11/10/2014
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 22 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 31 degrees. It remains bright and sunny.
Lewis Hamilton continued to set the pace this morning, the Briton 0.290s clear of his nearest rival, teammate Nico Rosberg. A late spin at the penultimate corner, resulting in flat-spotted tyres, brought Hamilton's session to an early end however, it's worth noting that up until that point he was 0.1s up on his previous best so he can clearly go even quicker.
After yesterday's blitzkrieg, Rosberg will be pleased to have closed the gap however, the fact is that Hamilton looks awesome here.
The same cannot be said of McLaren, which having looked so strong yesterday, appearing to revel in 'greenness' of the new track, has slipped worryingly down the order. A further blow sees Kevin Magnussen take a 5-place penalty after the team opted to change his gearbox following this morning's close encounter with the new kerb at T2.
On the other hand, Red Bull, which appeared to be all at sea yesterday, is looking a lot stronger today, though the layout of the Sochi Autodrom is not the sort Adrian Newey designs his cars for.
A late charge saw Kimi Raikkonen leapfrog his teammate however, you can bet that Fernando Alonso will be giving 101% this afternoon and tomorrow.
The Toro Rosso duo is up there also, Daniil Kvyat eager to put on a good show in front of his home crowd, whilst teammate Jean-Eric Vergne is one of several drivers still to secure a seat for 2015.
Once again, the biggest threat to Mercedes appears to come from Williams, Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Massa both looking strong here.
The Force Indias were 12th and 13th, having looked stronger yesterday, but quite often this season they improve come race day.
Sauber and Lotus continue to suffer, Pastor Maldonado failing to post a time this morning after suffering a battery issue.
At Caterham, Marcus Ericsson continues to improve whilst surely everyone wants to see Marussia leave here with something positive this weekend.
Tyres available are medium (prime) and soft (option) and not only is there up to 2s between them, the options are also good for a couple of hot laps.
The lights go green and Grosjean leads the way, followed by Sutil, Vergne, Button, Chilton and Maldonado.
The Mercedes duo is out early, both, surprisingly, on the softer rubber. Indeed, all but the McLaren duo, of those 16 runners currently on track, are on the option rubber.
Grosjean gets things underway with a 46.775 but this is soon beaten by Chilton (44.455) and then Sutil (42.573).
Button's 41.268 is soon beaten by Kvyat who stops the clock at 41.088 only to be leapfrogged by Hamilton (40.061).
No messing form Rosberg who shoots straight to the top of the timesheets with a 39.292, the German serving early notice of his intentions.
Rosberg is told that though his time is probably good enough to get through he will stay out for another hot lap.
Hamilton goes quickest in S1 as Button (prime) goes third overall with a 40.953. Hamilton maintains a strong pace in S2, finally crossing the line at 39.282, 010s ahead of his teammate. However, Rosberg responds with a 39.076.
A 40.544 sees Alonso go third, ahead of Kvyat, Button and Vergne, as Magnussen switches to the options.
With 8:00 remaining, Ricciardo, Massa, Vettel, Hulkenberg, Perez and Maldonado have yet to post a time.
Again Hamilton goes quickest in S1, as Alonso compounds his fourth place with a 40.255. Quickest again in S2, Hamilton crosses the line at 38.759, eclipsing his teammate by 0.317s.
As Rosberg pits, Massa locks-up, the Brazilian complaining that his engine isn't working properly. Indeed, currently the Williams driver is in the drop zone, his best time 47.360. On the other hand, teammate Bottas is currently third (39.795).
As Maldonado posts 43.205 to go 17th, Massa remains firmly rooted to the foot of the timesheet.
Massa improves to 17th with a 43.064 as Gutierrez improves to 15th (41.451).
Real tension in the Williams garage as Massa begins his last flyer. "You have to do something," urges the Brazilian. The team makes it clear that now isn't the time.
Out comes the chequered flag and Massa begins his final assault. In the garage Claire Williams looks on anxiously. In fact the Brazilian is demoted by Ericsson in the Caterham, who also fails to make the cut.
