quicker than Alonso. Webber goes second with a 31.513 as normal service resumes.
Perez is currently in the drop zone along with the Saubers, Williams and Ricciardo, who, against expectations, has left the pits.
Grosjean - now on the option rubber - posts 31.565 to go third.
Surprisingly, di Resta appears to have settled for his time. The Scot is currently seventh.
Hulkenberg goes eighth, dropping di Resta to eighth. Moments later Raikkonen goes fourth, Perez tenth and Button eighth. However, having gone quickest in S3, Massa crosses the line at 31.668 to go sixth, thereby dumping Perez into the drop zone.
Quickest was Vettel, ahead of Webber, Grosjean, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Massa, Rosberg, Alonso, Button and Hulkenberg. The top ten were covered by just 0.558s, though the gap between Vettel and (third placed) Grosjean was almost 0.3s.
We lose Perez, di Resta, Bottas, Gutierrez, Maldonado and Ricciardo.
Ever keen, Vettel is first out for Q3, followed by the only man who can challenge him for the title, Fernando Alonso. Webber, Button, Grosjean and Hamilton follow, the McLaren driver on the harder rubber.
As he begins the second sector on his first flying lap, Vettel is told “KERS shutdown”. Nonetheless he crosses the line at 31.312.
As Alonso goes second, Webber crosses the line at 30.975 to take provisional pole. Hamilton goes fourth (31.952) after making a mistake and running wide. Having also made a mistake Grosjean returns to the pits.
With 3:20 on the clock, after a minute of silence, an engine fires up and Raikkonen heads down the pitlane. He is followed by Vettel and Co. Hamilton is last to leave the pits.
As he begins his flying lap, Raikkonen has a clear track ahead. Vettel is quickest in S1, the German now having his KERS available.
Raikkonen goes third (31.684) while Vettel can only manage 31.089 Webber improves with a 30.915.
Grosjean and Hamilton both improve but it's not enough, Webber takes pole - his first since Korea last year - with teammate Vettel completing the Red Bull lock-out.
Webber is quickest, ahead of Vettel, Hamilton, Grosjean, Massa, Rosberg, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Raikkonen and Button.
Perez is eleventh, ahead of di Resta, Bottas, Gutierrez, Maldonado, Ricciardo, Sutil, Vergne, Chilton, Pic, Van der Garde and Bianchi.
That said, there is talk of the Australian being penalised for an incident in Q1 in which he appeared to impede Perez however, since the Mexican wasn't on a hot lap this wouldn't really make sense. On the other hand, the Red Bull driver was extremely vocal about a similar incident yesterday involving di Resta.
Of course, if he is penalised, this would promote Vettel to pole.
Just a few races from the end of his F1 career, Webber desperately wants to sign off with a win and where better on one of the sport's finest circuits. However, notoriously slow off the line, the Australian can expect no favours from the man starting alongside, no favours or sentiment.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.