16/11/2013
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 30 degrees. It's roughly the same as it was yesterday, though it is expected be warmer tomorrow, proceedings getting underway an hour later.
You won't be surprised to hear that Sebastian Vettel was quickest this morning, indeed, it won't come as a shock to learn that he led a Red Bull 1-2, just as he did yesterday in FP2.
While it looks to be another Sunday stroll for the world champion, the fact that the top twelve were covered by 0.141s this morning gives us hope.
Not hope that he'll be beaten of course, we never feel such ill will towards anyone (well not in terms of race drivers) but it would be good to see him under a little pressure if only from his teammate.
Lewis Hamilton was third quickest this morning, but the Mercedes driver, who admits his recent form has been shocking, is plagued with understeer. While we expect Hamilton and his teammate to be strong we cannot help but feel that the dark horse this weekend is Sauber.
Both Hulkenberg and Gutierrez have been impressive, and an ever improving car, matched with the drivers' desire to impress should guarantee a strong showing.
For McLaren, Button and Perez look good though the Englishman is hampered by a three-place grid penalty for a needless error in FP1 yesterday. Like several others, Perez has a point to prove.
Lotus isn't looking as strong as it has in recent outings, but the comparative failure of Ferrari, combined with strong 'out of the box' pace from Heikki Kovalainen could yet see the Enstone outfit take third in the championship.
Pastor Maldonado already appears to have given up on Williams, just a teammate Bottas raises his game, while at Force India, despite countless offs at T19, Sutil looks the stronger of the two drivers.
The overriding impression however, other than the strength of the Red Bulls, is the failure of the Ferraris, both Alonso and Massa looking as though the season can't end quick enough.
Based on the evidence thus far, we're looking at a one-stop strategy tomorrow, with several drivers, most notably Webber, much happier on the prime (hard) tyre and getting their best out of them the more laps they complete.
The lights go green for Q1 and Chilton is first out, followed by di Resta, Gutierrez and Bianchi. In no time at all, all but Van der Garde and the Red Bulls are on track.
Hulkenberg is advised that during the brake the team have fitted new brakesc without informing him.
Chilton posts 47.022 but this is soon beaten by di Resta (45.130) and then Hulkenberg (43.698).
Pic, on the option rubber, posts 42.482 to go quickest (!), however, a 39.825 sees Bottas leapfrog him.
A little bit of silliness sees Maldonado almost run into the back of a Sauber (Gutierrez) which was weaving in order to generate heat into its tyres. As a result the Williams runs wide.
As Alonso goes quickest (39.658), ahead of Bottas and Gutierrez, the Red Bulls remain in their garages.
Hamilton takes the top spot with a 39.153, watched by his former boss and mentor, Ron Dennis.
Bottas re-takes the top spot with a 38.773 only to lose out when Grosjean improves with a 38.676.
The stewards announce that they are to investigate the Maldonado/Gutierrez incident.
"Wow, shocking. Shocking how the car responds," says Hulkenberg. "I think it's some nasty tailwind in Sector 1 and 2"
Button reports that he has oversteer in the high-speed corners and understeer in the slower ones.
With 6:59 on the clock, Vettel leaves the pits… his teammate having left a minute earlier. Both are on primes as is pace-setter Grosjean.
As Webber begins his first flying lap, all but the Lotus duo - and Vettel - have switched to options.
Webber goes quickest with a 38.493 as Kovalainen switches to options. Moments later Vettel goes second with a 38.516.
Surprising to see so many drivers swap to the softer rubber so early.
Hamilton goes quickest in S2 but this is instantly beaten by Gutierrez. At the line Hamilton posts 37.959 with Gutierrez posting 38.082 moments later.
With 2:14 on the clock, Grosjean, now in eighth, leaves the pits on the softer rubber. Vettel slips to seventh and Webber third, the German having settled for his time.
Maldonado under investigation again, this time for an incident involving Chilton.
Bottas goes fourth as Maldonado fails to improve on 18th, while Sutil runs wide in T1 and fails to improve on 17th. "Damn this f***ing traffic," wails the German. "Why we can't manage the out lap?"
At the death, Bottas goes quickest with a 37.821, ahead of Hamilton. Gutierrez is third, ahead of Webber, Hulkenberg, Perez, Kovalainen, Vettel, Button and Grosjean.
