30/10/2015
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's second practice session, the air temperature is 22 degrees C, and the track temperature is 42 degrees. Although the sun is shining there are ominous dark clouds in the distance indeed, Race control claims there is a 30% chance of rain.
Whilst this morning's session was compromised, certainly at the start, by the damp track, we did learn a few things. Firstly, the high altitude, and consequent thinness of the air, is resulting in some very high straight-line speeds, indeed faster than Monza, Lewis Hamilton hitting 225.1 mph at one point. This, of course, is taking its toll on the brakes and, certainly in Honda's case, the turbochargers.
Other than the damp however, the brand new asphalt is green and oozing various resins which is making the track even more slippery, witness the fact that everyone either spun or ran wide at some point or another.
Max Verstappen was quickest, with a questionably legal lap, whilst all the Renault powered cars are looking strong as are the Ferraris, certainly based on the evidence thus far.
Tyre options are the same as Austin, medium and soft, the option making its debut here in the forthcoming session.
There are two DRS zones - though one detection point - the first activation point is on the pit straight and the second on the run between Turns 3 and 4.
Whilst FP1 was well attended, for FP2 the circuit is really buzzing as the fans pack the stands, especially in the 'arena' area.
Ericsson leads the way as the lights go green, the Swede followed by Stevens, Raikkonen, Alonso, Sainz, Nasr and Ricciardo. The crowd roars its delight.
Ericsson gets things underway with a 27.948, Raikkonen posting 25.820 moments later.
"Keep an eye on the weather," warns Sainz, "I can see rain coming."
Oh dear, it's all over for this morning's pace-setter Verstappen, who is in the wall after losing the rear of the Toro Rosso at T17. Out comes the red flag.
"I crashed," he tells the team, "I'm sorry." The left front corner of the car is badly damaged.
As the marshals remove the stricken Toro Rosso from the track, Raikkonen remains quickest ahead of Alonso, Ericsson, Sainz, Nasr, Maldonado, Stevens, Verstappen, Vettel and Grosjean.
The session resumes and Vettel is first out, "it's better, but still very slippery," he warns.
As the crowd cheers Perez' return to the track, a miserable Verstappen arrives back in his garage.
"It's pointless pushing, the tyres are cold," says Vettel.
To the crowd's obvious delight Perez goes quickest (25.564), albeit for a few seconds until Bottas raises the bar with a 25.496 and Rosberg with a 25.189.
On successive laps Ericsson and Massa have both had problems in T7.
Kvyat posts 24.720 but Rosberg responds with a 24.682 and Vettel a 24.639.
Bottas is off a T1, and while he has damaged the nose and front wing of the car after clouting the barrier he is able to get back to the pits. Replay shows the Williams snapping out under braking and sliding sideways in to the barriers.
"I don't know what happened on the brakes," says the Finn.
A 24.016 sees Hamilton go quickest as Sainz goes cross-country at T1, the Spaniard taking a long, long trip over the grass.
Having gone quickest in S1, Hamilton spins at T4 whilst Vettel is lucky not to lose it as he enters the pitlane. Elsewhere, Perez runs wide in T1.
Another big moment for Hamilton, this time in T12, but he holds it all together.
Struggling for grip and power, Alonso admits, "it's a disaster, 500 laps to charge". In the grandstands some fans appear to be putting their ponchos on.
"It's quite undriveable, sorry guys," says Kvyat. When asked if he means the car or the circuit, the Russian says "I'm losing everything, tyres, brake temperatures, cooling, everything".
Half an hour into the session, Perez, Sainz and Rossi all swap to the option rubber.
Whilst the Mexican posts PBs in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 24.429 to go fourth, teammate Hulkenberg, on the primes, goes quickest (23.290). Talk about spoiling the party.
Sainz, on the options, goes second with a 23.987, as the replay shows Perez running wide in the final corner.
"Teams struggling to get temperature into tyres," says Pirelli, "but as more rubber gets laid down onto the track, there will be more grip. In theory."
Next time around, to the delight of the crowd, Perez goes second with a 23.880. Teammate Hulkenberg having improved to 23.290.
Ferrari and Pirelli confirm that there is some light rain now, which means most drivers make the switch to options before conditions deteriorate.
Rosberg, on the softer rubber, goes quickest in S1, maintaining the pace in S2. No sooner has Raikkonen posted a 23.244 than Rosberg posts 23.272.
All eyes on Hamilton who goes quickest in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 21.961, 1.28s quicker than third-placed Raikkonen.
"Soft tyres seem to be the ones to have," says Pirelli, "over 1s faster than medium. But track is still very green (normal with new asphalt) so we'll see."
Rosberg goes quickest in all three sectors, crossing the line at 21.531, Raikkonen, still third, also improving but 1.042s off the pace.
"I'm not confident with the braking," admits Ericsson, "locking front and rear."
Vettel improves by over 2.3s, posting 22.334 to go third, just ahead of his Ferrari teammate.
Sainz repeats Vettel's earlier mistake, almost losing it as he enters the pitlane.
A very hairy moment for Ricciardo who runs wide in T10. Shortly after, teammate Kvyat has a massive lock-up at T1.
With 40 minutes remaining, Button heads down the pitlane, the Briton having only completed one lap thus far.
The earlier threat seemingly subsided, Bottas warns of "small drops of rain in sector two".
Despite that, whilst carrying out a qualifying simulation, Kvyat goes second (21.776) and teammate Ricciardo third (21.868).
"There seems to be quite a lot of water," says Button. Asked if he wants to continue, the Briton replies: "We have to do something, so yeah."
"The wettest parts of the tack are between turns one and six," Alonso is told, "though lap times still look pretty good so pace doesn't seem to be affected."
After a couple of earlier minor mishaps, Grosjean is off track and on the grass at T15. As smoke pours from under the Lotus, the session is red flagged. Replay shows the car is stuck in fourth gear. "Stay in gear, stay in gear," he is told.
The session resumes, and Vettel heads Hamilton and Button back on to the track.
The focus, for most, now appears to be on Sunday, the drivers on long runs with high fuel. Others however are still on qualifying simulations.
Raikkonen is told that there will be "heavier rain in ten minutes.
"No power," moans Maldonado as he heads into the pitlane.
Raikkonen is clearly frustrated. "I've no idea if it's going to get wet," he says. "It's your call on the conditions," is the reply. Meanwhile, Button is told that rain is coming and it will arrive at T6. The Briton is the only driver not on the option rubber.
"It's raining a bit harder now," warns Perez.
On the longer runs Mercedes has the edge, ahead of Red Bull and then Ferrari.
In the grandstands umbrellas are raised, on track Sainz heads over the grass at T1.
As Maldonado goes straight on at T1 the track is officially declared wet. Moments later, Hamilton switches to Inters. Alonso is all on Inters.
The session ends, with Rosberg quickest, ahead of Kvyat, Ricciardo, Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen, Bottas, Alonso, Button and Massa.
Hulkenberg is eleventh, ahead of Maldonado, Sainz, Nasr, Perez, Grosjean, Ericsson, Rossi, Stevens and Verstappen.
Check out our Friday gallery, here.