04/10/2014
NEWS STORY
It's probably fair to say that events off-track have dominated thus far today, be it Red Bull's announcement that Sebastian Vettel is leaving at season's end or Lewis Hamilton's encounter with the barriers at Turn 1.
If nothing else, these two events have put Typhoon Phanfone on the back boiler, at least for now.
Hamilton's off in FP3 means the Briton hasn't had any running on the option rubber today, not to mention the task his mechanics face in repairing his car in time for qualifying.
Unsurprisingly, Nico Rosberg was the pace-setter, his best time 1.211s quicker than the nearest non-Mercedes driver.
Other than Alonso, who is at the centre of media speculation following Red Bull's announcement, Mercedes main opposition here appears to be Williams, with both Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas on the pace this morning.
Red Bull had a mixed session, Sebastian Vettel side-lined for much of the morning with a turbo issue, while Daniel Ricciardo still making up for yesterday's off.
There were mixed fortunes for Ferrari also, whilst Jean-Eric Vergne only ran for the first twenty minutes of the session.
As we saw this morning, grip continues to be a real struggle with drivers going off all over the place.
However, all that went before, all that happens over the course of the next hour, may count for nothing if the meteorologists are proven right. There are claims that the race will start at 15:00 regardless of the weather, but it could well be behind the Safety Car.
Ahead of Q1, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 38 degrees. It is brighter than this morning, but the fact is, in terms of the weather, all eyes are on tomorrow. Indeed, speaking ahead of the session Eric Boullier admitted that the chance of rain on Sunday is "ninety-nine per cent".
Ferrari reveals that during the break it has changed the power unit on Raikkonen's car claiming it may have set a record. It was changed for an old unit so no penalty for the Finn.
Surprising, but even here, a venue which is usually sold out month in advance, there are swathes of empty seats in some of the grandstands.
Another driver who had problems this morning was Maldonado, who already faces a ten-place grid penalty under the power unit component rules.
The lights go green for Q1 and Kobayashi leads the way, much to the delight of the passionate crowd. The Japanese is one of several drivers who has opted to start proceedings on the option rubber.
As Kobayashi posts 1:37.977, all but Ricciardo, Vettel and Ericsson are on track.
The times tumble, Vergne posting 35.729 but subsequently demoted when Rosberg bangs in a 33.671. A 33.611 sees Hamilton, his clearly repaired to his satisfaction, take the top spot by 0.060s.
"Getting lots of different D-rates through that lap," Hamilton reports.
Bottas goes third (34.301) and Massa fourth (34.483), as Williams appears to remain the biggest 'threat' to the Silver Arrows.
A 34.497 sees Alonso go fifth as Vettel goes eighth with a 35.517.
Ericsson, who has looked strong all weekend here, is the last driver to post a time, the Swede stopping the clock at 36.988 to go nineteenth.
"I lost sync out of the chicane," complains Vettel.
With 7:00 remaining, the highest placed driver on the option rubber is Sutil (36.338) in 15th, 2.727s off Hamilton's best.
That said, as Ricciardo goes ninth 35.593), Vergne, on options, improves to tenth with a 35.729.
The Lotus duo switch to options as does Raikkonen, whilst Button, currently 7th, is advised he may have to run again.
Vergne improves to eighth (35.155) and Kvyat ninth with Perez (options) going eleventh moments later. Grosjean can only manage 16th.
Raikkonen, on options remember, posts 34.984 to go seventh, the highest runner on the softer rubber.
"I think it's going to be hard to improve," says Kvyat, "So if you think it's enough I want to box."
As the clock counts down, both Saubers are in the drop zone.
A late charge sees Gutierrez go 12th, thereby dropping Grosjean into the drop zone. However, the Frenchman is still on track unlike Maldonado who could be demoted if Sutil improves. Indeed, Sutil posts 35.736 to go 16th and thereby demote the Venezuelan.
So, Hamilton is quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Bottas, Massa, Alonso, Magnussen, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Button and Vergne.
