09/05/2014
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's second free practice session the air temperature is 24 degrees C, while the track temperature is 44 degrees.
Tyre choices this weekend are hard and medium whilst the two DRS zones are on the main straight and on the shorter back straight between Turns 9 and 10.
The big news is that following the electrical issue which sidelined him after just four laps this morning, Sebastian Vettel will take no further part in today's activity, his team needing to replace the wiring loom damaged earlier.
To add to the German's frustration, while teammate Daniel Ricciardo was able to finish third quickest this morning he was 0.950s off pace-setter Lewis Hamilton's time, the Mercedes driver clearly having a lot more in reserve.
Second quickest was Jenson Button with Fernando Alonso fourth ahead of Nico Rosberg, Kimi Raikkonen, Kevin Magnussen, Pastor Maldonado, Sergio Perez and Felipe Massa.
On a circuit as demanding, in terms of downforce, it was a good result for McLaren, whilst Giedo Van der Garde will be keen to get out of his overall following a brake failure.
Having given over their cars to the reserves earlier, Valtteri Bottas and Esteban Gutierrez are back on duty his afternoon.
The lights go green and Ericsson leads the way, followed by Romain Grosjean. In the McLaren garage Ron Dennis watches the final preparations to Magnussen's car.
Rosberg, who missed much of the morning session doe to an ERC cooling issue is in his car, his crew having worked throughout the break.
Ericsson gets things underway with a 39.717 before Grosjean posts a far more sensible 30.574.
"We have an engine problem," Chilton is told, "we need to come in slow, no full throttle." The English youngster duly obeys.
Maldonado goes quickest (29.275) ahead of Kvyat, Grosjean, Gutierrez and Bianchi.
No sooner has Magnussen gone quickest with a 28.815 than teammate Button posts 28.703. Elsewhere, the Mercedes duo head down the pitlane.
A 27.644 sees Ricciardo go quickest however, moments later Hamilton crosses the line at 27.448.
As Hamilton improves to 27.061, almost half-a-second quicker than Ricciardo, Bottas is seen wasting time and energy in the final chicane.
Watched by Luca di Montezemolo, Rosberg goes second (27.522), ahead of Ricciardo, Alonso and Raikkonen, both Ferraris over one second off Hamilton's pace.
As Sutil sits at the back of the Sauber garage chatting with Giedo Van Der Garde, Alonso is shown still really wrestling with the Ferrari.
Twenty-five minutes into the session Maldonado and Ericsson are the first to switch to the option (medium) rubber. Despite almost tripping up over the Caterham, the Lotus driver subsequently improves to fourth with a 27.866.
Once again Chilton is told of a problem with his car, the youngster told not to use full throttle.
Now on the options, Ricciardo goes quicker by a whole second, breaking the beam at 26.509, just 0.552s ahead of Hamilton's best (set on primes). Meanwhile, Rosberg, now on options, has improved to third with a 27.301.
As the Ferrari duo switch to options Hamilton follows suit, all watched by Simona de Silvestro from the back of the Sauber garage.
Raikkonen goes third (27.296) having posted PBs in all three sectors. However, Rosberg and Hamilton are also on hot laps. The German posts 25.973 to go quickest but this is almost instantly beaten by his Mercedes teammate who posts 25.524.
Whilst Alonso goes fourth (27.121), albeit 1.5s off Hamilton's pace, it's worth noting that Kvyat is up to seventh whilst the McLaren have slipped to ninth and tenth.
Grosjean grinds to a halt at the end of the pitlane, causing the black-clad crew to come running to the aid of the stricken Frenchman.
At 'half-time', it's: Hamilton, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Alonso, Raikkonen, Button, Massa, Maldonado, Magnussen and Kvyat.
As is ever the case, in the second half of the session the drivers focus on longer runs as they look ahead to Sunday afternoon.
The last driver to switch to the options, Chilton's bad luck continues as he loses his monkey seat after running over the kerb at T16.
Ominously, on the longer runs Hamilton's pace is strong, very strong, over a second quicker than his nearest rivals.
The Mercedes driver has never won here before, nor even claimed pole… on this morning's evidence he must be feeling mighty confident for the rest of the weekend.
With 13:15 remaining all but Gutierrez and Hulkenberg (currently fifteenth and eleventh) are on track.
Rosberg, who hasn't looked too confident thus far today, finally bangs in a 31.435 to close in on his teammate… who responds with a 30.869. Hamilton really does appear to have it under control.
Grosjean is told to pit as his team is concerned at high brake wear. "It is not safe to stay out", he is advised.
"Unbelievable," says Hulkenberg of his grip - or rather the lack of it - the onboard camera confirming just how hard he is struggling.
As Maldonado is told to "box" due to a gearbox problem, Jean-Eric Vergne grinds to a halt at T3 missing his right-rear wheel with which he parted company in T1. This comes moments after a pit stop which means he and his team are sure to be hit for an "unsafe release".
Meanwhile, Hamilton, who has pitted for a set of primes, continues, seemingly not a care in the world. Indeed, he signs off with a 29.678.
Unlike Chilton who is off and stuck in the kitty litter at T4. "Everything's OK guys," he tells his crew.
The session ends with Hamilton leading the way, ahead of Rosberg, Ricciardo, Alonso, Raikkonen, Magnussen, Button, Massa, Maldonado and Kvyat.
Hulkenberg is eleventh, ahead of Vergne, Sutil, Bottas, Gutierrez, Perez, Grosjean, Bianchi, Chilton, Kobayashi and Ericsson.
Check out our Friday gallery, here.
Chris Balfe