21/06/2014
NEWS STORY
While the Mercedes duo could only manage second and fifth this morning, it would be foolish for anyone, especially their rivals, to believe the bubble has finally burst.
Whilst there were problems in Canada, which Toto Wolff insists have been revolved, and even an ERS issue for Nico Rosberg yesterday morning, we've a feeling that the Silver cars will be heading the grid tomorrow afternoon. What will happen in the race however, especially on a circuit which continues to catch out those not paying it enough respect, is an entirely different case. The bottom line is that this is a Mercedes track.
Valtteri Bottas led a Williams 1-3 this morning, signalling that Montreal was no flash in the pan. However, there are fears that the Grove outfit is one of several that will struggle with its tyres on Sunday.
One of the big problems this weekend has been keeping the car on the black stuff, and while yesterday this was due to the cool temperatures, the track conditions and high winds, this morning traffic was also causing problems with cars losing grip when they got too close behind another. This will continue this afternoon, particularly in Q1 and eraly tomorrow.
While the Mercedes look dominant, the fact that the top seven were covered by just 0.544s this morning, and 0.504s covered the nine cars behind the Silver Arrows yesterday suggests we could be in for a good fight tomorrow. We certainly hope so.
McLaren was looking strong yesterday, but a brake issue this morning meant Button didn't get to run on the option tyres. Indeed, brakes are clearly an issue here.
Red Bull has yet to show its hand while, as ever, Alonso flatters the Ferrari F14T.
Another team yet to show its true pace, and which should benefit in terms of tyre management, is Force India, whilst Toro Rosso is also looking good.
One cannot help but feel that heading to Austria some people weren't taking the Styria track too seriously, feeling it was back on the calendar thanks to the depth of Dietrich Mateschitz' pockets and the track's 'chocolate box' setting more than anything else. However, it is a track that looks set to punish a number of drivers over the next 24-hours, a track which could deliver another real classic. We expect another afternoon of attrition tomorrow.
In order to carry as much speed as possible onto the main pit straight drivers have been running wide in Turns 8 and 9 - though in all honesty some had little choice - however, Charlie Whiting has warned that any driver who is thought to have gained an advantage, mainly by running wide in T8 with all four wheels off the track, will lose his time. They have been warned.
As we await the start of Q1, the air temperature is 17 degrees C, while the track temperature is 32 degrees. It's cool but bright and sunny.
The lights go green and Kvyat - who impressed this morning - is first out, followed by Hulkenberg and Vergne.
Despite his love of the track, Button appears unusually disgruntled this weekend. He complains that the readout on his steering wheel, in terms of his gear selection, doesn't match with what he is using.
After the first round of laps, Vergne is quickest, the Frenchman posting a 10.982. On his second lap, teammate Kvyat goes quicker with a 10.854.
Whilst the Caterhams, Saubers and Marussias are on options, all the rest are on primes.
No sooner has Alonso posted 10.671 than Hamilton goes quickest with a 9.762 and teammate Rosberg second with a 10.124.
A big wobble for Bottas in T8 as Button complains at being held up by a Caterham (Kobayashi). The Japanese, like Bottas and Kvyat has gone wide at T8. The
Stewards announce that Bottas, Grosjean and Ericsson have had their times disallowed.
As Rosberg consolidates second with a 9.695, Hamilton having upped the ante with a 9.514, Massa goes third ahead of his teammate.
As Gutierrez and Alonso have their times disallowed, things are getting a little farcical - never thought we'd say that about F1.
Maldonado and Grosjean both switch to the options, the Lotus duo currently 19th And 21st.
A 10.630 sees Vettel go seventh, two places behind his Red Bull teammate.
Grosjean improves to seventh (10.461) which could force some of his rivals to also make the switch to the softer rubber.
Kvyat goes second (9.678) as Raikkonen drops to 12th. Button, with 2:58 on the clock, is 16th.
Sutil (options) posts PBs in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 10.744 to go 14th, just behind Raikkonen. However, his time is subsequently disallowed.
