22/06/2024
NEWS STORY
Ahead of Q1, the air temperature is 24 degrees, while the track temperature is 384 degrees. It remains bright but with a lot of cloud and is still quite windy.
FP3, like the previous sessions, was tight, very tight. Indeed, the top six were covered by just 0.346.
Clearly, Mercedes has taken a step forward - despite being one of the few teams with no upgrades this weekend - to join McLaren and Ferrari in taking the fight to Red Bull.
Now, not being the gambling type, we wouldn't put our money where our mouth is, but despite everything we have this overwhelming feeling that Max Verstappen is keeping his powder dry and has yet to show his hand.
The closeness of the times suggests that we are in for a thrilling time in each phase of qualifying, however in the same way that the leaders will be separated by mere thousandths of a second, this will likely be the case for those that fall by the wayside.
Consequently, not only will it be vital to get lap at the right time, it is imperative that there are no mistakes and hopefully no traffic. Unfortunately traffic is always a problem here, while the strong winds today - as witnessed this morning - will lead to mistakes.
Charles Leclerc and Lance Stroll have both been summoned by the stewards, but it is unclear yet whether either of them are to be penalised following incidents earlier.
There are two local heroes in action this weekend, and while Fernando Alonso is unlikely to spring any surprises, this morning's pace-setter, Carlos Sainz, could give the fans something to cheer for.
Ahead of the green light, the stewards confirm a reprimand for Stroll and also for Leclerc, a surprisingly lenient decision in our opinion as both deliberately drove into rivals.
The lights go green and Sargeant leads the way, followed by Zhou, Ricciardo, Tsunoda and Stroll.
Sargeant posts an early benchmark, a 14.301, while Zhou posts a 14.334.
A 13.771 sees Ricciardo go top, while his teammate crosses the line at 14.046.
Stroll splits the RBs with a 14.038.
As the Canadian crosses the line there is much activity in the pitlane as Perez, Sainz, Norris, Leclerc, Verstappen and Hamilton head out.
The crowd cheers Sainz as he heads out.
Perez goes quickest with a 13.090 while Albon goes second with a 13.398.
Quickest in the two final sectors, Red Bull stops the clock at 12.306, while Piastri responds with a 13.040.
Hamilton goes second with a 13.033 but is demoted by Norris (12.386).
Alonso goes sixth (13.143), as Sainz and Leclerc trade fastest sectors. Leclerc posts a 12.257 and his teammate a 12.403.
Hulkenberg goes seventh with a 13.014, Gasly sixth (13.011) and Russell fifth (12.456).
Sargeant has been noted for impeding Stroll.
After the first wave, Albon, Tsunoda, Zhou, Magnussen and Sargeant comprise the drop zone, with Ricciardo, Ocon and Stroll hovering.
"I don't think I can improve on this set of tyres," admits Russell.
Sargeant will be investigated after the session.
Albon improves to twelfth with a 13.153, but is it enough?
With the top four settling for their times, the remaining 16 drivers are on track.
Perez goes sixth (12.477), while Bottas goes seventh and Zhou eighth.
Ocon goes seventh, Magnussen tenth, and Piastri sixth.
Hamilton goes quickest in S2, finally crossing the line at 12.143 to go top.
Ricciardo remains 15th, while Alonso goes ninth and Gasly tenth.
Stroll goes 14th, while Tsunoda can only manage 16th.
Hulkenberg goes 12th thereby demoting his teammate to the drop zone.
Quickest is Hamilton, ahead of Leclerc, Verstappen, Norris, Sainz, Russell, Piastri, Perez, Alonso and Gasly.
We lose Magnussen, Tsunoda, Ricciardo, Albon and Sargeant... that's both RBs and both Williams.
Unhappy with his performance, Tsunoda is even unhappier to learn that he failed to make the cut, the Japanese only 0.842s off Hamilton's pace.
Q2 gets underway, but only Stroll appears interested.
The Canadian crosses the line at 13.630, at which point Ocon, Perez, Alonso, Gasly and Hulkenberg head out.
As the cars are released in a staggered formation to minimise traffic, it is almost a minute before Russell is allowed out on track.
