10/05/2014
NEWS STORY
Based on yesterday's evidence, everyone can afford to take it easy today as Lewis Hamilton is virtually untouchable. Not only was his pace awesome in both sessions, it was clear that there was lots more in reserve.
And when we say 'everyone' can take it easy that includes teammate Nico Rosberg, whose mood clearly darkened every time Hamilton crossed the line.
Whilst Daniel Ricciardo attempted to keep the Mercedes duo honest, Red Bull's efforts were not helped by the fact that following an electrical (ERS) issue in FP1, Sebastian Vettel was unable to take part in FP2.
Ricciardo did his bit - as ever - but the Red Bull, despite being widely tipped for a good result here courtesy of the track characteristics suiting Adrian Newey designed cars, was unable to get within spitting distance of Hamilton.
McLaren impressed, particularly in the opening session, but Jenson Button said not to read too much into this.
Both Ferraris were up there - albeit over 1.5s off the pace - but Luca di Montezemolo's expression said it all, there is not going to be a magic revival at Maranello anytime soon.
Lotus, Toro Rosso and Force India dominated the midfield with Williams continuing to fall behind. Sauber and Caterham merely looked all at sea.
Air temperature this morning is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 21 degrees. It is bright and sunny.
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.
Needless to say, Hamilton was strong on both compounds on short and long runs.
Poor old Jean-Eric Vergne picked up a ten-place grid penalty - and his team a thirty thousand euro fine - for the incident which saw him lose his right-rear wheel shortly after leaving the pits.
Vergne leads the way when the lights go green, the Frenchman followed by Chilton, Hulkenberg, Sutil, Ericsson, Bianchi and Kvyat. Vettel, keen to make up for lost time, is another early riser.
Five minutes into the session all but Massa and Magnussen have been out. Rosberg clams that his DRS isn't working - though TV evidence says he's wrong - whilst Hamilton complains that his steering isn't straight.
Nice to see Peter Sauber back in the paddock, the popular Swiss still smiling despite the current problems his team is facing.
Finally on track, Magnussen posts the first time of the day, his 1:29.959 reflecting the error made in the final chicane. Next time around the Dane improves to 29.115.
Ericsson goes second (of two) with a 35.759. However, moments later he is demoted when Vettel posts 29.299.
Another smiling face in the Sauber garage, this one belonging to 'affiliate driver' Simona de Silvestro.
Raikkonen goes quickest with a 28.595, the Finn momentarily hidden in a cloud of smoke left behind when Ericsson gets into trouble at T1.
Maldonado runs wide but still manages to go third with a 29.019. The Venezuelan looking quite strong yesterday.
A 28.512 sees Alonso go quickest, thereby giving Ferrari a 1-2. The reaction of the crowd suggests the locals believe the revival may have already started.
Raikkonen locks up and runs wide in T14, subsequently ruining Chilton's lap as he rejoins the circuit.
As mechanics work on Hamilton's car, teammate Rosberg finally leaves the pits. Overnight the German was given access to his teammate's data.
It appears to have paid off, on his first flying lap he goes quickest (27.057), 1.095s quicker than Alonso.
Big moment in T9 for Kvyat as he gets all crossed up.
As Rosberg goes quickest in S1, Hamilton leaves the pits. The Englishman posts 26.756 to go quickest but Rosberg responds with a 26.534.
Gutierrez is advised that he is a gear lower than teammate Sutil in the slower corners.
As mechanics work on his car Grosjean shows his obvious frustration. However, unlike Hulkenberg, Bottas, Perez, Ricciardo and Massa he has at least posted a time. Indeed, Massa hasn't even completed an installation lap.
Vettel, the first driver to switch to the options, runs wide in T4. Elsewhere, Button complains of low grip at the rear... "bit of a worry for this afternoon," he warns.
With 27:15 remaining Massa finally leaves the pits.
Vettel goes third with a 28.085, 1.551s off Rosberg's best.
Just after 'half-time', it's: Rosberg, Hamilton, Vettel, Alonso, Button, Raikkonen, Magnussen, Kvyat, Maldonado and Perez.
Lotus tweets that it is "checking a gremlin on Grosjean's car.
On his first flying lap, Massa goes third, crossing the line at 28.022. He's on primes.
Very untidy lap from Bottas who runs wide in T1 and then gets all out of shape in T10.
With 20:40 remaining, Raikkonen is the second driver to switch to options.
"Something is wrong with the car," complains Sutil, "it is completely different to yesterday, it is so unstable, it is a different car."
Moments for Chilton and Kobayashi as drivers continue to struggle.
No improvement on 28.419 (8th) for Raikkonen, despite changing to the options. He subsequently pits.
With 14:30 remaining both Mercedes head down the pitlane on options. Only four drivers have tried them thus far.
Rosberg goes quickest in S2 and again in S3, finally crossing the line at 25.887. Up by 0.1s at the second split, Hamilton makes a mess of the final chicane and aborts the lap.
Game over for Chilton who is stuck in the kitty litter at T5 after locking-up and running straight on. He had a similar problem yesterday, albeit at a different corner. Out come the yellow flags.
With just over six minutes remaining the track is clear, drivers head down the pitlane all now shod with options.
Magnussen improves to third and Button fourth, though moments later Alonso eclipses the pair with a 27.188 but remains 1.301s off Rosberg's pace.
Ricciardo, who has limited running this morning, posts 27.808 to go seventh. Vettel is currently tenth.
The Lotus duo carry out a synchronised cock-up in T1, watched by a seemingly confident Rosberg from the comfort of the garage.
Massa improves to fourth with a 27.223, teammate Bottas currently eleventh.
Sauber currently seventeenth and eighteenth, with the Force Indias only just ahead.
Another off-track moment for Kobayashi.
The session ends with Rosberg quickest ahead of Hamilton, Alonso, Massa, Grosjean, Magnussen, Ricciardo, Button, Maldonado and Vettel.
Bottas is eleventh, ahead of Vergne, Kvyat, Raikkonen, Perez, Hulkenberg, Sutil, Gutierrez, Chilton, Bianchi, Kobayashi and Ericsson.
Mercedes clearly has the edge but there are some fascinating battles behind.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.
Chris Balfe