23/10/2010
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's vital qualifying session, the air temperature is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 28 degrees. It remains cloudy but bright.
Robert Kubica was quickest in this morning's practice session, the Pole posting the fastest time of the weekend as the teams looked ahead to this afternoon.
Of the title challengers, while the McLaren duo look good - the MP4-25 clearly suited to this track - Webber and Alonso are right up there. It was a difficult morning for Sebastian Vettel, the German only completing 9 laps and finishing sixteenth almost 2.5s off the pace.
Whatever happens this afternoon, Petrov faces a five-place penalty following the start-line incident in Japan, while Rosberg could yet be punished following an incident with Fernando Alonso this morning.
Following concerns raised by a number of drivers modifications were carried out on the track overnight, mainly to Turns 16 and 18, but also the pitlane entry. However, with a 60% chance of rain tomorrow there is concern that the mixture of water and the oils in the newly laid asphalt could lead to fun and games.
With the circuit widely tipped as favourable for overtaking, particularly in the first sector, pole position here is not quite as vital as it is at some tracks, nonetheless, there is an advantage - if mainly psychological - to be had from starting from the front row. Not only do you fire a warning shot across the bows of your rivals, you also, hopefully, avoid the traditional shenanigans that occur in the middle of the pack at such a vital time.
Tyre options are hard (prime) and soft (option) and though there is a clear issue with graining, the option tyres appeared to hold up quite well for a couple of laps this morning.
Despite the length of the track, traffic is an issue here and it well cause problems this afternoon particularly in Q1.
When the lights go green Kovalainen is first out, with Petrov and Hulkenberg following shortly after. The Russian and the German still to confirm drives for next season.
Pretty soon all but Kubica, the McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull duos are all on track.
Kovalainen posts a 45.450 to get the session underway as Hamilton, Massa and Alonso head down the pitlane.
Petrov raises the benchmark with a 43.104 but this is quickly beaten by Kobayashi and then Alguersuari who crosses the line at 41.270. Schumacher raises the benchmark with a 40.557 as Petrov goes quickest in sectors one and two finally crossing the line at 39.762.
As the Red Bulls leave the pits, Alonso, who had been quickest in the first two sectors, has to back off, thereby ruining his lap. Nonetheless, he goes fifteenth with a 45.010.
On his first flying lap Hamilton goes quickest, the Englishman crossing the line at 38.677. Teammate Button and Kubica are still in the pits.
A 38.561 sees Kobayashi go quickest as Alonso improves to tenth with a 40.858.
Rosberg goes quickest, the Mercedes driver posting 38.178, only to be demoted by Massa and then Hamilton (37.517).
Alonso goes quickest in the first sector as Button finally leaves the pits. The Spaniard posts 37.395 to go quickest as Vettel goes fifth and Webber ninth.
A big spin for Glock at Turn 13, followed, moments later, by an equally spin for Kobayashi.
Vettel improves to second with a 37.487 as Button begins his first flying lap of the afternoon.
Hamilton re-takes the top spot with a 37.113 as Kubica finally leaves the pits - the Pole looking likely to have a fairly clear track. Vettel consolidates second with a 37.123 while Button can only manage fourteenth (39.408). Other than Kubica - who has yet to post a time - the usual suspects fill the drop zone.
Having gone quickest in the final sector, Webber improves to fourth overall while Button posts 38.631 to go tenth, one place ahead of Kubica.
Senna is on a hot lap, however, he is holding up Kubica who is also on a hot lap, albeit significantly hotter.
With 2:10 on the clock, all but Hamilton, Vettel, Webber and Massa are on track. Liuzzi, Sutil, Barrichello and the Toro Rossos just above the drop zone.
Alguersuari posts 38.583 to go eleventh, putting Sutil and his Force India teammate in danger of falling at the first hurdle. The German posts 38.572 to go fourteenth as Kubica improves to sixth.
Liuzzi fails to improve having had a poor final sector, therefore, for the fourth time this year, the Italian misses the cut along with Trulli, Glock, Kovalainen, di Grassi, Yamamoto and Senna.
Button tells his crew that he's really struggling for grip, the Englishman finishing Q1 in tenth over a second off his teammate's pace.
Quickest was Hamilton, ahead of Vettel, Alonso, Webber, Massa, Kubica, Rosberg, Schumacher, Hulkenberg and Button.
