02/11/2013
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 32 degrees C, while the track temperature is 36 degrees.
Tyre options this weekend are the same as used last week in India, medium (prime) and soft (option).
Thus far there is approximately 1.5 - 2 seconds between the two compounds: enough of a difference to make strategy a key consideration. Another factor is the difference in temperatures between the early sessions, such as FP1 and FP3 compared to the later sessions when the sun drops and temperatures cool. Indeed, the stark change in temperatures between sessions is a major issue in terms of set-up.
There are two DRS zones, the first on the straight that links T7 and T8 and the second between T10 and T11.
As in FP2, earlier today we saw Sebastian Vettel lead a Red Bull, a scene we have witnessed so many times this year. However, whereas yesterday it was Lotus that kept the Austrian outfit honest this morning it was Mercedes that put Sebastian and Mark under pressure.
That said, Vettel insists that his main threat this weekend, other than his teammate, comes from Lotus.
The big surprise thus far has been the poor form of Ferrari. Having already been leapfrogged by Mercedes, the Italian team is now under pressure from Lotus. Remember, whilst it is the Drivers' Championship which carries the kudos and the glamour, it is the constructors' Championship that decides the all-important prize money share-out.
However, it isn't the financial hit that will concern Ferrari so much as the loss of face in being beaten not only by a "drinks company" but Mercedes and Fake Lotus.
Having been fairly quiet yesterday, this morning Sauber upped its game. With strong traction an absolute must here, the ever-improving Swiss outfit is fancied to do well and further close the gap to Force India.
Another team looking stronger this weekend is McLaren, though Perez missed much of this morning's running.
Toro Rosso looked a little stronger earlier but Williams continues to struggle.
In the four previous runnings of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, nobody other than Vettel or Hamilton has taken pole here.
The lights go green and Hulkenberg is first out followed by di Resta and Bianchi. The Frenchman takes a five place grid penalty after the team opted to change his gearbox following this morning's off.
As Hulkenberg begins his flying lap, all but Vettel, Webber and Alonso are on track.
"We're going for laps 1, 3 and 5," Hamilton is told, "we're expecting times on laps 3 and 5".
Off the first batch, Chilton (44.974) goes quickest - quicker than Hulkenberg - but soon drops down the sheets as Gutierrez, Vergne and Rosberg all go quicker. As Hamilton goes second (42.573) there is a question mark against Rosberg's time as he appeared to have all four wheel off the track at times particularly T21.
As Raikkonen goes third, ahead of Hulkenberg and Button, Hamilton says that he will need to change his helmet/visor at the end of Q1. It could well be the diminishing light which is causing him problems.
Massa goes 13th as teammate Alonso begins his first flying lap. The Spaniard goes third with a 43.245 but he had to work hard.
A 42.890 sees Perez go third, the Mexican, like Rosberg, appearing to use all the track and then some. Elsewhere, Button runs wide in T9 and Maldonado at T20.
As Button goes third (42.609), Alonso has already dropped to twelfth, however, another strong lap sees him improve to third and demote the McLaren driver.
At 7:40, both Red Bulls leave the garage, both of them sporting options tyres, a move, as seen in India, which will cause problems for their rivals, especially those who thought they had done enough.
Hamilton goes quickest (42.231) as Massa, along with Grosjean, is down in the drop zone with the usual suspects.
Learning from its mistake last week, Lotus sends Grosjean out on a set of softs.
As Grosjean is told that he is "upshifting too early", Vettel goes quickest (41.683) only to be instantly usurped by his teammate who posts 41.568.
A 41.726 sees Raikkonen go quickest with Maldonado taking fourth moments later. Vettel, still on track, is told to prepare for another timed lap.
Grosjean makes it a Lotus 1-2 with a 41.447, Hulkenberg going fourth moments later. Massa remains in the drop zone, as does Sutil.
With 1:30 on the clock, all but the Red Bulls are on track.
Sutil improves to 12th with a 42.051 as Alonso goes quickest in S1. Mass also on a strong lap.
Rosberg splits the Lotus duo with a 41.420 only to be leapfrogged by Alonso (41.397).
