26/07/2014
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's sole practice session the air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 42 degrees. It remains hot.
Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets in both of yesterday's sessions with teammate Nico Rosberg right behind. However, worryingly, in both sessions the third placed driver was over 0.6s behind the Briton. A four-time winner here, Hamilton must be feeling extremely confident.
The high downforce demands appear to have hit Williams here, though the Grove outfit has yet to fully show its hand, whilst the absence of FRIC is being felt more here than it was in Germany.
Ferrari and Red Bull have improved, as have McLaren and Toro Rosso, but there's ignoring that 0.6s gap.
On the other hand, other than the threat of rain on Sunday, the group - or rather groups - behind the Mercedes are tightly bunched so therefore, despite the limitations of the circuit, we should see some interesting battles tomorrow and some surprises in qualifying later today.
In terms of the tyres (medium and soft), we're seeing about 1.6 seconds between the two compounds, and this is not likely to change much, especially as the soft tyre in particular is showing low levels of thermal degradation. Pirelli is currently predicting a two-stop strategy on Sunday.
The two DRS zones, which share a detection point 5m before Turn 14, are 130m after the apex of Turn 14 and 6m after the apex of Turn 1.
Almost everyone went off or locked-up at some point or another yesterday but things should improve today as the track is 'rubbered in'.
The lights go green and Vergne leads Kvyat, Maldonado and Sutil out on to the track. Ricciardo and Vettel are among the early risers.
"It's pretty much as it was yesterday under braking," says Ricciardo, "pulling to the left."
Hamilton runs wide in T1 as Kobayashi posts the first time of the day, the Japanese stopping the clock at 36.947. Moments later, teammate Ericsson posts 32.616.
Things get serious when Rosberg crosses the line at 26.374, one of the few drivers to remain on track after his installation lap.
As Ericsson locks-up and runs wide in T12, Rosberg complains that the "magic button" isn't working. Another lock-up for Hamilton in T1 and teammate Rosberg in T12.
"I can't seem to stop the car," complains Hamilton, his brake problem seemingly still not fully cured. Currently his best time is 30.055.
Magnussen goes second (27.084), ahead of Kvyat, Maldonado and Bianchi.
As Rosberg goes quickest in S3, Hamilton gets very, very crossed up in the final corner.
Hulkenberg posts 27.872 to go fourth.
Bottas goes second with a 26.949 as Kobayashi goes off at T4, drivers still clearly struggling for grip.
As Hamilton appears to be on a sort of race simulation, therefore not seeking to improve his time, Vettel goes second (26.362) only to be demoted when Bottas takes the top spot with a 26.240. Ricciardo goes fourth.
After twenty minutes, all but Alonso and Button have posted times.
Massa posts 26.694 to go fifth, thereby giving Williams two cars in the top five.
Button goes eleventh (27.451) as Ricciardo bangs in a 25.999 to go top. Hamilton pits after a run of 11 laps.
At 'half-time', there are only three drivers on track - Rosberg, Hulkenberg and Kobayashi - with Alonso still to post a time. At which precise point the Spaniard heads down the pitlane.
The order is: Ricciardo, Bottas, Rosberg, Vettel, Massa, Raikkonen, Magnussen, Kvyat, Perez and Vergne.
On his first flying lap Alonso posts 25.954 to go straight to the top of the charts, albeit just 0.045s quicker than Ricciardo's best.
More and more drivers pour on to the track but still no sign of the option rubber, which in Germany didn't appear until the final ten minutes of FP3.
Posting PBs in all three sectors, Hamilton improves to eighth with a 26.869.
Hulkenberg complains that the crosswind into T1 is "really terrible". The German is currently 15th, 1.584s off the pace.
Hamilton goes quickest in S1, going on to post a PB in S2. At the line the Briton posts 25.682 to go quickest.
Ricciardo runs wide in T11 and then again in T12, the blustery winds seemingly adding to the various other grip issues.
Asked how he is finding T4, Grosjean reports that it is "very bad on entry". Elsewhere, lots of work going on on the front of Button's car where the team is adjusting the camber.
With 13:30 remaining there are no cars on track.
With 11:15 remaining the Ferrari duo head down the pitlane, both on options. Alonso is currently second on 25.954 and Raikkonen seventh on 26.543.
A poor S1 from Alonso whilst Raikkonen posts a PB. The Spaniard is quickest of all in S2 as his teammate posts another PB. At the line Alonso posts 24.769 with Raikkonen stopping the clock at 24.818.
As more drivers take to the track Rosberg goes quickest in S1. The German maintains the pace in s2 eventually crossing the line at 24.501 having lost time in T12 where he made a mistake.
A 24.685 sees Bottas go second, the Finn posting PBs in all three sectors.
Hamilton goes quickest in S1 as Grosjean improvers to ninth overall. The Briton is quickest again in S2, finally crossing the line at 24.048. "Keep me up to date with my sector times," he tells his team.
Vettel bangs in a 24.455 to go second only to be demoted when Rosberg posts 24.277 to close to within 0.229s of his Mercedes teammate.
PBs in all three sectors as he posts a 24.692 to go fifth.
"More feedback," demands Hamilton. "Nico is carrying more speed into T12," is the response.
As Hamilton pits, Rosberg closes to within 0.047s of his teammate with a 24.095.
A big lock-up for Vettel as Rosberg is told not to overheat his brakes.
The session ends with Hamilton quickest (again!), ahead of Rosberg, Vettel, Ricciardo, Bottas, Alonso, Raikkonen, Magnussen, Vergne and Kvyat.
Massa is eleventh, ahead of Button, Maldonado, Grosjean, Sutil, Gutierrez, Hulkenberg, Perez, Kobayashi, Chilton, Ericsson and Bianchi.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.
Chris Balfe