23/05/2015
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's all-important qualifying session the air temperature is 19 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 29 degrees. It is bright but with a fair amount of cloud. There is a 20 percent chance of rain.
We say 'all important' because this is, after all, Monaco, and you'll be aware of all the comments such as 'like flying a helicopter in your living room'. Overtaking isn't impossible here, but it's not easy, therefore why not make things a little easier on yourself by trying to start as far up the grid as possible... we're talking to you Kimi.
Whilst Lewis Hamilton was the pace-setter in Thursday's session and looked set to make it a hat-trick this morning, Sebastian Vettel turned everything on its head when he put in a sensational lap, out-acing the Briton by 0.562s - Nico Rosberg splitting the pair.
Hamilton might have been able to improve, but serious traffic on his final flying lap put paid to that.
Kimi Raikkonen was also looking good until a mistake at Ste Devote saw the Finn bring out the red flag, whilst Max Verstappen had a misunderstanding with the barriers at Anthony Noghes later in the session.
The Red Bulls look much improved here, while the Toro Rosso pair continue to amaze however, both Williams were woefully off the pace suggesting that either they were continuing their set-up work from Thursday or have a major problem here.
Taking eighth earlier, Jenson Button has perhaps given McLaren hope on a track which has seen so many successes for the Woking outfit... and its engine partner.
Force India has also shown signs of improvement whilst Sauber struggled.
Remember... nine of the last ten winners started from pole.
The lights go green and Stevens leads the way, followed by most of the field including the Mercedes duo... clearly everyone is taking the threat or rain - albeit 20% - quite seriously. All but Stevens, Merhi and the Saubers are on primes.
With 17 drivers on track, traffic is a nightmare... as ever. Perez, Hulkenberg and Alonso remain in their garages.
Stevens posts 25.869 but Verstappen almost immediately posts a far more sensible 19.803.
Having found himself a little bit of breathing space Vettel goes quickest with an 18.323, however, Rosberg (17.463) and then Hamilton (16.884) go quicker.
Next time around, Vettel and Rosberg improve but not enough to leapfrog Hamilton who ups the ante with a 16.588.
On the option rubber, and thereby forcing the opposition's hand, Nasr goes fourth with an 18.101. Raikkonen is currently ninth (18.633).
Rosberg improves with a 16.528, 0.060s quicker than his teammate, whilst a 17.502 sees Raikkonen go fourth.
Hulkenberg currently sixth, ahead of Verstappen, Ricciardo,, Maldonado and Kvyat.
Perez and the McLaren duo are currently in the drop zone with the Manors.
Hulkenberg says he has hit the wall at Turn 5 (Mirabeau) and will have to pit.
Alonso goes tenth (18.304) having lost a heap of time behind a very slow Grosjean at Rascasse.
Perez (options) goes third (17.376), which, with 3:19 remaining, could cause problems.
Sainz is under investigation for missing the weighbridge.
Williams woes continue, as Massa can only manage eleventh and Bottas seventeenth.
Button (options) improves to seventh thereby dropping Raikkonen to tenth.
A late improvement to fourteenth for Hulkenberg which drops Nasr into the drop zone.
Bottas backs off allowing his teammate through. Massa goes twelfth (17.679), whilst the Finn peels off into the pits having failed to make the cut.
Quickest is Rosberg, ahead of Hamilton, Verstappen, Kvyat, Sainz, Ricciardo, Perez, Button, Vettel and Hulkenberg. Both Ferraris through, and, like the Mercedes pair, not needing to use the softer rubber.
We lose Nasr, Bottas, Ericsson, Stevens and Merhi.
Vettel leads the way as Q2 is given the green light. Five cars less in this session but traffic will still be a problem.
In moments all 15 drivers are on track.
Vettel crosses the line at 18.721, but this is instantly beaten by Perez (17.592), while Hamilton dives into the pits.
As Ricciardo posts 17.275, Vettel goes quickest in the first two sectors finally crossing the line at 16.224.
"I've got no grip in these tyres," moans Hamilton as Alonso pulls to the side of the track just after Ste Devote.
Verstappen goes second (17.013), ahead of Raikkonen, Button and Kvyat.
Raikkonen goes second (16.528) having been quickest of all in S3, however both Mercedes drivers are on hot laps.
Rosberg goes quickest in all three sectors, crossing the line at 15.471, as Hamilton goes third (16.224) and Sainz fifth (16.922). Hamilton and Vettel having posted exactly the same time, but remain 0.753s down on Rosberg. An awesome laps by the German who is looking for his third successive win here.
Button consolidates eighth with a 17.093, McLaren desperate to make it to Q3 for the first time this year.
With 4:50 remaining, Grosjean, Perez, Massa, Hulkenberg and Alonso comprise the drop zone.
"Let's clam down and re-set for this run," says Hamilton. "That was a really bad run, didn't get any gaps and the tyres were in bad shape." "My bad," his engineer replies.
Grosjean improves to tenth with a 17.007 as Rosberg, despite 0.7s his advantage, comes out for another run.
A late charge sees Kvyat go fourth (16.453) as teammate Ricciardo remains in the drop zone.
A great effort from Grosjean but he remains tenth.
As the clock counts down, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg and Massa seek to improve.
Ricciardo posts 16.706 to go seventh as Rosberg has a massive lock-up and takes to the escape road at Ste Devote. Unfortunately, the resultant yellow flag destroys Button's lap.
Rosberg remains quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Kvyat, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Sainz, Maldonado and Perez.
We lose Grosjean, Button, Hulkenberg, Massa and Alonso.
Button is convinced that without the Rosberg yellow he would have made it to Q3 "easy". "That's painful, such a shame guys, we were on for a reasonable result".
"As Q3 gets underway, Pirelli tweets: "We have a few drops of rain in the paddock. Means that everyone will be out to get a banker lap in quickly."
The Mercedes duo are first out, Hamilton leading the way. Perez sets a blistering pace on his out lap.
On the first flying lap Vettel is quickest in S1, whilst Hamilton backs off and crosses the line at 20.611.
Perez goes quickest (17.912) and Rosberg third, whilst Vettel eases off and posts 22.011.
Next time around Hamilton goes for it, finally crossing the line at 15.304 to take provisional pole. Moment later Rosberg posts 15.440.
Vettel can only manage 15.849, displacing Kvyat who had momentarily taken third with a 16.533.
Ricciardo goes fourth and Raikkonen seventh, as Maldonado looks set to improve on ninth.
A great lap from Perez sees the Mexican go sixth with a 16.808. Raikkonen drops to ninth, the Ferrari not liking the cooler conditions.
Raikkonen reveals his lightly hit the wall at Portier. No damage incurred though.
With 3:50 remaining the drivers head down the pitlane for the final assault. All expect Perez who is told that he won't be running again as he has used up all his fresh tyres.
Nobody pushing too hard on their out lap.
Hamilton goes quickest in S2 as Rosberg says he is aborting his lap after another mistake at Ste Devote. Hamilton maintains his pace as Vettel makes a mistake.
The Briton posts 15.098 to take pole, whilst a late charge sees Kvyat claim fifth.
.Hamilton takes pole, ahead of Rosberg, Vettel, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Raikkonen, Perez, Sainz, Maldonado and Verstappen.
Grosjean will start eleventh, ahead of Button, Hulkenberg, Massa, Alonso, Nasr, Bottas, Ericsson, Stevens and Merhi.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.