11/10/2014
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's sole practice session the air temperature is 21 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 18 degrees. As yesterday, it is bright and sunny, though this being a coastal holiday resort one would expect that... though not in the UK.
Lewis Hamilton set a blistering pace in yesterday's second session, the paddock still very much overshadowed by the events of last week. Whatever else one might take away from this weekend, this writer will never forget the pain etched on the face of Marussia boss Graeme Lowdown as he delivered his heartfelt speech at the press conference.
Despite the featureless nature of the track, the drivers appear to enjoy it, and it certainly produced more than a few moments with everyone running wide at some point or another. Ironically, it's been compared to Valencia (street circuit) and Yeongam (Korea), both of which are now missing from the calendar.
Speed bumps have been placed at T2, in an attempt to prevent drivers gaining an advantage by running wide. As if.
Quite how Nico Rosberg will deal with the 0.9s deficit to his Mercedes teammate remains to be seen but we're pretty sure he'll get to grips with it this morning.
The big surprise has been the pace of the McLarens, which at this early stage appear to be the biggest threat to Mercedes, the MP4-29 seeming to revel on the new track whereby others are struggling. However, both Jenson Button and Kevin Magnussen admit that this could change as the track develops.
Williams is also 'up there', as is Fernando Alonso, who pulled out all the stops - albeit unseen - to post the third best time of the day.
Still early days but both Red Bulls were off the pace, then again if you were to sit down and pen the ultimate nightmare Adrian Newey track layout, this would be it.
Toro Rosso is looking good, while Sauber and Lotus both look to be set for another difficult weekend.
Nico Hulkenberg gets after Force India opted to change his gearbox after the Japanese GP, whilst Pastor Maldonado carries over a 5-place drop form Suzuka.
Tyre choices are medium and soft, with around two-seconds between the two yesterday.
There are two DRS zones, the first detection point is just after the start/finish line with the activation point located just after T1, while the second detection point is before T9 with the activation point just after the same corner.
The lights go green and Chilton is first out, Marussia running just the one car this weekend. He is followed by Maldonado, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Ericsson, Massa and Bottas.
Sutil posts the first time of the day (43.432) but this is soon eclipsed by Kvyat (42.988). Elsewhere, Gutierrez complains that "there is something wrong with the throttle".
As Vettel heads into the pitlane he is told to stay out, necessitating a naughty trip over the markers. Incidentally, the pitlane speed limit has been reduced from 80 km/h to 60 km/h.
Hamilton goers quickest with a 42.030, whilst Vettel can only manage 44.074. Moments later, Rosberg ups the ante with a 41.859 only to be leapfrogged by Vettel (41.554).
All this action and still only eight names on the doors.
Perez is the first off of the day - he won't be the last - running wide at T13. Shortly after Verne runs wide at T10.
Problems for Maldonado whose car is in the garage following a KERS failure. Warning notices indicate the car is 'live'. His session is over after just two installation laps.
A 40.725s sees Hamilton reclaim his top spot, ahead of Kvyat and Rosberg.
As Button posts 42.163 to go sixth, Rosberg improves to second, 0.106s off his teammate's pace.
Magnussen has stopped on track at T5 shortly after running wide in T3. As was the case yesterday with Ricciardo, the session is red flagged.
Replay suggests the Dane, who has only completed 4 laps, suffered a suspension failure after hitting the kerbs at T2, he does wonders in keeping the car out of the barriers as the McLaren snapped from side to side.
The session resumes at 12:23, Massa, Bottas and Alonso the first to emerge from their garages. Ricciardo, who has yet to make an appearance this morning, is also heading down the pitlane.
Kobayashi and Bottas both run wide at T4.
Ricciardo's first flying lap sees the Australian go 11th (42.538).
At half-time, the order is: Hamilton, Rosberg, Kvyat, Alonso, Bottas, Vettel, Hulkenberg, Vergne, Massa and Ricciardo.
Having gone quickest in the first two sectors, Bottas makes a mistake in S3, nonetheless, he crosses the line at 40.655 to go quickest.
Button and Sutil both run wide in T4.
Twice, Hamilton goes quickest in S1 then appears to ease of in the remaining sectors.
Kvyat leapfrogs Rosberg with a 40.810 as Gutierrez is the latest driver to be caught out at T4. Other than Magnussen's broken suspension, the kerbing appears to have cured the issue at T2 where almost everyone went off yesterday.
A 40.178 sees Rosberg go quickest as Bottas consolidates second just 0.035s behind. Hamilton is 0.547s behind his Mercedes teammate.
A massive lock-up for Kvyat at T13.
Moments after saying that T2 is better today, Vettel, Vergne and Hulkenberg prove us wrong, all going off within minutes of one another.
With the McLarens down in 13th (Button) and 15th, the Briton is told that the issue with his teammate's car does not affect him.
With 16:10 remaining, Raikkonen is the first driver to swap to the options. Button follows suit.
As Raikkonen begins his first flying lap on options, Rosberg and Kvyat leave the pits on the softer rubber.
Raikkonen improves from 12th (42.154) to 6th (41.025). However, we saw yesterday that the options are good for a couple of flying laps.
Button goes fourth (40.707), but the McLaren doesn't look as strong as it did yesterday.
Ye Gods! Hamilton bangs in a 38.726, the Briton quickest in all three sectors including some very late braking in T13.
Ricciardo improves to fourth (40.392), but is demoted when Button posts 40.355 on his second flying lap.
Rosberg reduces the gap to his teammate but remains 0.96s off the pace. Massa goes fourth with a 39.998.
Having gone quickest in S1, and looking set to improve, Hamilton spins in the T17 and subsequently heads to the pits. The car snaps out as he hits the brakes, the Briton doing well to keep it out of the barriers.
Whilst the McLaren threat appears to fade, Williams is looking ever stronger.
Chilton's session is over, the Marussia driver suffering a driveshaft problem.
Ricciardo leapfrogs Massa with a 39.755 but the Australian having to work very hard to do so.
Bottas goes quickest in S2, crossing the line at 39.097 to close to within 0.371s of Hamilton. Moments later, a string of PBs sees Rosberg go second, 0.290s off the pace.
A late improves for Raikkonen (40.011) who moves ahead of his (current) Ferrari teammate.
The session ends with Hamilton quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Bottas, Ricciardo, Massa, Kvyat, Raikkonen, Alonso, Vergne and Vettel.
Button is eleventh, ahead of Hulkenberg, Perez, Sutil, Gutierrez, Grosjean, Magnussen, Ericsson, Kobayashi, Chilton and Maldonado, who didn't post a time.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.
Chris Balfe