19/03/2016
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's sole practice session, the air temperature is 20 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 30 degrees. Unfortunately, there has been further rain earlier and the track remains damp in places, but we are expecting much improved conditions later for qualifying... so no need for those poor boys queuing at theF1 supermarket to get wet.
Hopefully, though there is a 40% chance of rain, it won't return, allowing us to get our first real insight into the pecking order before we witness the new qualifying format for the first time.
Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets in both of yesterday's sessions, but in all honesty, we learned very little. On the other hand, Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg clouted the wall, for which he apologised profusely.
Just to remind you, this year drivers have three tyre compounds available, medium, soft and supersoft, though we haven't seen the supersoft yet. Indeed, we only saw the softs in FP1, FP" having been run almost entirely on wets and inters.
As the lights go green the track appears to have dried, courtesy of the sun, which is finally breaking through, and the strong winds.
With little meaningful running yesterday, we are expecting it to be very busy today.
Whilst Palmer is waiting at the end of the pitlane, Raikkonen is first out. Further back, Haryanto and Grosjean have collided in the pitlane. Nothing major, but insurance details will be exchanged.
Replay shows Haryanto pulling out into the path of the Haas, nobody appearing to guide the Indonesian driver who was unsighted, and therefore personally blameless. Other than for a slow get away.
Drivers are warned of debris in the pitlane.
As the two cars are pushed back into the garages, there are already 15 other drivers on track... and all opt to remain there as opposed to heading back to their garages.
Nasr post a 1:31.910, but this is soon beaten by Verstappen and then Hulkenberg (31.196). Moments later, Perez posts 31.192.
Damage to the Manor worse than first thought, so it might be a while before we see Haryanto again. Sadly, same pretty much goes for Grosjean's Haas.
It fast and frantic, Kvyat goes quickest (28.510), ahead of Rosberg and Hamilton, the Russian and Mercedes duo on the supersoft.
As Kvyat looks set to improve, teammate Ricciardo posts 28.242, only to lose out when the Russian bangs in a 28.231. Elsewhere, a spin for Perez at T15, just moments after Alonso spun at the same corner.
Vettel improves to third with a 30.450 as replay shows Perez lost it after running a wheel on to the grass... much like he did yesterday.
As drivers return to their garages, the first wave over, it's: Ricciardo (27.733), Kvyat, Vettel, Rosberg, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Perez, Wehrlein, Sainz and Raikkonen.
The pace and determination to get in as many laps as possible, is no doubt linked to the new qualifying format, and not simply because of yesterday's lack of productive running.
Being around 3s off the pace suggests that the Mercedes duo are on high fuel as opposed to having lost their edge. Interestingly, Vettel, who is third-quickest, is the fastest runner on softs.
Twenty minute into the session, all but Grosjean have posted a time.
Out come the yellows when Rosberg locking up and having to take to the escape road at T13 to avoid a slow Magnussen. Indeed, the Dane heads up the escape road also.
"Front tyres are a big problem," warns Massa. No such problems for Raikkonen (soft) who goes quickest with a 27.560.
Having gone quickest in S3, Vettel takes the top spot with a 26.911, as Raikkonen improves to 27.186. Moments later however, a 26.768 sees Ricciardo take the top spot on the supersofts.
"With a new floor and front wing, Grosjean exits the garage with 31 mins left in #FP3," tweets Haas. "Strong work by the crew." Indeed. Teammate Gutierrez is currently 18th (32.224).
At 'half-time', it's: Ricciardo, Vettel, Raikkonen, Kvyat, Button, Rosberg, Hamilton, Wehrlein, Hulkenberg and Perez. Those ten covered by 4.2s.
Button improves to fifth on the supersofts (28.000).
Rosberg, now on softs, is on a low fuel run, consequently no surprises when he goes quickest in all three sectors, crossing the line at 26.149, 0.762s quicker than Vettel who was also on softs and 0.619s quicker than Ricciardo's best on supers.
A big lock-up for Grosjean at T1, the Frenchman having just gone a very impressive eighth (28.394) albeit on the supers. Haas teammate Gutierrez is seventh (28.284).
Posting PBs in all three sectors, Alonso (supers) goes seventh, just ahead of his McLaren teammate. Moments later, both are demoted when Massa posts 27.777 to go sixth.
Hamilton (softs) goes second (26.477), having posted PBs in all three sectors.
"Again the DRS," complains Ericsson, who is clearly having issues. As Nasr locks-up and runs wide over the grass at T1, Sauber is clearly not having the best of mornings.
Sainz goes sixth and Verstappen seventh, both on the super.
Vettel, on supers, goes quickest in the first two sectors, and despite a late lock-up at T15 posts 25.852 to go quickest. He's 0.297 quicker than Rosberg, albeit on supers, but then there was the lock-up. Questions, questions.
With ten minutes remaining, more and more drivers pour on to the track, attention now fully focussed on this afternoon.
Hamilton, on cue, goes quickest in S1. He can only manage a PB in S2, finally crossing the line at 25.624 to go quickest. Teammate Rosberg drops to second (25.800), having been quickest in S3.
The top three, Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel, covered by just 0.228s. fourth-placed Raikkonen is 0.811s off the pace.
Bottas goes fifth (26.730) and Massa eighth (27.151) as Williams ups its pace.
Alonso improves to tenth (27.263) and Button twelfth (27.431), as McLaren looks to have taken a significant step forward, certainly compared to 2015.
A late improvement for Magnussen who posts 27.871 to go fifteenth.
Verstappen (sixth) and Magnussen (fifteenth), covered by just one second.
Palmer takes a trip through the gravel at T6.
Sainz improves to fourth (26.257), just 0.633s down on Hamilton and ahead of Raikkonen.
The session ends, Hamilton is quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Vettel, Sainz, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Bottas, Ricciardo, Massa and Perez.
Alonso is eleventh, ahead of Button, Kvyat, Ericsson, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Palmer, Gutierrez, Grosjean, Nasr, Wehrlein and Haryanto.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.