We lose Sutil, Maldonado, Van der Garde, Bianchi, Pic and Chilton.
A problem for Sutil on his in lap sees the German pull to the side of the track and park up. It is subsequently revealed that he had a right-front puncture.
A worrying time for Ferrari, Alonso and Massa having finished 15th and 16th. Not so for Red Bull, the only team not to use a set of options in Q1.
Vergne is first out for Q2, the Frenchman followed by a whole gaggle of drivers including the Ferraris and Mercedes.
Vergne posts 38.696 with teammate Ricciardo posting 38.804. However, moments later Hamilton bangs in a 38.104 to go quickest with Bottas taking second with a 38.140.
Di resta improves from tenth to second with a 38.139 as the Red Bulls, Grosjean and Hulkenberg remain the only drivers not to come out. The Red Bulls both sporting prime tyres.
Button goes seventh overall (38.412) having been quickest in the final sector. Moments later his teammate, yet to post a time, goes quickest in S1. The Mexican goes second (38.116) as Hulkenberg, Webber and Grosjean finally leave the pits. Vettel still to show.
A 42.071 sees Hulkenberg go 13th, while Grosjean shoots straight to the top of the table with a 37.523.
On his next lap however, Hulkenberg goes quickest in S1 as Webber goes quickest in S2. Alonso also on a hot lap.
Webber goes quickest with a 37.312, while Hulkenberg takes third. However, all eyes are now on Vettel who goes quickest in S1.
Alonso goes second and Bottas third but both are demoted when Vettel, on his first flying lap, posts 37.065. This drops Rosberg into the drop zone, along with Massa, Button and Kovalainen.
Webber, currently second on 37.312, pits. The Australian, like his teammate, posted his lap on the option rubber.
Grosjean (fifth) heads back to the pits, the Lotus not having enough fuel for another lap.
Out comes the flag and Gutierrez, Rosberg, Kovalainen, Massa and Button begin their final laps.
Gutierrez improves to eighth while Button can only manage twelfth. Kovalainen goes ninth but is demoted when Perez goes ninth, nonetheless he survives to fight in Q3.
Grosjean complains that he lost time in traffic, blaming di Resta and Hamilton as the main culprits.
"Massive understeer," says Rosberg, "the magic was on and I don't know why or if that caused problems, very, very difficult"
Vettel is quickest, ahead of Webber, Alonso, Bottas, Grosjean, Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Gutierrez, Perez and Kovalainen.
We lose Ricciardo, di Resta, Button, Rosberg, Massa and Vergne. Some real shocks there.
Perez is first out for Q3, both Mexican drivers having made it into the final phase, much to the obvious delight of their countrymen in the crowds.
Last out in the previous phases, Vettel and Webber are amongst the first out this time.
"No more KERS, Kimi... Heikki," Kovalainen is told, "no more KERS until the exit of the last corner."
Webber posts 36.699 while Perez can only manage 38.074. Bottas, on the other hand, dives back into the pits.
A 36.851 sees Vettel go third, the German currently out-qualified by his teammate for the third time in four races.
Grosjean goes third, ahead of Perez and Kovalainen, as Bottas, Hamilton and Hulkenberg leave the pits.
With 2:40 remaining, Webber and then Grosjean leave the pits. Within moments all but Vettel are on track until, with 2:01 on the clock, the German heads out of his garage.
Bottas goes quickest in S1, however he locks up and runs wide in S3 and is only able to manage third (37.836).
Webber goes quickest in the first two sectors, the Australian looking supreme. At the line he posts 36.441.
At the first split Vettel is already 0.2s down on his teammate. Grosjean goes third and Hulkenberg fourth whilst Hamilton can only manage fifth.
Going quickest in the final sector, Vettel posts 36.338 to take pole, despite having been 0.25s down on Webber at the second split.
As Vettel spouts the usual, "yes, yes, we did it," nonsense, Webber is a little more forthright. "Sorry mate, f***ed the last corner up," admits the Australian.
So, the German takes pole, ahead of Webber, with Grosjean third, ahead of Hulkenberg, Hamilton, Alonso, Perez, Kovalainen, Bottas and Gutierrez.
Ricciardo starts eleventh, ahead of di Resta, Button, Rosberg, Massa, Vergne, Sutil, Maldonado, Van der Garde, Bianchi, Pic and Chilton.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.