We lose Maldonado, Grosjean, Ericsson, Bianchi, Kobayashi and Chilton.
Grosjean complains of a lack of traction everywhere, while the Marussia crew apologise to Bianchi after failing to get him to the flag in time to complete another lap.
The lights go green for Q2 but as ever there is no mad rush to get to work. Eventually, Sutil heads off down the pitlane. Rosberg and Massa join him shortly after.
As Bottas begins his flying lap, Rosberg I told he is fuelled for two timed laps.
Sutil posts 36.656, but is instantly eclipsed by Perez, Massa and Bottas (33.801). Moment later Rosberg stops the clock at 33.950. Hamilton can 'only' manage 32.982 - 0.032s between them.
Needless to say, everyone is on the option rubber.
Alonso splits the Williams with a 34.005 as the Red Bull duo can only manage ninth (Vettel) and tenth.
Hamilton complains of a "small vibration" from his tyres.
Magnussen posts 34.540 to go sixth ahead of Raikkonen, with teammate Button going eighth (34.882) moments later.
Kvyat leapfrogs the Red Bull duo with a 35.092, the Russian clearly spurred by this morning's announcement.
With 5:10 remaining, Vettel, Ricciardo, Vergne, Hulkenberg, Gutierrez and Sutil comprise the drop zone.
Now, we don't expect the Saubers to make any further progress but who might join them in the early bath?
Bottas heads down the pitlane to get the final charge underway. The only drivers who don't feel the need to come out are - surprise, surprise - the Mercedes duo.
Both Williams drivers post PBs in S1, as do the Red Bull duo. But no hint of a purple.
Bottas posts 33.443 and Massa 33.551 while Ricciardo goes sixth and Vettel eighth.
Magnussen posts 34.229 to go sixth and thereby demote Vettel to ninth. Moments later Button goes eighth with a 34.784.
A brave attempt by Vergne, who posts 34.984 but fails to make the cut, thereby allowing Vettel, in tenth, to breathe easy.
Rosberg is quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Bottas, Massa, Alonso, Magnussen, Ricciardo, Button, Raikkonen and Vettel.
We lose Vergne, Perez, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Sutil and Gutierrez.
The lights go green signalling the start of Q3, Bottas is at the end of the pitlane waiting. As the Finn begins his out-lap, teammate Massa heads down the pitlane. Soon, all but Raikkonen are on track.
Bottas begins his flying lap, but, in all honesty, all eyes are on the Mercedes duo.
Bottas posts 33.329 and Massa 33.527 while Rosberg takes provisional pole with a 32.629. A mistake in S2 means Hamilton can only manage 32.946.
Alonso goes fifth (33.858), ahead of Magnussen, Ricciardo, Button and Vettel. Raikkonen still in the pits intending to do a single run.
As we await the final assault, Rosberg has a 0.317s advantage over his teammate and a 0.700s advantage over (third placed) Bottas.
The Red Bulls are first out for the final run, followed by Rosberg, who is out surprisingly early. Hamilton is last out.
A PB from Vettel in S1 however, the German makes a mistake at Spoon. He improves to sixth overall with a 34.432 but is demoted when teammate Ricciardo posts 34.075.
Bottas remains third with his 33.128 as Rosberg goes quickest in S2. The German crosses the line at 32.506 to take provisional pole and despite his best efforts Hamilton cannot beat it, the Briton posting 32.703, thereby missing out by 0.197.
So, Rosberg will start tomorrow's Japanese Grand Prix - be it behind the Safety Car or not - ahead of Hamilton, Bottas, Massa, Alonso, Ricciardo, Magnussen, Button, Vettel and Raikkonen.
Vergne will start eleventh, ahead of Perez, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Sutil, Gutierrez, Maldonado, Grosjean, Ericsson, Bianchi, Kobayashi and Chilton.
All of which sets us up nicely for tomorrow and whatever the weather gods (and Mercedes reliability) might have in store for us.
Check out our Qualifying gallery, here.