26/07/2014
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 28 degrees C, while the track temperature is 50 degrees. After three very warm practice session, and mindful of tomorrow when rain is expected at some stage during the race, it's worth noting that there are a few clouds closing in right now.
Lewis Hamilton has been the pace-setter in all three practice sessions, though this morning teammate Nico Rosberg closed to within 0.047s.
Red Bull's progress has continued with Sebastian Vettel and Daniel Ricciardo finishing third and fourth ahead of Bottas the Ferrari duo.
While Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren are showing signs of improvement, the jury is out on Williams, the Grover outfit, thus far, not showing the competitiveness we witnessed at Silverstone and Germany.
On the other hand, whilst Lotus is looking stronger, reliability issues aside, Force India had slipped behind Sauber this morning.
Of course, while this was only a practice session the fact is that the impact of the removal of FRIC systems is only now making itself really felt, with some teams clearly losing out. Indeed, the almost symmetrical line up of the timesheet this morning tells its own story... Mercedes, Red Bull, Ferrari, Williams, Toro Rosso, McLaren, Lotus, Sauber and Force India.
Brake issues account for some of the many offs and lock-ups we have seen, though the 'greenness' of the track, the absence of FRIC and high winds have also played their part.
Speaking of brakes, Mercedes has now reverted to Carbone Industrie pads and discs all round on both its cars.
A four time winner here, Hamilton will be looking to make it five and hopefully head into the summer break leading the championship for the first time since Spain. Incidentally, Spain was the last time he started from pole.
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.
The lights go green and Kobayashi, Ericsson and Bianchi, who has been off the pace for much of the weekend, are first out. The Caterhams are already on the softer rubber.
The session is over before it has begun for Maldonado who pulls to the side of the track shortly after locking up at T13. He is within touching distance of the pitlane entrance but his Lotus isn't going anywhere.
Magnussen posts a 28.172, thereby eclipsing Kobayashi's 28.755, but moments later Button posts 26.913.
As Rosberg runs wide at the chicane, Hamilton heads into the pitlane flames pouring from the back of the Mercedes. He jumps out of the flaming Mercedes - no pun intended - his session over. A disaster for the Briton and his team.
"I've got fire," Hamilton tells his team remarkably calmly. Told to stop he says he cannot stop the car, indicating a brake issue. "Stop the car, jump out, jump out," he is warned, "there is a marshal behind you."
All of which puts a bit of a damper on the session.
Bottas is quickest at present (25.690) ahead of Gutierrez, Ricciardo, Vettel, Sutil and Magnussen.
Going quickest in the first two sectors, Rosberg posts a PB in S3, finally crossing the line at 25.353.
As he walks dejectedly down the pitlane, in the background Hamilton's car is still burning.
Ricciardo goes second, ahead of Vettel and Bottas, as the Sauber duo, on softs, go fifth and sixth.
The early elimination of Maldonado and Hamilton could mean a lucky break for a Marussia or Caterham driver. Kobayashi is currently 16th.
Having improved to 25.227, Rosberg looks set to improve again before diving into the pits.
Grosjean, currently 19th, posts a PB in S1 as he looks set to improve, thereby dropping Kobayashi back into the drop zone. He posts another PB in S2, finally crossing the line at 26.136 to go 8th.
A mistake sees Hulkenberg fail to improve on 26.951, leaving the German, in 16th, vulnerable. Raikkonen, still in the pits, is 15th.
Chilton is crawling, the Marussia driver clearly suffering a problem.
Vergne goes quickest with a 24.941, ahead of Rosberg and Kvyat. Both Toro Rosso drivers having switched to the softer rubber.
"It's a fuel pressure problem," Chilton is told.
A late charge sees Hulkenberg go 12th, as Bianchi posts 26.728 to go 16th, thereby dumping Raikkonen out of qualifying at the first hurdle. Well, well, well.
So, Vergne is quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Kvyat, Ricciardo, Vettel, Bottas, Gutierrez, Perez, Sutil and Alonso.
We lose Raikkonen, Kobayashi, Chilton, Ericsson, Hamilton and Maldonado.
Mercedes confirms that the fire on Hamilton's car was due to a fuel leak, though they don't know yet the cause of the leak.
The lights go green signalling the start of Q2 and shortly afterwards Perez and Hulkenberg get things underway. On the current evidence we'll be lucky to see either of them make the cut and get through to Q3.
Perez gets the ball rolling with a 25.211 but Hulkenberg hits back with a 25.049.
