02/07/2016
NEWS STORY
It's fair to say that even though we've only had three practice sessions thus far, the Austrian Grand Prix weekend has already provided more incidents and talking points than a number of previous races combined.
Even before the possible intervention of the weather gods, who are thought to be considering playing their hand either late this afternoon or tomorrow, we have Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel hit with grid penalties.
The Ferrari driver gets his penalty after Ferrari opted to change his gearbox after finding iron filings within it, even though he successfully completed the race in Baku with it.
Rosberg's penalty is also for a gearbox change, the German having damaged his original unit in the crash following his suspension failure earlier.
As it happens, Rosberg was the pace-setter in both session yesterday, while Vettel was the man to beat earlier.
Kimi Raikkonen has been looking good all weekend and was second quickest this morning, whilst Lewis Hamilton, who was advised not to run as the team investigated Rosberg's incident, ended the morning third quickest, only marginally off Vettel's pace.
The Red Bulls of Ricciardo and Verstappen were next up behind the Ferraris and Hamilton, followed by the Williams duo, with force India and McLaren effectively completing the top ten.
It's fair to say that everyone has been off at some point or another, therefore, weather gods or not, we can expect plenty of surprises and errors over the next hour and tomorrow.
Ahead of Q1, the air temperature is 26 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 50 degrees. It's even warmer than earlier, and therefore we are likely to see a bit more pain for some teams.
Understandably, the Mercedes crew have been working throughout the break to ensure that Rosberg gets out, even some of Hamilton's mechanics helped out. Incidentally, Mercedes has strengthened the rear suspension on the Briton's car as a precaution.
The lights go green and Palmer leads the way, followed by Magnussen, Wehrlein, Sainz, Haryanto and Ericsson. All are on the ultrasoft rubber.
Palmer posts 9.156 but this is instantly beaten by Wehrlein, Sainz and then Magnussen who crosses the line at 8.600.
Hamilton goes top with a 7.014 as Perez (7.657) goes second. Moments later Hulkenberg goes third.
As Sainz, who missed much of this morning's session with an overheating issue, necessitating an engine change, posts 8.104 to go sixth, Rosberg climbs into his car.
"I've had a suspension failure," warns Perez , who has dropped to sixth. Indeed, it's an upper wishbone failure.
Hamilton improves to 6.947 as Vettel goes second with a 7.030.
Rosberg is on track... superb work by the Mercedes crew.
Supreme effort from Rosberg who immediately goes quickest with a 6.690.
Verstappen goes fourth (7.131, ahead of Bottas and Raikkonen, as Sainz hovers above the drop zone, which is inhabited by teammate Kvyat, Grosjean, Ericsson, Wehrlein, Nasr and Haryanto.
With most of the field opting not to run again, Perez could be safe. The Mexican is currently 11th as the team work on his suspension.
A magnificent effort from Wehrlein sees the German go ninth with a 7.565.
A big crash for Kvyat in the final corner after the Russian ran wide. "I'm sorry guys," he sighs. "I crashed".
Red Flag.
Replay suggests it was not driver error but yet another suspension failure, the right-rear. The Russian did run wide, hitting the notorious kerbs with his left-rear, but was that due to the problem on the other side of the car.
Of course, this means that for the first time a Manor looks to have made it through to Q2.
"Pit to Alonso: We're going to get ready to queue," warns McLaren. "There is time for a lap but we'd have to be ready." Indeed, when the session re-starts (there wil be just 1:44 remaining.
Hulkenberg heads the queue at the end of the pitlane, as the circuit has clouded over.
Game on, the lights go green and Hulkenberg is followed by Palmer, Magnussen, Haryanto, Alonso, Wehrlein, Button, Ericsson, Nasr, Grosjean and Gutierrez.
At which point Sainz stops on track shortly after leaving the pits... his engine having detonated.
Realising they are out of time, a couple drivers back off, among them the Haas duo.
Hulkenberg improves to seventh with a 7.385, he is the only driver to improve, Magnussen marginally missing the cut with his 7.941.
