23/08/2014
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's sole free practice session, the air temperature is 12 degrees C, while the track temperature is 16 degrees.
Whilst yesterday's threatened rain never amounted to anything, the same cannot be said today as the paddock awoke to a rather soggy Spa. Which, of course, is what we have become used to over the years. That said, the rain has stopped and the track, bathed in bright sunshine, is rapidly drying.
Nico Rosberg topped the timesheets in yesterday's opening session but it was teammate Lewis Hamilton who set the pace when it really mattered, in FP2. Indeed, the Briton was 0.6s quicker than the German.
An engine problem meant that Sebastian Vettel sat out all of FP2, whilst a misunderstanding with the barriers meant Pastor Maldonado also failed to get any option tyre running.
Based on yesterday's running Ferrari appears to be 'best of the rest' however, at a circuit which will suit the Mercedes powered cars it is thought that Williams, in particular, was playing its cards close to its chest.
Ignoring the shenanigans at Marussia, it was interesting to see Adrian Sutil in the top ten and both McLarens looking good.
Force India, which had looked strong in FP1, appeared to lose pace in the second session.
There are two DRS zones, the detection point for the first is 240m before Turn 2, with the activation point 310m after Turn 4 on the Kemmel Straight. The second detection point is 160m before Turn 18, with the activation point 30m after Turn 19, the final chicane. In terms of tyres, Pirelli is providing the medium and soft rubber.
Whilst the sun is doing its work, certainly on some parts of the circuit, the session is officially declared wet. There is a 40% chance of further rain.
The lights go green and Bianchi leads the way, followed by Bottas and Maldonado.
More and more cars take to the track, most on Inters, a couple on full wets.
Vettel has changed his engine but as it is an old engine he doesn't incur a penalty.
Within the opening five minutes all bar Alonso and Vergne have been out for an installation lap.
Button, on Inters, tells his team that he intends "taking it easy" as he doesn't want to take any unnecessary risks with the car. Countryman Hamilton is on full wets.
Finally out on track, Alonso tip-toes around the circuit, Lew Combes, in particular, still quite damp.
Lotterer is the first driver out for a second run, the Sports Car veteran getting his first 'damp' run in a 2014 F1 car. Having posted a 2:07.529 he spins at La Source.
Bianchi posts 2:01.823, along with Lotterer and Chilton he is the only driver on track.
As Bianchi and Lotterer return to the pits, with 41:00 remaining, Chilton is the sole runner. To the crowd's disappointment he too dives into the pits.
Finally... with 29:40 on the clock, Gutierrez heads down the pitlane... and he's on the prime (medium) rubber.
As the Mexican begins his first flying lap – not going quickest in S1 – his progress is monitored by his 21 rivals.
He is quickest in S2, and again in S3, crossing the line at 2:00.242.
Next time around, and much to the interest of his rivals, he does go quickest in S1. He maintains the pace in S2, finally stopping the clock at 1:56.151.
Moments later the Marussia duo head down the pitlane, followed by Ericsson, the Swede opting for options. One by one more drivers leave their garages.
Soon all but Button, Magnussen, Ricciardo, Hamilton and Alonso are on track.
Grosjean goes quickest in S1 and again in S2, but Bottas is also on a good lap.
Maldonado goes quickest (54.850), but is instantly displaced by Kvyat, Vergne and Massa also posting strong times.
With 18:00 remaining, all 22 drivers are on track.
A 51.583 sees Bottas go quickest with Raikkonen (52.253) going second moments later.
Having gone fifth (53.756), Vettel immediately goes quickest in the opening sector of his next lap.
Hamilton's first flying lap sees the Mercedes driver go third (52.253) – the same as Raikkonen's earlier time – while Rosberg posts 2:00.121. Moments later the German improves to second (51.729) having gone quickest in S2.
Alonso is the last driver to post a time, the Spaniard crossing the line at 2:06.968. However, next time around a 51.218 sees the Ferrari man go quickest.
Asked where he can improve, Ricciardo is told that Vettel is quicker is sectors one and three.
Rosberg and Hamilton are both on hot laps, the German posting 50.023 to re-take the top spot from Alonso by 1.195s, his teammate posting 50.022 shortly after. Just one-thousandth-of-a-second separates the two Mercedes drivers.
Almost all the running thus far has been on the prime rubber, with 7:20 remaining, Raikkonen is one of the first to switch to options. Going quickest in S2, the Finn finally crosses the line at 49.817 to go quickest.
Massa (option) improves to fourth with a 50.423, Ricciardo and Kvyat the only drivers yet to make the switch to the softer rubber.
A 50.203 sees Button go fourth, 0.386s down on Raikkonen.
Replay shows a big slide for Maldonado in Eau Rouge, the rear end doing its very best to break lose.
Hamilton again matches Raikkonen's time (49.817) but a 49.465 sees Bottas go quickest while Rosberg takes second with a 49.739.
Despite PBs in the first two sectors, Alonso can only manage 49.890 to go fifth.
A late improvement sees Ricciardo (49.733) go second while Kvyat improves to seventh.
The session ends with Bottas quickest, ahead of Ricciardo, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Hamilton, Alonso, Kvyat, Button, Massa and Vergne.
Perez is eleventh, ahead of Magnussen, Vettel, Hulkenberg, Sutil, Grosjean, Maldonado, Gutierrez, Bianchi, Chilton, Ericsson and Lotterer.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.
Chris Balfe