Gasly goes quickest (12.182), ahead of Perez, Hulkenberg and Ocon.
Bottas goes fifth, ahead of Alonso and Stroll.
A 12.038 sees Leclerc go top, but Piastri responds with a 12.011 and Sainz with an 11.874.
Norris stops the clock at 11.872, but Verstappen has an 11.653 up his sleeve.
Hamilton - on used rubber - can only manage 13th (12.666), while Russell - on fresh rubber - goes sixth, 0.461s off the pace.
"This tyre was bad," says Hamilton as Stroll heads out for his second flyer.
The Canadian improves to 12.372 but remains tenth, right on the cusp.
While Leclerc appears to have settled, Piastri heads out.
Hamilton, currently 14th, begins his final flyer. He posts a PB in S1, and another in the second sector. At the line it's 11.792 which puts him second.
Bottas goes ninth, while Ocon goes seventh.
Russell goes quickest in S1 as Hulkenberg remains 12th.
Gasly goes eighth and Perez seventh, while Alonso can only manage 11th.
An 11.812 puts Russell third.
Verstappen is quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Russell, Norris, Sainz, Piastri, Leclerc, Perez, Gasly and Ocon.
We lose Alonso, Bottas, Hulkenberg, Stroll and Zhou. The top 14 were covered by 0.719, the top 11 by 0.475.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Barcelona here.
Perez is first out, the Mexican on used tyres. He is subsequently followed by Verstappen, Ocon, Sainz, Piastri and Gasly.
Well, according to the timing screen Leclerc is on full wets, so good luck with that mate.
Perez posts a benchmark 13.061.
Verstappen and Sainz trade fastest sectors.
The Dutchman crosses the line at 11.673, having given Leclerc a tow as he began his flyer.
Ocon goes second but is immediately leapfrogged by Sainz (11.915).
Piastri goes third with a 12.542 but is demoted when Norris bangs in an 11.796.
An 11.949 puts Leclerc fourth but he is demoted by Hamilton, who goes third, and Russell.
Piastri has his time deleted for exceeding track limits at Turn 10.
"What the **** was Lewis doing prepping that lap," asks Russell. "It's fine, we'll talk about it afterwards," he is told. The mob takes to social media.
As the field heads out for the final assault, the Mercedes pair are last out. Hamilton leading the way.
Setting a strong pace, Piastri runs wide in the final corner and as a result fails to post a time.
Sainz goes second with an 11.736, but he is demoted by his teammate who responds with an 11.731.
Verstappen raises the bar with an 11.403 however Norris is on a blinder.
Norris crosses the line at 11.383 to take provisional pole by 0.020s.
Hamilton goes third and Russell fourth, the top six covered by 0.353s, the Mercedes pair separated by 0.002s.
Norris takes pole, ahead of Verstappen, Hamilton, Russell, Leclerc, Sainz, Gasly, Perez, Ocon and Piastri.
Alonso is eleventh, ahead of Bottas, Hulkenberg, Stroll, Zhou, Magnussen, Tsunoda, Ricciardo, Albon and Sargeant.
"I'm really happy," says Hamilton. "It's been quite a difficult year but everyone back at the factory has worked so hard. Finally we are starting to see those steps moving closer to those guys ahead. Slowly, the car is crafting into a racing machine that we can use to fight the cars ahead."
"In qualifying it was all coming together a bit nicer," adds Verstappen, "in the practice sessions it was a bit difficult. In Q3 I got a nice tow from Checo to extract everything but it wasn't enough. It is definitely all to play for tomorrow."
"It was pretty much a perfect lap I think," grins Norris. "Close still, but super, super happy.
"I would say that was my best pole position," he adds. "My supporters here are amazing so a big thanks to everyone cheering me on.
"We've been quick the last two months, since Miami we've been very strong. I'm super happy to be on pole. I know it will be tough against Max, against Lewis but we are here to win now."
Indeed, it will be tough, for other than having Verstappen alongside him tomorrow, he has the Mercedes pair right behind and then the Ferraris.
Depending on how he handles it, that long, long run to Turn 1 tomorrow is going to be the longest ever or the shortest.
For once, some of the hyperbole the usual suspects are spouting almost makes sense.