Quickest was Rosberg, ahead of Vettel, Hamilton, Verstappen, Bottas, Raikkonen, Hulkenberg, Massa, Ricciardo and Wehrlein.
We lose Magnussen, Palmer, Haryanto, Kvyat, Ericsson and Nasr.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.
As if the suspension issue wasn't enough, our friends are about to make an appearance. "There is a risk of rain on this run," Rosberg is warned.
As the drivers head out, the stewards reveal that Hulkenberg is under investigation for failing to slow for the yellow flags in Q1.
"Rain in eight minutes," Raikkonen is told.
Rosberg gets things underway with s 6.403 but this is beaten by Hamilton who posts 6.228.
Both Ferraris, and Wehrlein, on supersofts, whereas everyone else is on ultrasoft.
Ricciardo goes third, ahead of Bottas, Raikkonen and Verstappen.
A 6.602 sees Vettel go third, Ferrari seemingly having played an ace here.
McLaren advise Alonso that there are sports of rain falling. "Let's see what we can do with this lap," he is told. "No rain on the circuit," he replies. "Not even clouds, should be OK."
Reacting to Ferrari's move, Red Bull sends out Ricciardo and Verstappen on the supersofts. Both drivers will need to beat the times posted on the ultras.
Which is exactly what Verstappen does, posting 6.866 to go fifth, whilst Ricciardo also improves, the Australian banging in a 6.840.
"I have some rain," warns Raikkonen, the Finn currently seventh.
With 5:05 remaining, Hamilton heads out on the supersofts... but with an eye on the sky have they left it too late to react.
Though Hamilton posts a PB in s1 the rain is visible and in the second sector he's 10s down.
As the rain increases in intensity, Hamilton is quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Vettel, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Bottas, Raikkonen, Massa, Hulkenberg and Button.
We lose Gutierrez, Wehrlein, Grosjean, Alonso, Sainz and Perez.
All but Verstappen head out, all on inters, though the Red Bull driver also finally joins them.
Vettel posts 20.798 as Raikkonen goes off at T1. ""It's quite wet turn 2 to 3," advises Vettel.
Hamilton goes second (21.294), ahead of Ricciardo, Bottas and Hulkenberg.
Raikkonen takes pole with a 20.593, but this eclipsed by Hamilton and then Rosberg, the German posting 19.548.
A 19.217 sees Ricciardo go quickest as a dry line begins to appear. With 6:00 remaining, will someone take the big gamble and switch to slicks?
Hulkenberg goes quickest with a 18.125 but again Ricciardo has something in reserve, the Red Bull driver posting 17.364.
No sooner has Rosberg gone quickest than Hamilton leapfrogs him, with Button posting 16.536 to go second.
With 3:50 remaining, Hulkenberg makes the switch to ultrasofts, asked of he feels it is time, Rosberg says: "Negative, negative".
However, more and more drivers follow Hulkenberg's example and switch to ultras.
Hulkenberg goes quickest in S1 and posts a PB in S2. Elsewhere a minor off for Bottas.
Hulkenberg goes quickest with a 14.996 however, Hamilton and Rosberg are on hot laps.
Massa goes quickest with a 14.966 only to be toppled by Raikkonen and then Hamilton.
Hulkenberg improves and takes provisional pole with a 10.716, ahead of Rosberg and Hamilton.
All have time for one more lap.
Hamilton posts purples in the first two sectors, as Vettel goes quickest overall with a 9.781.
Hamilton posts 7.922 as Hulkenberg takes second only to be demoted when Rosberg posts 8.465 to go second.
Phew!
So, Hamilton takes pole, ahead of Rosberg, Hulkenberg, Vettel, Button, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Bottas, Verstappen and Massa.
Gutierrez will start eleventh, ahead of Wehrlein, Grosjean, Alonso, Sainz, Perez, Magnussen, Palmer, Haryanto, Kvyat, Ericsson and Nasr.
The grid penalties however, mean that Hulkenberg will start alongside Hamilton, providing he doesn't get a penalty of his own for that yellow flag incident, whilst Button will start third.
If race day proves to be even half as incident-filled as the preceding sessions, we could be in for a classic. Fingers crossed.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.