Alguersuari is first out for Q2, however, Massa is also keen to get back to work, as Vettel and Hamilton.
With the drivers now on low fuel and fresh soft rubber, it is thought we could see a best time of 1:35 in the phase.
Alguersuari posts 39.234 but this is soon beaten by Hulkenberg and then Vettel who posts 37.224.
No sooner has Schumacher gone second (37.396) than Alonso posts 37.096 to go quickest. Moments later, however, Massa posts a 36.672 to go top.
Vettel re-takes the top spot with a 36.457 as Webber goes quickest in S2. Hamilton (hard) goes fourth and Button (hard) ninth. Webber takes second with a 36.581 to make it a Red Bull 1-2 ahead of the Ferrari 3-4. The Sauber duo have yet to post times.
With 6:24 on the clock, Heidfeld finally leaves the pits. Moments later his teammate heads down the pitlane.
As the Sauber duo begin their first flying lap of Q2, the remaining drivers leave their garages.
Heidfeld posts 41.093 which leaves him sixteenth and in real danger of missing the cut, while Kobayashi posts 41.565.
Alonso takes the top spot with a 36.287, posting personal bests in all three sectors. Heidfeld improves to thirteenth and Button to seventh.
A 37.748 sees Kobayashi go tenth as Petrov runs wide and ruins his lap.
Massa posts 36.169 to go quickest as Hamilton goes quickest in S1. Vettel posts 36.074 while Hamilton goes third with a 36.197.
As the clock ticks down to 0:01, Webber posts 36.039 to take the top spot while Button improves to seventh and Schumacher eighth.
Hulkenberg misses the cut, as do Kobayashi, Heidfeld, Sutil, Petrov, Alguersuari and Buemi.
Webber is quickest, ahead of Vettel, Massa, Hamilton, Alonso, Rosberg, Button, Schumacher, Kubica and Barrichello.
Going into Q3 it's almost too close to call, the Red Bulls look good, particularly, but so too do the Ferrari and Lewis Hamilton.
Webber leads the traffic jam at the end of the pitlane, ahead of Hamilton, Button, Alonso, Barrichello and Kubica.
On their out lap, Webber and Kubica post purples in various sectors.
Webber begins his first flying lap, however, Alonso is over a second quicker in the first sector.
The Australian crosses the line at 36.917 but Hamilton and then Alonso go quicker, the Spaniard crossing the timing beam at 35.927. When Kubica posts 36.824 it drops Webber to fourth.
Button goes fifth after running wide, while Vettel goes second with a 36.000. Elsewhere, Hamilton gets it very wrong as he enters the pits, losing the back end of the car running wide and kicking up a great cloud of dirt.
With 2:50 on the clock, Massa begins his first flying lap, like the Mercedes duo he has yet to post a time.
The Brazilian goes fourth with a 36.571, as Rob Smedley gives him a hurry up warning over the radio.
On the final laps, Alonso is 0.4s quicker than Webber in S1. However, the Australian hits back in S2. At the line the world championship leader posts 35.973 which is only good enough for second.
Alonso consolidates pole position with a 35.766, however, Vettel is still on track as is Webber.
The Australian goes quickest in S2 as Vettel crosses the line at 35.585 to take a sensational pole and Webber makes it an all Red Bull front row with a 35.659.
Therefore, Sebastian Vettel will start the inaugural Korean Grand Prix from pole ahead of Webber, Alonso, Hamilton, Rosberg, Massa, Button, Kubica, Schumacher and Barrichello.
An electrifying performance from the Red Bull duo with Vettel, in particular, doing exactly what was need when it was needed. However, while he has the satisfaction of starting from the iconic position on the grid he will be fully aware of the challenge he faces not only from his teammate, championship leader Mark Webber, but from Alonso, Hamilton et al.
Throughout that final phase it was unclear who really had the edge, with Alonso and Hamilton both looking very, very good. However, at the death, when it really mattered, it was the Red Bull duo who delivered.
If a week is a long time in politics, twenty-four hours is a lifetime in F1. Vettel and his teammate will be aware that a lot can change between now and tomorrow and no doubt both will be hoping that the predictions of rain for race day prove wrong. On today's evidence we could be heading to Brazil with the championship a two-horse race, the odd shower or two tomorrow afternoon - or even before the race - could bring other factors into play.
To check out our Yeongam qualifying gallery, click here