Kvyat ups the ante with a 24.706 but Bottas is on a blistering lap indeed, the Finn bangs in a 24.001. Massa posts 24.543 to go second.
Rosberg goes quickest in the final two sectors, crossing the line at 23.310. Alonso goes third with a 24.249.
Hamilton reveals that before it all went up in smoke, literally, something was wrong with his brakes and then he lost power.
Vettel posts 23.606 to go second, teammate Ricciardo going third (23.676) moment later.
Perez (12th) is out of his car, the Mexican's Force India seemingly suffering a hydraulics issue. Currently, Hulkenberg, Gutierrez, Sutil, Grosjean and Bianchi comprise the drop zone inhabitants.
Everyone is on softs so it is going to be nigh impossible for any of the backmarkers to spring a surprise.
Rosberg, Vettel and Ricciardo appear to have settled for their times.
Massa, currently 6th, posts a PB in S1 as teammate Bottas goes quickest. The Brazilian maintains his pace, crossing the line at 24.030 to go fifth. Bottas fails to improve.
A late charge sees Hulkenberg go eighth but he is demoted when Button and Magnussen improve. A spin by Kvyat sees the Russian stop and thereby bring out the yellows. A tractor is sent to rescue the stricken Toro Rosso.
Rosberg is quickest, ahead of Vettel, Ricciardo, Bottas, Massa, Alonso, Button, Magnussen, Vergne and Hulkenberg.
We lose Kvyat, Sutil, Perez, Gutierrez, Grosjean and Bianchi.
Told his time, Grosjean complains "we couldn't even beat Sutil," a reference to the shortcomings of the Lotus rather than the German driver.
As if we haven't had enough entertainment, a mad scramble by spectators to done macs and raise umbrellas indicates that there is rain, albeit in one specific part of the track.
With an eye on the clouds, Rosberg is ready and waiting at the end of the pitlane. All but Vettel and Hulkenberg join him... though they too subsequently head down the pitlane.
All ten drivers are on track on softs as a light rain is clearly falling.
Heading into T1 Rosberg locks-up, the German having to use all of the wide run off. No such luck for Magnussen who goes into the barriers causing serious damage to McLaren.
The session is red flagged.
"It's scary out there, there's no grip at all," warns Button, as a disconsolate Magnussen assures his team that he is OK.
Replay shows that there was little Magnussen could do. There were no yellows warning him of Rosberg's previous off and, like the German, he suddenly found himself arriving on a very damp piece of track. Hulkenberg confirms that most of the track was fine and that there was only one wet corner. Guess which one?
The session resumes and Rosberg leads the way, followed by Ricciardo, Bottas and Vettel. The rain has eased and all are on options.
This time around, Rosberg takes T1 with caution. Possibly too much, as Bottas goes quickest.
In S2, Ricciardo is quickest, the Australian posting a 25.346 at the liner, only to be eclipsed by Bottas' 24.259.
Massa goes third (26.115) but is demoted when former Ferrari teammate Alonso posts 24.880 to go second.
Vettel can only manage 35.736.
"We do not need to back off," Ricciardo is told, "three laps in a row."
As Ricciardo improves to 24.616, teammate Vettel takes provisional pole with a 23.415.
Rosberg goes quickest in S1 as the sun breaks through the clouds. The German posts a PB in S2, finally crossing the line at 23.236.
Bottas has improved to third with a 24.259, ahead of Ricciardo and Hulkenberg.
As force India tells Hulkenberg the circuit is improving, Ferrari claims that the rain is returning.
Vergne, who has yet to post a time, goes fifth with a 24.720 as the clock counts down to 1:55.
Button posts PBs in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 24.294 to take fourth. Great work at a circuit that means so much to him.
Bottas improves but remains second, while teammate Massa goes fifth.
Rosberg goes quickest in S1 as Vettel posts a PB. The Red Bull driver is quickest in S2 but his time is eclipsed by the championship leader. Vettel posts 23.201 to take provisional pole but moments later Rosberg bangs in a 22.715.
Consequently, Rosberg will start from pole, ahead of Vettel, Bottas, Ricciardo, Alonso, Massa, Button, Vergne, Hulkenberg and Magnussen.
Kvyat will start eleventh, ahead of Sutil, Perez, Gutierrez, Grosjean, Bianchi, Raikkonen, Kobayashi, Chilton, Ericsson, Hamilton and Maldonado.
An intriguing, entertaining session, and one which, in light of the weather forecasts, suggests an equally entertaining race tomorrow.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.
Chris Balfe