11/04/2015
NEWS STORY
Having topped the timesheets in all three practice sessions it pretty fair to assume that Lewis Hamilton will continue his domination into this afternoon's qualifying session.
However, as witnessed in Malaysia two weeks ago and in yesterday afternoon's session, once we get on to the longer runs it is a different kettle of fish with Ferrari appearing to have the upper hand. Although the Mercedes has outright pace, it is struggling on the longer runs, particularly with the options, and consequently neither Sebastian Vettel nor Kimi Raikkonen will be that bothered about securing pole. That said, they need to be right up there in order to press home their apparent advantage.
It was a curious scene in the Mercedes garage following this morning's session, for whilst Hamilton was all smiles, clearly content with his morning's work, teammate Nico Rosberg looked worried as he pored over the data with his team. Whilst he has said that Ferrari can help in his battle for the title he will also need to raise his own game and thus far he hasn't appeared convincing.
Following yesterday's sessions Daniel Ricciardo suggested that Red Bull is now the third team - this a day after team owner Dietrich Mateschitz threatened to quit the sport unless his cars became more competitive. However, whilst the Red Bulls were fifth and sixth this morning, a number of issues, not least those overheating rear brakes suggest the Austrian outfit has a long way to go.
Williams continues to frustrate. Far from picking up where it left off in Abu Dhabi, the Grove outfit appears to drop off in form with every passing race, though it's not clear why. Yesterday, Felipe Massa suffered a rear wing failure whilst Valtteri Bottas often appears to be overdriving the car.
After a disappointing day yesterday, this morning both Toro Rossos were impressive, Carlos Sainz quietly getting on with the job whilst teammate Max Verstappen gets all the media attention.
Improvements this morning also for Romain Grosjean and Nico Hulkenberg though it remains to be seen whether this will convert into decent grid positions far less race points.
It was another difficult morning for McLaren, Fernando Alonso grinding to a halt on his out lap with what is understood to be an "ignition issue". However, finishing fifteenth on the timesheets, teammate Jenson Button was told that he was only 0.2s off tenth place, which, if nothing else, tells us how tight the midfield is at present.
Indeed, take the Mercedes and Ferraris out of the equation and the rest (not counting the Manors) are covered by just 0.7s, most by 0.5s.
It's fair to say that Mercedes issues in Malaysia began in qualifying, Hamilton using up his preferred tyres in Q1 and thereby leaving him short when it mattered most, consequently the team will be seeking not to repeat the mistake today.
The difference between the two compounds is around 1.5 -1.7s so in theory Mercedes, and the other fast runners, shouldn't need to use the soft rubber in Q1. However, a strategic move by a rival could force their hand.
Ahead of the start of Q1, the air temperature is 19 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 43 degrees. It remains bright and sunny.
The lights go green and Merhi leads the way, followed by Alonso. Raikkonen and Hamilton are also out early, as is Vettel. The Manor driver already on option rubber.
Whilst Alonso heads back to the pits, his installation lap completed, Raikkonen, Vettel and Hamilton stay out.
Merhi posts the first time of the afternoon (44.911), but this is soon eclipsed by Raikkonen who posts 40.917. Vettel subsequently posts 39.912 and Verstappen 40.666 only to be demoted when Hamilton bangs in a 38.285.
TV replay shows that Raikkonen had problems with his front end of his car on his quick lap so the Finn clearly has more in reserve.
Rosberg posts 38.496 to go second whilst Hulkenberg and Nasr, both on options, go third and fourth, both over a second off Hamilton's pace.
Alonso, on his first flying lap of the day, goes eighth on the soft tyre.
With 7:30 remaining, all but the Williams duo have posted a time.
Ericsson, on softs, posts 39.480 to go fifth, one place behind his Sauber teammate.
The Williams duo finally head down the pitlane, both on the softer rubber.
Daniil Kvyat (45.427), along with the Williams duo and the Manor boys, currently comprise the drop zone.
Bottas goes quickest in S2 as Raikkonen - now on softs - goes quickest in S1. Bottas goes quickest overall (38.014) and teammate Massa third (38.433). However, moments later they are both leapfrogged by Raikkonen who stops the clock at 37.790.
Vettel is also back on track, and on the softs. He goes quickest in the first and final sectors, taking top spot with a 37.502.
A massive lock-up in T14 for Kvyat but he still improves to eighth with a 39.051.
Sainz and the Lotus duo fall into the drop zone with less than a minute remaining.
All but the top seven on track as the clock ticks down to 0.00.
