25/10/2015
NEWS STORY
Ahead of this morning's qualifying session - it's 9:00 (local time), Sunday remember - the air temperature is 15 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 16 degrees.
It is still raining, but nothing like yesterday's Biblical-style deluge. If Race Control decides that it is still too wet to run, we have a one hour delay window, after that the grid for this afternoon's race - which should be held in much improved conditions - would be based on the times posted in FP3.
To add to the fun, once this session is over, no changes can be made to the cars' set-up, which is going to make things very interesting if conditions later have improved as much as we expect them to.
Furthermore, with just a few hours until the race nobody is going to want to take any unnecessary risks.
Lewis Hamilton was quickest in FP3, the world champion clearly revelling in the conditions. Sebastian Vettel was second quickest, but, along with teammate Kimi Raikkonen, has a 10-place grid penalty after Ferrari elected to change their engines. At Manor, Will Stevens has a 20-place penalty after his team changed the ICE, Turbo and MGU-H.
As the Lotus duo wait at the end of the pitlane, both on full wets, Pirelli tweets: "Who knows: we might even see some slicks today! But not in the next hour."
Bottas, Rosberg, Hamilton and Raikkonen are eager to get out and test the conditions.
"Get a lap on the board as soon as possible," Hamilton is told.
In no time at all, all but Vettel are on track.
"We expect the first ten minutes to be the best weather," Perez is told. Hardly encouraging.
"It's very dark," complains Raikkonen.
Maldonado posts 2:04.716 and Grosjean 2:04.518, but moments later, having gone quickest in all three sectors posts 1:59.393. Ricciardo goes second, 0.895s off the pace.
Red Flag as Sainz is off and in the gravel in T4, his front wheels totally askew. His session, indeed his weekend could be over.
Replay shows him losing the rear as the car aquaplanes coming out of T3 after dipping a wheel on the slippery kerbs, subsequently spinning off and into the barriers. "I crashed," he mournfully tells his team, "sorry, sorry guys."
Under the Red Flag only 11 drivers have posted times. Not good news if those opening ten minutes were the best we're going to get. Indeed, Ericsson is told the rain "will get worse in the next five minutes".
Replays during the lull show Maldonado and Nasr both having bit wobbles but both doing well to keep it all under control.
"Red flag could cause a problem as it negates the drying effect of cars running around the track," says Pirelli.
Ahead of the re-start (at 9:15), Raikkonen heads the queue at the end of the pitlane.
The session resumes and in no time at all there are 14 cars on track. Though he appears to be staying put, Hamilton fires up the Mercedes and heads down the pitlane.
"There is more rain to come so we have to make the most of these conditions," Massa is told.
Rosberg goes quickest in S1 as Hamilton is told conditions are worsening and that there is no need to take any risks. Aside from the underlying risk of driving a car at 190 mph in such conditions.
As Rosberg goes quickest in S2, Hamilton goes even quicker in s1. Rosberg goes second (59.875), ahead of Ricciardo, Vettel, Kvyat and Verstappen.
Hamilton raises the bar with a 58.025, that's 1.630s quicker than second quickest Kvyat.
Ricciardo closes to within 0.160s of Hamilton, the Red Bulls very competitive in these conditions.
Hulkenberg improves to fifth and Raikkonen seventh whilst Alonso posts 2:02.478 to go 14th.
As Vettel goes wide in T10, Button posts 2:01.761 to go tenth.
Again, the Mercedes duo trade fastest sectors as Vettel reveals "I touched the wall".
Rosberg posts 57.469 to go quickest by 0.556 as Hamilton loses time in traffic.
A big moments, and very nice control, for Ericsson.
A 57.163 sees Ricciardo go quickest, with Raikkonen going fourth moments later.
As Stevens has a 360 at T10, Hamilton sets a blistering pace in S1. Moments later Rosberg goes even quicker.
When he asks why he's going for another lap, Rosberg is told "because they're getting quicker," comes the response.
Hamilton takes back the top spot with a 56.871.
A late charge sees Maldonado improve to 12th, thereby dropping Vettel to 15th. Moments later Alonso posts 59.704 to go 9th.
Similarly, Ricciardo steals Hamilton's thunder, the Red Bull driver posting 56.495 at the death. Vettel makes it through to Q2 by the skin of his teeth.
Ricciardo is quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Hamilton, Kvyat, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Verstappen, Perez, Bottas and Alonso. We lose Ericsson, Nasr, Rossi, Stevens and Sainz.
"Fair to say that this is probably the most unpredictable qualifying session we will see all year!" admits Pirelli.
Ahead of Q2, it remains to be seen whether Vettel damaged his car in that brush with the barriers.
"The track is getting a bit better," says Kvyat ahead of Q2, "less aquaplaning."
Vettel heads the queue at the end of the pitlane, teammate Raikkonen just a couple of cars behind. As the rain appears to ease, the German is told: "It should stay like this all session". Still full wets for everyone however.
"Rain is set to continue and increase," Rosberg is told, Mercedes clearly using a different meteorology service to Ferrari. Indeed, Hulkenberg is told that "heavy rain is expected.
Raikkonen posts 59.703 but moments later Hamilton ups the ante with a 57.555. Rosberg spoils the party however with a 56.824.
A 58.841 sees Ricciardo improve to third, ahead of Vettel, Perez and Raikkonen.
T10 continues to catch drivers out, Raikkonen and Kvyat two of many. Elsewhere, Perez spins at T7.
Another off for Raikkonen (T11) as Kvyat wrestles with his car.
A big spin for Hamilton also as conditions appear to be deteriorating.
With 4:00 remaining, Alonso, Bottas, Grosjean, Button and Maldonado comprise the drop zone. With nobody improving their sector times it really does seem that conditions have worsened.
Vettel spins at T9 as teammate Raikkonen drives straight into his garage following his earlier moment.
"If you want me to stay out let me know," says Ricciardo. "Yes please, stay out," is the response.
"It's really dangerous out here guys," complains Kvyat. The Russian, who is currently fourth, is told to "box".
With no improvements, Rosberg remains quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Vettel, Perez, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Massa and Verstappen.
We lose Alonso, Bottas, Grosjean, Button and Maldonado.
As conditions appear to worsen, Charlie Whiting sends out the Safety Car.
As the Mercedes duo head out into the pitlane, Race Control announces that the start of Q3 is delayed until 10:05, around 8 minutes away.
"In case nobody quite got that, the message was STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP STOP" tweets Mercedes.
Race Control announces that Q3 will not take place consequently, the grid is based on the standings at the end of Q2, which puts Rosberg on pole, ahead of Hamilton, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Vettel, Perez, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Massa and Verstappen.
Alonso starts eleventh, ahead of Bottas, Grosjean, Button, Maldonado, Ericsson, Nasr, Rossi, Stevens and Sainz.
Check out our Sunday gallery, here.