09/05/2015
NEWS STORY
While it was Lewis Hamilton who won here twelve months ago, it was around this time also that Nico Rosberg's title bid really got underway.
With his teammate having won three of the opening four races, what better time - at a circuit where 11 of the previous 13 winners have started from pole - for the German to kick-start his 2015 bid by showing some of the fighting spirit we witnessed last season and taking pole.
While the Ferraris were around a second off the pace in FP1, they have looked stronger ever since, particularly on the option rubber and on longer runs. Sebastian Vettel was only 0.156s off Rosberg's pace this morning while teammate Raikkonen, victim of another team error, was 0.923s off the pace.
A spin, at the same corner where Fernando Alonso crashed pre-season, left Hamilton in third, his pace in FP2 however, suggests that the Briton is very much up for the fight.
As expected, front tyre wear - as opposed to rear - is causing problems and as a result there have been offs a plenty. However, it was a dip into the Astro Turf that sent the world champion into a spin.
Despite the numerous updates, the pecking order doesn't appear to have changed much indeed, nor does the fortune of some teams, Red Bull continuing to suffer engine issues, whilst Force India - awaiting the arrival of its B chassis - is at sixes and sevens.
Particularly impressive this weekend (thus far) has been the Toro Rosso duo, whilst McLaren is also showing genuine signs of progress. As ever, Williams is slow to show its hand but in all honesty still appears to be behind Ferrari.
Ahead of Q1, the air temperature is 25 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 44 degrees. It is bright, sunny but breezy. According to the FIA the risk of rain is 0%.
The lights go green but there is no rush to get to work. After a couple of minutes Merhi heads down the pitlane. The Spaniard is already on the option rubber.
As Merhi begins his flying lap, Hamilton and Hulkenberg head down the pitlane, the Briton on primes.
The Manor crosses the line at 1:32.038 however, that is likely to be knocked into oblivion very soon as Hamilton begin his flying lap.
Hulkenberg posts 28.677 as Rosberg locks-up at T13.
Hamilton posts an ultra-conservative 36.471 as Sainz (prime) goes quickest with a 28.492.
Mixed choices as far as tyres are concerned, while most are on primes, Hulkenberg, Nasr, Perez, Stevens and Merhi are on the softer rubber. There is a delta of around 1.5s between the two compounds.
A 27.677 sees Rosberg go top of the timesheets but Hamilton is on a hot lap. No sooner has Raikkonen gone fourth (28.690) than Hamilton posts 27.322.
Vettel goes third (27.926) as his team apologises to Raikkonen for the traffic. The Finn is not best pleased. "Yes, not ideal... and I had no rear grip!"
"Grip is really poor," complains Hamilton, as he enjoys his 0.355s advantage over his teammate.
Massa goes fourth (27.930) ahead of the McLaren duo, both of whom are on the option rubber. Indeed, in fifth, Alonso is the highest placed option runner.
With under five minutes remaining, Kvyat and the Lotus duo join the Manor boys in the drop zone.
Raikkonen, demoted to eleventh, goes out again, this time on options. Hamilton and Rosberg are also back on track, but on primes.
As Hamilton improves in S1, Raikkonen goes quickest. In the second sector the situation is reversed. Hamilton raises the bar with a 26.832 as the Ferrari takes second with a 26.637.
The drop zone still comprises the Lotus duo and Kvyat, with Nasr and Bottas hovering.
As the flag comes out, all but Hulkenberg are on track.
Sainz goes fourth and Kvyat tenth, with the Lotus duo taking sixth and seventh.
Button drops into the drop zone along with Hulkenberg. The Briton improves to thirteenth, thereby demoting his teammate to fifteenth.
Hamilton remains quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Raikkonen, Sainz, Massa, Bottas (see how quickly these things change), Maldonado, Grosjean, Verstappen and Vettel.
We lose Ericsson, Hulkenberg, Perez, Stevens and Merhi.
For the first time this season, both McLarens are through to Q2.
The lights go green and almost immediately Nasr heads down the pitlane.
Cameras pick up a moment that typifies much of what is wrong with F1 these days. As Q2 gets underway, the cameras cut to the Williams hospitality unit where a whole load of guests are scoffing their lunches.
As Nasr begins his flying lap, Hamilton is told "what we need is a nice clean lap". Well, duh!
Nasr crosses the line at 28.986, the Sauber, like all his rivals, on the softer rubber.
Bottas posts 26.197 and button 28.937, but all eyes are on the Mercedes duo. Hamilton posts a mighty 25.166, ahead of Raikkonen (26.016), only for Rosberg to leapfrog the pair with an even mightier 25.166.
Vettel goes fourth (26.167), ahead of Bottas, Verstappen, Massa, Sainz and Ricciardo as Button complains that when he brakes in T1 the car pulls to the left.
With five minutes remaining, the drop zone comprises Alonso, Grosjean, Maldonado, Button and Nasr.
After a couple of minutes of inactivity all but Rosberg, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Vettel and Bottas return to the track.
Nasr is on a brand new set of options, which could really upset the apple cart.
Ricciardo, currently ninth, is told to push unless he hears otherwise.
Massa goes purple in S1, the Brazilian in a sea of green sectors. Maldonado improves to eleventh, while Massa goes fourth, thereby demoting Sainz to eighth.
Sadly, whilst the McLarens made it into Q2 there will be no further progress this afternoon, they are eliminated along with the Lotus duo and Nasr.
Rosberg is quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Raikkonen, Massa, Vettel, Bottas, Verstappen, Sainz, Ricciardo and Kvyat.
Grosjean complains that he suffered with his front end in T10 just as he did this morning, whilst Button talks of front-end lock-ups on his final lap.
Going into Q3 its perfect symmetry with the Mercedes paid battling Ferrari, Williams, Toro Rosso and Red Bull. And if that doesn't sum up the 2015 pecking order, what does?
The lights go green but there is no rush to head out.
Almost three minute in, Bottas heads out of his garage, followed by Hamilton and Raikkonen.
It's a scruffy flying lap, including a massive wobble in T10, from Bottas who can only manage 25.880. However, Raikkonen posts a 27.172.
Hamilton goes quickest with a 24.948 however, moments later, as Vettel goes second, Rosberg bangs in a 24.681 to take provisional pole. Bottas, despite a poor lap, remains fourth, ahead of Raikkonen and Verstappen, these six drivers being the only drivers going for two runs. Massa, Sainz and the Red Bulls are a no-show, thus far.
With 3:00 on the clock Raikkonen heads down the pitlane as Williams tell Bottas he has a chance of third.
All ten drivers on track as the clock ticks down to 1:17.
A wobble in T10 costs Raikkonen precious time, the Finn crossing the line at 26.414 to go fifth.
Hamilton fails to improve, as does Vettel indeed, of the top four or five nobody is improving, thereby allowing Rosberg to ease off his job having been done.
A late charge sees Sainz go fifth and Verstappen sixth, thereby dropping Raikkonen to seventh. Massa drops to ninth, almost a second off his teammate's pace.
So, for the first time this year someone other than Hamilton starts from pole, though the Briton will be on the front row alongside his Mercedes teammate. Vettel starts third, ahead of Bottas, Sainz, Verstappen, Raikkonen,, Kvyat, Massa and Ricciardo.
Grosjean is eleventh, ahead of Maldonado, Alonso, Button, Nasr, Ericsson, Hulkenberg, Perez, Stevens and Merhi.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.