22/08/2015
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's sole practice session the air temperature is 20 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 27 degrees. It is bright and sunny, again.
Nico Rosberg topped the timesheets in both sessions yesterday, and while the German will be buoyed by his clear pace here, it is his spectacular tyre failure in Blanchimont in FP2 that dominates proceedings.
With Pirelli yet to issue any official comment there is talk that the Italian manufacturer is adamant that Rosberg's blow-out wasn't the result of a tyre failure. Interestingly, overnight, following comments made by a number of drivers at the official briefing, the newly introduced 'sausage' kerbs at T1 and T4 have been removed.
The kerbs, which were introduced in an effort to prevent drivers exceeding the track limits were the scene of numerous incidents, several drivers having their cars launched into the air.
With Williams sticking to its traditional Friday programme, it's difficult to see where the British team fits into the running order at present, though Rob Smedley appeared very confident.
Consequently, based on Friday's proceedings it's currently Mercedes (as ever), ahead Red Bull and Ferrari with Force India and Sauber also looking good.
Pastor Maldonado had another misunderstanding with the barriers - all the fault of the media you know - whilst a late crash for Ericsson at Pouhon resulted in the third red flag of the day.
The red flags meant that the teams were unable to complete their full programmes, long runs particularly compromised.
The much anticipated upgrade from Honda is hard to judge, Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button having picked up 55-place grid penalties between them and the threat of many more today when McLaren is expected to change its engines again.
Tyre options this weekend are medium (prime) and soft (option), with around 1.6 - 20s between the two compounds.
"Full investigation into Rosberg's FP2 tyre now concluded," tweets Pirelli moments before the start of the session, "no structural integrity issue on this or any other tyre". "Damage is consistent with an external source," added Paul Hembery.
The lights go green and Vettel leads the way, followed by Stevens, Grosjean, Merhi and Raikkonen.
Whilst Vettel pits, Stevens goes on to post a 1:57.470, Grosjean subsequently stopping the clock at 53.092.
A spin in the final chicane for Merhi as he attempts to overtake Verstappen and gets it totally wrong. A lap later the Dutchman goes quickest with a 51.963.
He's a feisty chap is Verstappen this morning, the youngster gesticulates at Perez feeling the Mexican was unnecessarily slow in Eau rouge.
No sooner has Rosberg gone quickest (51.737), than Hulkenberg bangs in a 51.104. Nasr goes third on 51.737.
All eyes on Hamilton who goes quickest in S2, finally going on to cross the line at 51.432 and take second on the sheets.
Despite having said that yesterday's performance wasn't a true picture of his team's chances here, Ricciardo goes quickest with a 50.680.
As Rosberg improves to third, despite a mistake in the final corner, teammate Hamilton asks about wind direction. Seemingly it was the strong tailwind that 'forced' Rosberg into his error.
Raikkonen indeed, Ferrari's first time of the day, sees the Finn go second with a 51.018. Moments later, teammate Vettel posts 51.585 to go seventh.
A wobble for Raikkonen at T13 as the Ferrari is caught out by the wind.
Hamilton goes quickest with a 50.635, just 0.045s clear of Ricciardo, as the McLaren crew check a very, very rough sounding engine in Alonso's car. The Spaniard has completed just one lap thus far, and has yet to post a time. Massa, Button and Bottas are also yet to make an appearance on the timesheets.
Twenty-five minutes in, Ricciardo and Verstappen are the first to make the switch to the option rubber, the Australian immediately improving to 49.930 whilst the Dutch youngster posts 50.599 to go second.
Approaching half-time, the Williams duo heads down the pitlane. Bottas subsequently goes seventh (51.177) and Massa eighth (51.378).
At McLaren, Jonathan Neale suggests Alonso's issue is an exhaust gas leak.
Kvyat, who is the third driver to switch to options, improves from tenth to second with a 49.980.
At half-time, it's: Ricciardo, Kvyat, Verstappen, Hamilton, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Bottas, Massa and Vettel. However, only the leading three have run on the softer rubber.
As Grosjean gets it wrong at the final chicane and spins, Vettel, still on primes, goes quickest in S1, finally crossing the line at 50.460 to go third overall.
Nasr complains of understeer following a wobble in front of Raikkonen. The Finn nonetheless improves his time to 50.707 but remains sixth.
On his first flying lap of the day, Button posts 53.297 to go seventeenth.
With just over fifteen minutes remaining attention switches this afternoon as the teams prepare for their option rubber runs.
Hulkenberg(194 mph) is currently quickest through the speed-trap, ahead of Bottas, Raikkonen, Grosjean and Perez.
Rosberg is first out on the softer rubber, followed by his teammate.
Only a PB is S1 for Rosberg, likewise for Hamilton. Another PB for Rosberg in S2, however a purple in S3 see him post 49.482 to go quickest. Meanwhile, Hamilton goes purple in S2 and S3, banging in a 48.984 to take the top spot.
Hulkenberg goes quickest in S1 as Verstappen complains that his rears are going off, the Dutchman having a mighty wobble in Pouhon as if to prove his point.
Vettel and Perez both very quick in S1 as Raikkonen goes third overall (49.864). Hulkenberg can only manage sixth having lost out in S2.
A 49.629 sees Vettel go third whilst Perez improves to fifth (49.866).
Raikkonen goes quickest in S1 as the Williams duo show little sign of improvement, currently down in ninth and tenth. Button improves to fifteenth (51.981). Raikkonen, despite that strong S1, fails to improve.
With an eye on tomorrow, and the rule changes, Hamilton says he is confident following a couple of practice starts.
"It's like driving on ice," says Verstappen, who has completed 15 laps on his current set of options.
A nasty moment as Grosjean wobbles whilst passing Raikkonen. The Frenchman claims the Finn deliberately slowed ahead of him; "very, very dangerous," says the Lotus driver.
Hamilton is quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Vettel, Raikkonen, Perez, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Bottas and Massa.
Sainz is eleventh, ahead of Maldonado, Verstappen, Nasr, Ericsson, Grosjean, Button, Stevens, Merhi and Alonso, who failed to post a time.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.