20/06/2014
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's second free practice session the air temperature is 18 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 28 degrees.
If we learned one lesson from this morning's session it is that though the Red Bull Ring features just nine corners it is a track that demands the highest respect. Virtually every driver had at least one 'moment' this morning, some hairier than others. The green run-offs and kerbs might look innocent enough but cross them at your peril... Sebastian Vettel's double 360 exiting the final corner being a good example.
The other lesson learned is that seemingly the lunatics have taken over the asylum, as Ferrari and Mercedes ran special skid blocks fitted with titanium with the aim of producing showers of sparks as the cars bottomed and thereby making it all look more exciting.
That's assuming a four-time world champion spinning to complete 360s doesn't grab your attention.
What next, cloth helmets and shirtsleeves?
Talking of silliness, Jean-Eric Vergne is under investigation for using his 'free' set of tyres for longer than allowed this morning. The French rascal used his tyres for a full thirty seconds more than allowed.
Anyway, behind Rosberg it was Hamilton, Alonso, Massa, Button, Perez, Hulkenberg, Bottas, Magnussen and Verge.
While there was a very brief shower, the heavens finally opened up right at the end of the GP2 practice session. A slightly damp track, combined with strong winds and some deceptive corners could lead to fun and games this afternoon.
For the third successive race weekend the tyres on offer are soft and supersoft, the options making their appearance over the course of the next ninety minutes.
The lights go green and Ericsson leads the way, followed by Chilton. The Swede missed much of this morning's running with a technical issue. Sutil, who also lost a lot of running time, is another early riser, as are Button and Kobayashi.
In fact, with some very dark clouds in the distance we expect it to get quite busy in the next few minutes.
As more and more drivers pour on to the track, Sutil goes quickest (13.627), ahead of Kobayashi and Chilton.
An 11.914 sees Button go quickest only to be eclipsed by Kvyat's 11.749. Elsewhere, Magnussen is battling with a Lotus as though it's Sunday afternoon.
Raikkonen stops the clock at 11.722 only for Button to improve again, the McLaren driver crossing the line at 11.403.
Sutil locks up at T1 as Ericsson does the same at T2, elsewhere Alonso is told of a strong tailwind at T8.
As Rosberg begins his first flying lap, Alonso goes quickest overall with an 11.217. Moments later the German posts 11.279 to go second. Elsewhere, Hamilton runs wide in T8.
Rosberg improves with a 10.835 as teammate Hamilton posts 1.841 to make it a Mercedes 1-2. Again.
Next time around Hamilton ups the ante with a 10.525, we dread to think what the pole time might be.
Mind you, opposition isn't exactly hanging around, Bottas, Alonso and Massa are all within 0.5s off the Mercedes duo. As in Canada the Williams duo is looking mighty strong. Indeed, Bottas splits the Silver Arrows with a 10.790.
Twenty-odd minutes into the session everyone has posted a time.
Despite being the pace-setter, Hamilton is advised that he's losing time in T2. Rosberg closes to within 0.039s of his teammate.
Thirty minutes into the session, Bianchi, Chilton and Kobayashi are the first to switch to the option (supersoft) rubber.
The Frenchman, as expected, posts PBs in all three sectors, crossing the line at 12.279 to go sixteenth.
Kvyat has a big, big slide after getting a wheel on the grass.
After a mighty wobble Grosjean asks his team is they can see anything wrong with the car. They say they'll check. Which begs the question why can't the drivers feel these things for themselves.
As Magnussen switches to options, so too do Rosberg and Hamilton. Elsewhere a very scary moment for Sutil in T8.
Rosberg goes quickest in S1 but loses time in S2 due to a mistake in T2. Despite that mistake he crosses the line at 10.339 having gone quickest in S3 also.
However, Hamilton goes quickest in all three sectors, crossing the line at 9.652.
Massa (options) posts PBs in all three sectors, taking third with a 10.521. Moments later, Alonso leapfrogs his former teammate with a 10.470.
Button is told that drivers are finding six-tenths on the options and that this is coming on the first lap.
Having gone quickest in S1, Rosberg cannot maintain the pace but does close to within 0.377s of his teammate.
At 'half-time', it's: Hamilton, Rosberg, Alonso, Bottas, Massa, Button, Magnussen, Raikkonen, Ricciardo and Kvyat.
A nasty moment for Grosjean in T9 as the Lotus driver runs wide hits the notorious bumps and goes on a long cross-country trip. Turns 8 and 1 also continuing to catch drivers out.
Hamilton heads into the pits and performs a practice start. One of several drivers to do so.
As ever, the with just over half-an-hour remaining, drivers switch to longer runs. Hamilton is told that his target is higher-twelves.
Most drivers on the options though Bottas, Gutierrez, Maldonado, Chilton and Grosjean opt for primes.
"We have the same issues we had two weeks ago," complains Button, "we've done it again guys." Oh dear.
A few spots of rain but nothing significant.
A big wobble for Hamilton exiting T9 but he keeps it all under control. The strong winds certainly not helping his cause.
Told to "box" in order that the team can try the primes again as the weather is "closing in", Hamilton says he wants to continue on the options. He is told he can have one more lap.
As teams admit concern as to the strong winds in the final sector, tyre wear is also an issue.
"There's rain close to the track, it will come between turns two and three," Bottas is told. "Let us know if you see anything."
An odd exchange between Rosberg and his engineer. "Driving advice," asks the German. "A slower entry will lead to a quicker exit at T1," he is told.
Moments later Race Control advises that "no further reports of track limit infringements will be made at T8". Fact is, by and large, drivers are not crossing the white line by choice.
Lapping at 14.7, Alonso is told that, other than the Mercedes duo, his is the best pace. Rosberg is currently lapping around a second quicker.
Hamilton's day's work is done. The Briton is out of his car, helmet off and he's grinning.
Another hairy moment in T9, this time for Raikkonen.
The session ends with Hamilton quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Alonso, Bottas, Massa, Vettel, Button, Ricciardo, Magnussen and Vergne.
Raikkonen is eleventh, ahead of Kvyat, Perez, Gutierrez, Maldonado, Sutil, Hulkenberg, Chilton, Grosjean, Bianchi, Kobayashi and Ericsson.
With the Mercedes duo 0.6s clear of third-placed Alonso - Hamilton being 0.9s clear - it really does appear to be looking very good for the silver cars. However, with that question mark over reliability, not to mention the fact that the next 11 drivers are covered by around a second, let's not write off the Red Bull Ring just yet.
Check out our Friday gallery, here.