31/10/2015
NEWS STORY
Ahead of Q1, the air temperature is 21 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 36 degrees.
While heavy rain, indeed thunderstorms were forecast, it is quite bright, though there remain some ominous clouds in the distance.
Nico Rosberg topped the timesheets in this morning's final practice session, albeit just 0.014s ahead of teammate Lewis Hamilton. However, it is the pace of the Red Bulls that is of interest, Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat finishing third and fifth.
Sebastian Vettel was fourth, however an engine issue for teammate Kimi Raikkonen leaves a question mark over the Ferrari. Indeed, whilst we have enjoyed some incredible reliability since the introduction of the new formula, it's likely that we could see quite a few DNFs tomorrow, the thin air no friend of the new turbo engines.
Grip, or rather lack of it, is also an issue, with almost every driver having a moment at some point or another. Whilst the brand new asphalt is largely responsible for this, the altitude also plays a part as, again, the thinness of the air plays havoc with the aerodynamics of the cars and also results in tops speeds higher than at Monza.
With the top thirteen covered by just 1.001s, we could be in for some surprises, maybe not in terms of the front row but certainly those behind.
Whilst the jury is still out in terms of the revamped lay-out, there's no arguing with the fact that the new stadium section has an atmosphere of its own, especially when, local hero, Sergio Perez is in view.
Tyre choices are medium (prime) and soft (option), the latter being the quicker of the two but, according to some, only good for a few laps.
McLaren's miserable season continues, unable to resolve the "underlying signal problems on his engine" the Briton will not take part in this session. A new gearbox for Raikkonen means the Finn takes a five-place hit.
The lights go green and Verstappen leads the way, Hamilton and Rosberg also among the first to get to work.
Whilst Verstappen posts the first time of the afternoon (23.680), the TV director, unsurprisingly, only has eyes for Perez.
Nasr goes quickest and teammate Ericsson second, the Sauber pair already on the soft rubber.
Bottas goes quickest (22.622) and Perez second (22.934), the Mexican subsequently demoted by Verstappen (22.671).
A 21.397 sees Hamilton go quickest, with teammate Rosberg posting 21.618 moments later.
As Ericsson improves to third with a 22.222, Rosberg improves to 21.140, just a smidgeon off his best in FP3.
The Mercedes duo trade fastest sectors as Ricciardo posts 22.168 to go fourth.
Hamilton posts 20.995 to go quickest, as the Ferrari duo head down the pitlane, both are on softs. Raikkonen thanks his crew for its work on his car during the break.
Another improvement from, Hamilton, the world champion stopping the clock at 20.808.
Despite a lock-up at T13, Bottas goes third with a 21.296. Moments later he is demoted when Ricciardo goes third.
On his first lap, Vettel posts a lowly 25.163 whilst Raikkonen posts 21.962. Having gone fifth, Kvyat (softs) posts 21.127 to go second.
Raikkonen complains that his brake pedal is soft as Rosberg heads out on a set of softs.
Rossi runs wide at T5 bringing out the yellows, albeit momentarily.
Going quickest in the final two sectors, Vettel goes quickest overall with a 20.503.
Massa, Alonso and the Manor duo comprise the drop zone with four minutes remaining. Hulkenberg and, shock-horror, Perez hovering just above.
The only driver yet to use the soft rubber, Hamilton asks what the cut-off will be and whether he needs to run again.
Massa improves to twelfth (21.444) as Rosberg goes quickest in S1. The German subsequently posts 20.436 to demote Vettel.
Verstappen complains that Kvyat held him yup in the first three corners.
Maldonado fails to improve on fourteenth, whilst teammate Grosjean also fails to improve, on fifteenth, nonetheless, both survive to battle it out in Q2.
Rosberg is quickest, ahead of Vettel, Hamilton, Bottas, Kvyat, Sainz, Perez, Verstappen, Ricciardo and Ericsson.
We lose Alonso, Nasr, Rossi, Stevens and, of course, Button.
