10/10/2015
NEWS STORY
To date, every single session has been compromised, be it diesel spillage, rain or the red flags that followed Carlos Sainz' horrendous accident.
Consequently, this afternoon's qualifying session is a step into the unknown.
With yesterday a wash-out, literally, we always knew that this morning's session would be frantic, and so it was.
In their attempts to gather as much data as a possible on a track where they've only raced once before, the teams adopted various strategies. Then, just as they began to focus on this afternoon's session, out came the red flags with the subsequent news that the session - even though there were around twenty minutes remaining - that it would no re-start.
Consequently, this afternoon could be a bit of a lottery.
Yes, Nico Rosberg was quickest this morning, the German absolutely flying on the option rubber, though Valtteri Bottas was very quick on both compounds.
However, there were plenty of drivers who hadn't begun to turn their attention to this afternoon and as a result we can expect a few surprises.
As expected, Toro Rosso will field only one car, and while Sainz is said to be OK, the team insists he is under no pressure to race tomorrow.
Ahead of Q1, the air temperature is 16 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 26 degrees.
"We're heading into what might be the most unpredictable qualifying session ever, in terms of preparation," admits Pirelli. "Track temp still cool."
The lights go green and Merhi leads the way, Rosberg and Massa above the others keen to get out.
Whilst Merhi posts 44.765, Verstappen bangs in a 40.529. Elsewhere, Maldonado spins at T5 thereby bringing out the yellow flags.
Rosberg posts as stunning 38.556 on the prime, teammate Hamilton going second with a 39.574.
Vettel heads out, the German already on the option rubber.
Told he's second to Rosberg and the gap, Hamilton askes for confirmation.
Nasr is told, like Merhi earlier, to respect the track limits at T2.
Alonso fifth and Button sixth, though the Spaniard has a 35place grid penalty.
The Mercedes duo trade fastest sectors, Roberg slightly improving to 38.343, whilst Hamilton posts 38.558.
As Vettel goes third (38.598), Rosberg admits his "entry lap" was "pretty poor".
Raikkonen, like his Ferrari teammate, on the options, subsequently posts 39.207 to go fourth.
Ricciardo, currently last, is the only driver, other than the Mercedes duo, on the prime rubber. Masa (11th) and Bottas (17th) have both switched to the softer rubber.
Ricciardo improves to seventh (39.684) as Massa goes sixth (39.387).
As Bottas improves to sixth (39.348), Kvyat posts 39.917 to escape the drop zone.
With 12:25 remaining, Perez, Merhi, Ericsson and Stevens comprise the drop zone, Button, Nasr and Perez hovering just above.
A 39.056 sees Grosjean go fourth, with Massa improving to fourth (38.926) moments later.
Finns Raikkonen and Bottas are quickest in S1, as Perez improves to eleventh.
Button posts 39.739 to go thirteenth though teammate Alonso fails to improve.
Bottas goes second (38.448), whilst Raikkonen remains seventh after making a minor, but costly, mistake.
Quickest is Rosberg, ahead of Bottas, Hamilton, Vettel, Massa, Grosjean, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Verstappen and Ricciardo.
We lose Alonso, Ericsson, Stevens and Merhi.
Told he's made the cut, Button responds: "OK, that's something to build on."
Perez leads the way as Q2 gets underway, followed by Verstappen and Rosberg.
Perez posts 39.486 only to be leapfrogged, and then some, when Rosberg posts 38.335. Hamilton can only manage 44.500, which puts him sixth.
As Hulkenberg goes second, ahead of Perez and Nasr, Verstappen complains of "very low grip".
Going quickest in all three sectors, Hamilton takes the top spot with a daunting 37.672. One can almost hear Rosberg's shoulders dropping.
That said, the German hits back with a 37.500.
With 5:40 remaining, the Ferraris come out to play.
Raikkonen posts 38.702 to go third, albeit 1.202s off Rosberg's time, though Vettel posts 38.402 moments later.
Bottas posts 38.228 to demote the Ferraris, as Ricciardo drops into the drop zone (appropriately).
Massa, Button, Rosberg and Bottas almost running as one... not the wisest move in Q2.
"I was pushing a bit too hard," admits Vettel, referring to his out lap.
"Grip levels now gradually increasing," says Pirelli, "expect the fastest times to come right at the end of each session."
Masa fails to improve, as does Maldonado, while Ricciardo goes ninth.
Kvyat only just fails to make the cut, improving from twelfth to eleventh.
Rosberg is quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Bottas, Raikkonen, Vettel, Hulkenberg, Grosjean, Perez, Ricciardo and Verstappen.
We lose Kvyat, Nasr, Button, Maldonado and Massa.
As has become the norm, there is no mad rush to go out for Q3, Raikkonen eventually firing up the Ferrari and getting proceedings underway.
"You'll really need to work these hard to get them up to temperature," Hulkenberg is told, as drivers admit with grip is due to cool temperatures.
Raikkonen posts 45.267 with Vettel posting 42.591 moments later.
"Looks like everyone is going for lap 2," Perez is told. The Mexican responds by posting 38.691. This is subsequently beaten by Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Vettel and Bottas, the Williams driver crossing the line at 37.912.
Rosberg goes top with a 37.113 while Hamilton can only manage 37.433, the Briton 0.320s shy of his teammate's pace. Third placed Bottas is 0.799s off the pace.
Both Mercedes drivers are appraised of their times and positions.
The final assault begins and Rosberg goes quickest in S1. He eases of in S2 which suggests that, again, he's going for a quicker second lap.
Hamilton pits after it is revealed he made a mistake in T12, his session is over. Barring a miracle Rosberg has pole.
Though pole is theoretically still up for grabs there are no significant improvements. Raikkonen and Hulkenberg post PBs in S1 but not a hint of purple.
A mistake at T13 sees Raikkonen back off, whilst Vettel, despite a PB in S3, is unable to overhaul Bottas who takes third.
Rosberg takes pole, ahead of Hamilton, Bottas, Vettel, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Perez, Grosjean, Verstappen and Ricciardo.
Kvyat is eleventh, ahead of Nasr, Button, Maldonado, Massa, Alonso, Ericsson, Stevens and Merhi.
As Rosberg heads off to get weighed, Hamilton spends his time checking out almost every aspect of the Ferrari.
So, Rosberg starts from pole, having vowed earlier in the week that he has not given up for the title. Thing is, will, as in Japan, all that hard work on Saturday afternoon be undone just second into Sunday's race.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.