Maldonado improves to ninth and Grosjean fourth, with Verstappen taking sixth. Bad news for the McLaren boys who can only manage seventeenth (Button) and eighteenth (Alonso), demoted in the final moments by Hulkenberg who also fails to make the cut.
Quickest is Vettel, ahead of Raikkonen, Bottas, Grosjean, Hamilton, Verstappen, Massa, Rosberg, Nasr and Ricciardo. However, the Mercedes duo were the only drivers who didn't need to run the softer rubber.
We lose Hulkenberg, Button, Alonso, Stevens and Merhi.
Ericsson gets Q2 underway, followed by Sauber teammate Nasr. Needless to say, both are on options.
Heading out on a set of options, Hamilton is reminded that this is a "race tyre set, a race tyre set".
Ericsson posts 39.240 with Nasr crossing the line at 39.687 moments later.
All eyes on Bottas who goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 38.475. However, Hamilton is on a very quick lap, also going quickest in the first two sectors. The world champion posts 36.423... a very, very fast lap.
Rosberg is also very quick, posting 36.747, but not quick enough, not quick enough by 0.324s. Meanwhile, once again, Hamilton complains of a "hot seat".
Maldonado posts 38.278 to go third but is demoted by his teammate (38.097), as the Ferrari duo leave their garages.
Again, Kvyat complains of "no power" as teammate Ricciardo posts 38.209 to go fourth.
On a brand new set of softs, Raikkonen can only manage 37.109, which though good enough for third is 0.686s off Hamilton's pace. Moments later Vettel posts 36.957, 0.534s down on the world champion, to demote his teammate.
A PB in S1 for Bottas, the Finn maintaining the pace into S2. At the line the Williams driver, despite traffic in S3, posts 37.763 to go fifth, albeit 1.340s off Hamilton's best.
Less than a minute remaining and Massa, Ericsson, Nasr, Perez and Kvyat comprise the drop zone.
Ericsson improves to eighth which drops Verstappen into the danger zone.
Maldonado can only manage tenth but is demoted when Nasr posts 38.017 to take eighth.
Hamilton is quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Vettel, Raikkonen, Massa, who made a very late improvement, Bottas, Ricciardo, Nasr, Grosjean and Ericsson.
However, we lose Maldonado, Kvyat, Verstappen, Sainz and Perez.
Consequently, heading into Q3, Ricciardo is the only Renault-powered runner.
The light go green and after a brief wait Grosjean and Bottas head down the pitlane, followed by Hamilton, a surprisingly early bird.
From the outset Bottas and Hamilton are quick, the Finn looking typically scruffy. He posts 37.903 and Grosjean 39.782 but both are eclipsed - make that totally embarrassed - by Hamilton's 35.782.
Rosberg makes it an all Mercedes front row - provisionally - with a 36.062 as Massa takes second (37.365).
Ricciardo goes fifth (38.639) but drops down the order when Raikkonen posts 37.906 and Vettel 37.776.
So, with 4:05 remaining, Hamilton is 1.583s clear of his nearest non-Mercedes rival.
Raikkonen is first out for the final charge, his Ferrari sporting a brand new set of softs. Hamilton is also back on track even though it would appear he can head off for an early lunch.
If nothing else, the Ferrari duo will want to leapfrog the Williams boys.
Rosberg is warned that he is close to the cut off time so he needs to stick with Vettel.
All ten drivers are on brand new rubber.
Lots of PBs in various sectors with Ricciardo improving to fifth overall with a 37.540.
Bottas improves to third with a 37.143 but is leapfrogged by his teammate who stops the clock at 36.954.
A late charge sees Vettel take third, albeit 0.906s off Hamilton's pace, whilst Rosberg closes with a tantalising 0.042s gap to his Mercedes teammate.
Disappointing performance from Raikkonen, who was clearly struggling with his car, the Finn having to settle for sixth. "The car was pretty poo in the first sector," he complains, "the rear was all over the place".
Told he missed out on pole by 0.042s, Rosberg is clearly unhappy... "oh, come on guys," he wails. "When it's four hundredths, it's very frustrating," he subsequently admits. "Of course I wanted to be on pole today."
Hamilton start ahead of Rosberg, followed by Vettel, Massa, Bottas, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Grosjean, Nasr and Ericsson.
Maldonado starts eleventh, ahead of Kvyat, Verstappen, Sainz, Perez, Hulkenberg, Button, Alonso, Stevens and Merhi.
Post-session, Hamilton is all smile, as well he might, but so too is Vettel... and it looks genuine.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.