"Hamilton was the only driver to get through Q1 using only the medium tyre," confirms Pirelli.
Q2 gets underway, and while Verstappen leads the way, the Mercedes pair are among the first out. All bar Raikkonen are on the softer rubber.
Verstappen posts 21.184 but is almost instantly demoted by Ricciardo and then Hamilton (20.129).
Raikkonen is performing a practice start, still on those primes, amidst claims that he won't bother posting a time in this session.
As Rosberg goes quickest in S1, Kvyat (2.694) goes second overall.
Hamilton raises the bar with a 19.829 as Rosberg slots into second with a 20.053, the pair separated by just 0.224.
Bottas goes fifth as Vettel, Sainz and Ericsson remain the only drivers yet to make an appearance.
Kvyat improves to 20.490 but remains third.
Having posted 22.494 to go 12th, Raikkonen spins at T1, though it's not clear why. The Finn subsequently blames a brake issue.
Sainz posts 20.942 to go eighth as Vettel prepares to set his first time of Q2. The German is quickest overall in S2, finally crossing the line at 20.045 to go second. Elsewhere, teammate Raikkonen is out of his car and out of qualifying.
"Bad lap from me," admits Ericsson. "I agree," comes the response, "try and use the tyre grip in all areas."
Under two minutes remaining and Verstappen, Massa, Maldonado, Ericsson and Raikkonen comprise the drop zone.
"There are a few spots of rain," warns Hamilton.
Whilst Bottas improves to fourth, Massa fails to improve and looks to have missed the cut.
A late charge sees Verstappen go eighth thereby dropping his teammate into the drop zone.
Massa digs deep and posts 20.642 at the death, brilliant effort from the veteran Brazilian.
Hamilton is quickest, ahead of Vettel, Rosberg, Bottas, Kvyat, Massa, Perez, Ricciardo, Verstappen and Hulkenberg.
We lose Sainz, who missed out by just 0.007s, Grosjean, Maldonado, Ericsson and Raikkonen.
Maybe with an eye on the weather, Hamilton is sitting, waiting at the end of the pitlane for the start of Q3. Teammate Rosberg is right behind.
Soon all bar the Force India duo are on track, Perez hoping the crowd will give him the sort of boost Mansell used to enjoy at Silverstone.
Hamilton posts 20.120, the Briton making a mistake as he enters the stadium. Moments later Rosberg posts 19.690.
Kvyat goes third and Verstappen fourth, as Ricciardo slips into fifth. Vettel can only manage seventh (24.317).
Hamilton improves with a 19.668 but again Rosberg is quicker (19.480), as Bottas and Massa go third and fourth.
Vettel splits the Mercedes and Williams party with a 19.850 to go third. The top five covered by just 1.087.
Kvyat goes fourth with a 20.398 as Vettel pits, the German not following Mercedes example and going for a second fast lap.
"As track evolution is still ongoing, the fastest times are likely to be right at the end of the session," says Pirelli, "provided the weather stays dry."
With just under four minutes remaining, Hamilton heads out for his final run, however, crowd interest is further along the pitlane as Perez heads out of his garage for his sole run.
Ricciardo improves to fifth, one-thousandth of a second slower than his Red Bull teammate.
On their first lap neither Rosberg nor Hamilton look like improving. Both appear to be saving it all for the second lap.
Hulkenberg can only manage ninth, whilst Kvyat posts PBs in the first two sectors.
Nobody is improving, only Perez, who leapfrogs his teammate to take ninth.
"I tried everything," sighs Vettel, I had to take more risks, the car was just sliding about."
It's a bit of an anti-climax as nobody improves, Rosberg taking pole ahead of Hamilton, Vettel, Kvyat, Ricciardo, Bottas, Massa, Verstappen, Perez and Hulkenberg.
Sainz is eleventh, ahead of Grosjean, Maldonado, Ericsson, Raikkonen, Alonso, Nasr, Rossi, Stevens and Button.
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