From out of nowhere, Massa produces a 41.254 to go quickest as Hamilton drops into the drop zone. Maldonado goes third (41.365) but is demoted when Hamilton goes quickest with a 40.693).
Hamilton is quickest in Q1, ahead of Massa, Raikkonen, Maldonado, Alonso, Rosberg, Grosjean, Webber, Hulkenberg and di Resta.
We lose Gutierrez, Sutil, Van der Garde, Bianchi, Pic and Chilton.
Di Resta is first out for Q2, Webber and Raikkonen amongst those that follow. As in Q1, Hulkenberg is eager to get to work.
Di Resta post 41.477 but this is soon beaten by The Hulk, who crosses the line at 41.147.
As Webber goes second (41.324) all 16 drivers are on track.
A 40.971 sees Raikkonen go top, the second fastest lap of the weekend thus far.
As Hamilton goes quickest in the first two sectors, Rosberg goes quickest overall, stopping the clock at 40.473. Hamilton subsequently posts 40.477 to go second.
Having posted PBs in all three sectors Vettel can only manage third (40.781), as Alonso drops into the drop zone.
"We think the cut-off will be 41.1," Raikkonen is told, "it's very close". The Finn, on 40.97, is currently fourth. Moments later however, he drops to fifth when Webber posts 41.116, the Australian having lost time in S3.
Ahead of the final run, di Resta, Alonso, Ricciardo, Maldonado, Bottas and Button comprise the drop zone.
Clearly concerned that he hasn't done enough, Webber comes out for another run. Indeed, he's told he'll be doing one timed lap.
Di Resta improves to sixth (41.133) - as Lotus predicted - but is it enough?
Grosjean can only manage fifth (40.987), like this morning Lotus continues to lose ground to Mercedes.
Alonso goes quickest in S1, the Spaniard never one to give in. however, a poor S2 sees him abort the lap and go for another.
As Webber goes quickest in S1, Vettel and Rosberg are the only drivers not on track.
Button goes ninth (41.200) but is demoted when Webber goes third (40.575) and Perez fifth.
Claire Williams is chewing her knuckles in the Williams garage as Maldonado tries but fails to make the cut. The big surprise however is that Alonso fails to make the cut, though his teammate does.
Rosberg is quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Webber, Vettel, Perez, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Grosjean, Raikkonen and Massa.
We lose Alonso, di Resta, Button, Vergne, Maldonado and Bottas.
As we await the start of Q3, Alonso walks to the weighing-in station, his gait says it all.
Hulkenberg leads Ricciardo and the Mercedes duo as Q3 gets underway. In moments all but Massa are on track.
Sparks fly from Hamilton's car as he pushes hard... too hard? The fact that Webber and Hulkenberg are quickest in the same sector suggests he's overdoing it.
Hulkenberg posts 41.379 with Hamilton posting 40.501 moments later. However, a 40.419 sees Rosberg go top... until Vettel eclipses it with a mighty 40.091.
Raikkonen posts 40.692 to go fourth as Alan Permane, like the rest of us, appears totally mystified by Vettel's pace. Grosjean goes sixth ahead of Hulkenberg.
With 3:20 on the clock, all is silent as we await the final charge. Ricciardo, Perez and Massa clearly going so a single timed lap.
Rosberg and Hulkenberg are first out.
In S1 there are lots of PBs, but only Webber posts a purple. The Australian maintains the pace in S2, finally crossing the line at 39.957 to take provisional pole. A superb lap.
Game over for Hamilton who spins at 14, thereby bringing out the yellow flags.
Vettel's failure to improve means that teammate Webber takes pole for the second time this season.
The Australian will start ahead of teammate Vettel, with Rosberg third ahead of Hamilton, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Grosjean, Massa, Perez and Ricciardo.
Alonso is eleventh, ahead of di Resta, Button, Vergne, Maldonado, Bottas, Gutierrez, Sutil, Van der Garde, Bianchi, Pic and Chilton.
An absolute stonker of a lap from Webber but whether he can convert it into a win remains to be seen.
As we saw earlier, Mercedes has reclaimed some of the pace it appeared to have lost, though Lotus is still up there despite a disappointing performance from Grosjean.
Total kudos to Aussie Grit though.