Quickest is Hamilton, ahead of Rosberg, Bottas, Button, Magnussen, Kvyat, Raikkonen, Alonso, Hulkenberg and Vergne.
We lose Ericsson, Massa, Kobayashi, Maldonado and Chilton.
"Why didn't you let me stop at the garage to fix the problem," moans Massa. "Because we didn't have time," comes the reply.
The lights go green for Q2 and Perez leads the way, followed by Gutierrez. Within moments all but Bottas, Alonso, Vettel and Grosjean are on track.
Perez posts 40.163 with countryman Gutierrez posting 41.571 moments later.
Button takes the top spot with a 39.393 but both Mercedes drivers are on hot lap (as ever). Rosberg posts 38.979 while Hamilton can only manage 44.653. Not sure what happened there.
Magnussen goes second (39.022), McLaren seemingly having rediscovered yesterday's pace.
Bottas posts 38.338 only to be demolished by Hamilton's 38.338.
With teammate Vettel yet to post a time, Ricciardo posts 40.041 to go sixth.
Rosberg improves with a 38.606 to go second but remains 0.268s off his teammate's pace. Vettel goes 14th with a 42.674.
With 5:00 remaining, Alonso, Vettel and Raikkonen are all in the drop zone.
The Spaniard improves o seventh (39.925), but is it enough?
Vergne improves to ninth, thereby dropping Perez into the drop zone, appropriately.
Vettel can only manage 14th (41.134), the German really struggling.
Hamilton, Rosberg and the McLaren duo have settled for their times, watching the remaining two minutes of the session from the comfort of their garages.
Bottas consolidates third spot by improving to 38.971.
PBs in the first two sectors for Raikkonen who ultimately crosses the line at 39.838 to go ninth.
Perez fails to improve and thereby fails to make the cut, likewise his force India teammate.
Quickest is Hamilton, ahead of Rosberg, Bottas, Magnussen, Kvyat, Button, Ricciardo, Alonso, Raikkonen and Vergne.
We lose Vettel, Hulkenberg, Perez, Gutierrez, Sutil and Grosjean.
So, while Hamilton looks strongest going into Q3, one wonders whether Rosberg can pulls something out of the hat... and what of Bottas and the McLaren duo?
The lights go green and Bottas leads the way, followed by Magnussen, Button, Ricciardo and the Ferrari duo.
As Bottas begins his first flying lap all ten drivers are on track, all on options.
Bottas posts 46.399 with Raikkonen subsequently crossing the line at 41.518.
A 40.076 sees Ricciardo go top, while Magnussen goes fourth ahead of Alonso and Button.
Hamilton stops the clock at 39.980 but this is instantly eclipsed by his teammate who crosses the line at 38.946.
Bottas splits the Mercedes duo with a 39.162 as Button goes third (39.327) and Alonso fourth (39.7580.
Kvyat, clearly spurred on by the crowd, goes fifth with a 39.900.
Hamilton goes quickest in S1 as Ricciardo goes fourth overall (39.635). In S2 the Briton posts a PB, finally crossing the line at 38.647 having gone quickest in S3 also.
Rosberg is quickest in S2 but a mistake in T17 means he can only manage 38.914.
Hamilton is told that the track is slowing.
With 1:28 remaining the top three are covered by 0.273s.
"My rears are gone," complains Ricciardo.
Rosberg posts a PB in S2 as Hamilton goes quickest in S2. However, Bottas is quickest in S1.
Hamilton posts 38.513 as Bottas goes quickest in S2. Rosberg improves but remains second, while Bottas makes a mistake in the final corner and therefore remains third.
Button holds on to fourth whilst Kvyat remains fifth.
Consequently, Hamilton takes pole, ahead of Rosberg, Bottas, Button, Kvyat, Magnussen, Ricciardo, Alonso, Raikkonen and Vergne.
Vettel is eleventh, ahead of Hulkenberg, Perez, Gutierrez, Sutil, Grosjean, Ericsson, Massa, Kobayashi, Maldonado and Chilton.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.