17/04/2009
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's second free practice session, the air temperature is 19 degrees C, and the track temperature is 34 degrees. Although still cool, it remains bright and sunny.
Lewis Hamilton was quickest this morning, the Englishman running an interim diffuser together with an all-new front wing. Many of the drivers were suffering from graining, the most noticeable being Felipe Massa, who finished down in fifteenth, 1.084s off the pace.
Renault is scheduled to use a new diffuser this weekend, but it wasn't used this morning, while Robert Kubica is using KERS for the first time in anger, just as Ferrari decides to drop the controversial device.
Glock leads the way when the lights go green, followed by Bourdais, Rosberg and Buemi. The Toyota driver posts the first time of the afternoon, crossing the line at 39.871. Shortly afterwards, Trulli and Alonso both go quicker, the Spaniard posting 38.923.
Within eight minutes there are thirteen names on the timesheets, with Sutil topping the list ahead of Vettel, Nakajima and Alonso.
No sooner has Nakajima improves to take the top spot with a 37.964, than Bourdais crosses the line at 37.852.
Thirteen minutes into the session, all but Hamilton and Heidfeld have been out. Buemi goes quickest with a 37.702.
Nakajima goes quickest with a 7.690, but is soon demoted by teammate Rosberg, who crosses the line at 37.464. Elsewhere, Hamilton leaves the pits leaving Heidfeld as the only 'no show' thus far.
Thus far, we've seen little of the super-softs today, other than during the installation laps at the beginning of the first session. It is claimed by some that the super-softs will only be good for around 6 laps.
Trulli goes quickest with a 36.684, the Italian having lost track time this morning with an electrics problem. Next time around the Toyota driver improves to 36.361. Elsewhere, a big lock-up for Kubica who is still getting used to KERS.
Heidfeld is on track, going tenth at the first attempt with an impressive 38.014. Teammate Kubica is down in twentieth 3.082s off Trulli's pace.
The Red Bulls show their mettle, Webber (36.179) goes quickest and Vettel fourth, as the Milton Keynes outfit continues to impress. Moments later, the German ousts his Australian teammate from the top spot with a 36.167.
Hamilton moves up to seventh with a 36.941, while his teammate remains down in seventeenth, along with the Ferrari duo, the Renault duo and the BMWs.
Approaching half-time, the time sheet is almost like a reverse grid, with Ferrari, BMW and Renault at the back and the Red Bulls leading the Toyotas, Williams, Force Indias and Toro Rossos.
Trulli, on the super-softs which we will hereafter refer to as softs, goes quickest in the second sector but ultimately fails to improve. Bourdais, also on softs, also fails to improve, and like Trulli loses the most time in the final sector.
Kovalainen has been given the new front wing, however, he is still using the old 'normal' diffuser.
Fisichella makes good use of the Shanghai run-offs, having a spin shortly after. The Roman is currently thirteenth, while his teammate is seventh. There is talk that Fisichella's seat is in question, while Force India test driver Tonio Liuzzi keeping sharp by representing Italy in A1GP.
Rosberg (softs) goes quickest in the second sector, moving up to fourth overall with a 36.355. Heidfeld, also on softs, fails to improve and remains sixteenth. Elsewhere, Sutil follows his teammate's example and takes a trip off into the Chinese countryside.
It's, Vettel, Webber, Trulli, Rosberg, Glock, Nakajima, Bourdais, Sutil, Hamilton and Buemi.
Massa is on track on softs, the Brazilian improving to ninth, behind Sutil. Elsewhere, Barrichello, also on the softs, goes quickest with a 35.995. The Brawn driver was quickest in the final sector, a further indication of just how superior this car is, and that its strength isn't limited to its diffuser.
Next time around the Brazilian veteran is quickest in all three sectors, raising the benchmark with a 35.881. Meanwhile, Button takes second with a 36.059. These cars are awesome, the opposition has good reason to be fearful.
With twenty-five minutes remaining, and no significant improvements, Trulli is the busiest driver having completed 31 laps, with Rosberg, Glock, Massa and Piquet all having done 28 laps, and Raikkonen, Buemi and Kubica all on 25.
Kubica, currently fifteenth, tells his crew that when the graining starts it is very aggressive. Elsewhere, Massa, like Button a short while ago, is clearly suffering damage to his left-front which is shedding rubber.
With fifteen minutes remaining, Barrichello continues to lead the way with Piquet at the other end of the timesheets, the field covered by 2.272s.
As Button goes quickest in the first sector, Raikkonen goes ludicrously wide kicking up a great cloud of dust.
Rosberg (softs) goes quickest in the second sector, however, a weak final sector means he only improves by one place to fifth.
Button takes the top spot with a 35.679 having gone quickest in the final sector.
A 36.065 sees Rosberg (softs) move up to third, the German immediately going quickest overall in the first sector of his subsequent lap. The German maintains the pace in the second sector, finally crossing the line at 35.704 to go second, splitting the Brawns.
A 36.674 sees Kovalainen improve from twentieth to ninth, as Webber leapfrogs his Red Bull teammate with a 36.105.
Another spin for Sutil, as Massa posts a personal best in sector two. Next time around, a poor final sector sees the Ferrari driver fail to improve on twelfth.
The session ends with Button quickest ahead of Rosberg, Barrichello, Webber, Vettel, Trulli, Nakajima, Glock, Kovalainen and Bourdais.
Sutil finished eleventh, ahead of Massa, Hamilton, Raikkonen, Buemi, Piquet, Kubica, Heidfeld, Alonso and Fisichella.