14/11/2015
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's qualifying session the air temperature is 29 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 47 degrees. It remains bright and sunny, a far cry from what was predicted and a lot warmer than yesterday's practice session which took place at the same time of day.
Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets in this morning's final practice session, however it was not the smoothest of morning's the Briton suffering a gearbox issue on his first run and then spinning off on a later run.
Teammate Nico Rosberg was second, and whilst (third-placed) Sebastian Vettel was 0.690s off Hamilton's pace, the next nine drivers are covered by around a second.
Red Bull had a difficult morning, Ricciardo, who takes a ten-place grid penalty after his team opted to run him with the upgraded Renault engine, seemingly looking ahead to the race as opposed to qualifying. Teammate Daniil Kvyat, who does not yet have the upgraded engine, was a lowly thirteenth quickest.
Valtteri Bottas was fourth fastest but the Finn also has a grid penalty (3 places) following a red flag infringement in FP2, while teammate Felipe Massa, a two-time winner here, is really struggling.
Indeed Force India was looking good in today's session, with Romain Grosjean giving another bravura performance.
Tyres this weekend are medium (prime) and soft (option), with degradation proving to be an issue, as are the revised kerbs at a number of corners.
The lights go green but it is a couple of minutes before an engine breaks the silence that hangs over the pitlane... it is the Mercedes in the back of Hulkenberg's Force India. He is followed by teammate Perez.
More and drivers head out, though only the Toro Rosso duo are on the option rubber at this point. Whilst it is no surprise to see the Manors on the softer rubber it is a shock to see Rosberg and Hamilton on the yellow-banded tyres.
Hulkenberg gets things underway with a 13.824, Kvyat going second and Perez third.
No sooner has Massa posted 13.369 than Verstappen bangs in a 13.107 and Bottas (primes) a 12.934.
Rosberg (options) raises the stakes with an 11.746, the first man to break the 1:11s barrier thus far this weekend. Moments later Hamilton ups the ante with an 11.682, 1.252s quicker than third-placed Bottas.
Oh dear, Alonso is told to "stop immediately, stop immediately", he duly obliges, pulling the McLaren off to the side of the track and bringing out the yellow flags. For the second successive race weekend, Alonso has failed to post a time in Q1.
Before the tallow flag, Raikkonen posted 13.103 to go fourth, whilst Vettel could only manage ninth (13.518).
"Medium is expected to be the main race tyre here, so drivers will probably try and save some sets of those for tomorrow," tweets Pirelli, explaining Mercedes decision to run the options so early on in the session.
As Grosjean and Maldonado prepare to post their first ties of the afternoon, the cameras pick up on Alonso sitting on a marshal's chair watching the action, the Spaniard turns and winks at the camera. Superb.
Grosjean posts 13.056 to go fifth with his teammate only managing ninth. However, such is the frantic activity in no time at all Grosjean has slipped down to ninth.
Raikkonen goes third and Vettel fourth as Massa loses precious time behind countryman Nasr. The Williams driver can only manage 14th (13.290).
A late improvement for Ericsson is bad news for Maldonado, the Lotus driver demoted to 16th.
Hamilton is quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Raikkonen, Vettel, Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Verstappen, Bottas and Massa.
We lose Maldonado, Button, Rossi, Stevens and Alonso who is still enjoying the sun - yes, you read that right by the side of the track.
The stewards announce that they will investigate the Massa/Nasr incident after the session.
The lights go green signalling the start of Q2 and shortly after Rosberg heads out, followed by Hamilton, both still on the softer rubber.
As the Mercedes duo begin their flying laps they are joined by Bottas, but nobody else appears that eager to join them.
Rosberg posts 12.213 but moments later Hamilton bangs in an 11.665. As Massa heads down the pitlane, teammate Bottas posts 12.661.
The cameras pick up on Button and Alonso climbing on to the podium... much to the delight of the crowd.
As Massa posts a very disappointing 13.781, most of his rivals finally get to work.
Initially Mercedes wants Rosberg to go for another lap, but when he queries the call they opt to bring him in. With Hamilton having already settled for his time the German will want to save his tyres for this is the set he will start the race with.
Hulkenberg goes third (12.503), as Perez goes fifth, ahead of Sainz, Nasr and Massa.
Ericsson goes seventh with a 13.636 as Massa slips further and further down the timesheets.
With 5:15 remaining the Ferrari duo head down the pitlane. Ricciardo follows, leaving Grosjean as the only 'no show'.
As the Ferraris begin their flying laps, Grosjean finally emerges from his garage.
An 11.928 sees Vettel split the Mercedes, with Raikkonen going fourth (12.243) moments later and Ricciardo seventh (12.825) despite a major wobble in T12.
A mistake sees Grosjean spin off at T7, he gets going again but will he have time to complete another lap.
A late improvement sees Massa go eighth (12.858), as Grosjean begins another flying lap. The Frenchman can only manage 15th (13.913).
As Perez fails to make the cut all eyes are on Sainz who might yet demote local hero Massa. The Spaniard improves his time but can only manage 12th (13.045).
Hamilton is quickest, ahead of Vettel, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Bottas, Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Verstappen, Ricciardo and Massa.
We lose Nasr, Sainz, Perez, Ericsson and Grosjean.
"Interestingly, some drivers have reported variable grip due to differences between old and new asphalt: another factor affecting lap times," reports Pirelli.
Before the start of Q3, Grosjean walks along the pitlane, looking enviously into the Mercedes garage.
The lights go green for Q3 and again Rosberg is first out. Shortly after, teammate Hamilton heads out. Indeed, as in Q2, Bottas is third man out.
As Rosberg begins his flying lap, the Ferraris come out to play.
Rosberg posts an impressive 11.461, the quickest lap we've seen so far this weekend. Moments later, Hamilton posts 11.549, a mere 0.088s off the pace.
Replay shows Hamilton locking up but even so Rosberg's lap was sublime.
Hulkenberg goes third but is soon demoted by Bottas who crosses the line at 12.224.
Vettel posts 12.079 to go third, despite a lock-up in T10, while teammate Raikkonen goes fifth with a 12.267.
Ricciardo goes sixth and Massa seventh, the Brazilian half-a-second slower than his Williams teammate.
As the drivers head back to the pits Verstappen looks to be opting for a sole run.
Last out for the final assault is Ricciardo, the Australian, currently sixth, facing that ten-place grid drop.
A lock-up, albeit minor for Bottas in T1, as Rosberg goes quickest in S1.
Lots of PBs in S1 but not for Hamilton who is struggling.
Again, Rosberg is quickest in S2, maintaining his pace into S3, crossing the line at 11.282.
Bottas improves to fourth (12.085), and whilst Hamilton also improves, going quickest in S3, he cannot eclipse his teammate.
Rosberg takes pole, his fifth successive pole, ahead of Hamilton, Vettel, Bottas, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Massa, Ricciardo and Verstappen.
Nasr is eleventh, ahead of Sainz, Perez, Ericsson, Grosjean, Maldonado, Button, Rossi, Stevens and Alonso.
An impressive performance from Rosberg, indeed, a very impressive performance from Rosberg, the German clearly on a roll at present... more's the pity that we didn't witness this earlier in the season.
With the weather gods still threatening to make an appearance we could be in for a classic tomorrow as Rosberg looks to build on his Mexican wave and teammate Hamilton seeks to put him in his place.
Then, of course, there's the fact that those deadly Finns, Raikkonen starting just ahead of Bottas who will be fired up following that grid penalty, not forgetting Ricciardo starting from down in nineteenth.
Should be a good 'un.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.