Button improve to 12th but drops to 13th when teammate Magnussen posts 10.081 to go 4th.
Vettel, who is in the pits with less than a minute remaining, drops to 15th.
Raikkonen posts 10.285 to go seventh, while Sutil can only manage 17th (10.825).
Hamilton is quickest, ahead of Kvyat, Rosberg, Magnussen, Perez, Vergne, Button, Raikkonen, Massa and Bottas.
We lose Sutil, Gutierrez, Bianchi, Kobayashi, Chilton and Ericsson.
"That's it for us today," tweets Sauber. "#SuperSutil will start from P17 and #Guti P18 tomorrow."
The Force India duo are first out for Q2, Perez facing that five-place grid penalty following the incident in Canada.
Soon the force Indias are joined by the McLarens, Ferraris and Lotus. All are on options.
Hulkenberg posts 9.828 with his teammate posting 9.836 moments later.
Raikkonen goes third with a 9.956 only to be demoted when Magnussen goes quickest with a 9.524. On-board footage shows the Dane is remarkably good through the infamous T8.
Alonso goes second (9.712) but runs wide in T9 and takes a bumpy ride over the 'grass' that lines the start of the pit straight.
Bottas goes quickest and teammate Massa second, the Finn close to breaking into the 1:8s mark with his 9.096. Moments later Hamilton posts 9.092 to take the top spot.
An 8.974 sees Rosberg go top, the German quickest in the final two sectors.
Vettel can only manage twelfth (9.880), as Kvyat goes sixth ahead of Alonso, Perez, Ricciardo and Button.
"Do you think that's fast enough to get through," asks Rosberg. "Yes," comes the response.
"I had a lot of understeer," says Rosberg, who clearly isn't entirely happy and feels he can do better. The team looks likely to send him out again.
A 9.624s sees Hulkenberg go seventh, while Vettel is now thirteenth. Raikkonen is ninth.
Grosjean cannot improve on 10.522, his latest effort disallowed after he left the track at T8.
With 1:30 remaining, all but Hamilton are on track.
Ricciardo posts PBs in the first two sectors, crossing the line at 9.638 to go ninth. Raikkonen drops to tenth. Vettel improves but he can only manage twelfth.
Rosberg is quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Bottas, Massa, Magnussen, Alonso, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo and Raikkonen.
We lose Perez, Button, Vettel, Maldonado, Vergne and Grosjean.
Kvyat ahead of both Red Bulls at the Red Bull Ring.
The lights go green signalling the start of Q3. After a while Alonso heads down the pitlane, followed by Magnussen.
Alonso posts a gentle 16.548 improving to a far more sensible 9.285 next time around. However, an 8.846 sees Bottas head straight to the top of the timesheets.
Massa goes second with a 9.150 as Hamilton goes quickest in S1. He's quickest again in S2, crossing the line at 9.300 to go fourth... however, the time is disallowed after he ran wide in T8.
Rosberg posts 8.944 to go second, a scrappy lap but entirely legal.
Bottas remains quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Massa, Alonso and Ricciardo.
They come out for the final run, all eyes on Bottas and Hamilton. Can the Finn take pole, can the Briton turns things around? Along with Hulkenberg, Hamilton has yet to post a time.
A mistake in T7 sees Bottas fail to improve but he should have time for another lap.
Elsewhere, disaster for Hamilton who has made a mistake at T1 and spins. The Briton therefore fails to post a time and will start ninth.
Rosberg, who is on track behind his spinning teammate has to back off and will therefore fail to beat Bottas.
From out of nowhere, Massa produces an 8.759 to go quickest. With Rosberg failing to improve, Williams has a front-row lock-out, its first since Germany 2003.
So, deep breath, Massa starts from pole position, his first since Brazil 2008, ahead of Bottas, Rosberg, Alonso, Ricciardo, Magnussen, Kvyat, Raikkonen, Hamilton and Hulkenberg whose time was disallowed for... guess what.
An interesting session which threw up more surprises than we could possibly have hoped for. Will the race follow suit? We think it will.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.
Chris Balfe