29/06/2013
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today’s sole free practice session, the air temperature is 16 degrees C, while the track temperature is 19 degrees.
While it remains unseasonably cool, the good news is that the sky is clear and it is not raining.
Following yesterday’s washed-out opening session, things were much improved in the afternoon, with most drivers getting in some serious laps. All except Felipe Massa who had his third successive practice crash in as many GP weekends.
Nico Rosberg led the way, ahead of 2012 winner Mark Webber and teammate Sebastian Vettel, with the Toro Rossos and Force Indias in close attendance.
Fifth placed Lewis Hamilton is unhappy with his car, while Jenson Button claims it will take a “miracle” to finish on the podium.
The teams didn’t get the chance to run their numerous updates until the second session, while Lotus ran its ‘Device’ (passive DRS) for the first time this year – a decision on whether it will be used in qualifying and the race has yet to be made.
Hulkenberg, who complained yesterday that even with DRS he was unable to pass a Marussia, is first out, followed by Massa, Gutierrez, Alonso, Raikkonen, Sutil and Bianchi. All are on hards (prime).
While most return to the pits after their installation lap, Raikkonen stays out to post the first time of the day (1:34.367). As Hamilton (on options) complains of a “huge vibration already”, Grosjean, who didn’t run the passive DRS yesterday, and doesn’t have it now, posts 41.601.
Raikkonen improves with a 34.184, as Bottas posts 37.148 and Pic 39.052.
Hamilton really struggling for grip coming out of the Beckets complex. A big slide also for Grosjean.
No sooner has Grosjean gone second (34.254) than Perez posts 34.154 to go quickest.
Hamilton is told that he’s losing out to his teammate at Copse, Rosberg taking what used to be the first corner in fifth.
On his second flying lap Alonso goes sixth (35.159), as Bottas, sporting the helmet cam once again, posts 33.603 to go quickest.
Massa, who missed much of yesterday’s running, goes third with a 34.011. The Brazilian needs a good result here this weekend. After a strong start to the season, remember when he was out-performing Alonso, he seems to have dropped off in recent races.
Perez pulls off to the side of the track with a badly damaged left-rear tyre. As a result of the (tyre) debris on track the session is red flagged. The tyre, which “exploded” according to the Mexican, has done a lot of damage to the left-rear of the car.
The session restarts just a few minutes later at 10:20, however in the McLaren garage there is frantic activity as the team, overseen by Martin Whitmarsh and Sam Michael investigate the damage to Perez’ car.
Webber goes quickest in all three sectors, finally crossing the line at an impressive 32.560. Elsewhere, Vergne, surely one of the drivers on the Red Bull shortlist, goes quickest in S1.
In the McLaren garage the team is changing the floor on Perez’ car. The team says there is also “extensive damage” to the rear of the car and top body. There could be serious repercussions as a result of this. While safety is clearly the main issue, there is definitely something going on behind the scenes in terms of the FIA, Pirelli and Michelin.
Ricciardo, also in line for the Red Bull job, goes second (33.047), only to lose out when Toro Rosso teammate Vergne posts 32.580. Sutil and di Resta still an impressive fourth and fifth.
At half-time, Hamilton and Rosberg are 18th and 19th, both over 4s off the pace.
Rare on a Saturday, Vettel’s car is smothered in flo-viz. The German is currently 20th, just behind the Mercedes duo. The Ferraris are 8th and 9th, Alonso the quicker of the pair.
A 32.317 sees Hamilton go quickest, around 0.6s quicker than his best time of Friday.
As Bottas goes cross-country, Button posts PBs in all three sectors, however he remains tenth over 1.4s off the pace.
A hairy moment for Massa as he exits the Beckets complex, the Brazilian doing well ato recover as his rear steps out. He is the first driver to switch to the option (medium) rubber with an eye on qualifying.
Alonso (on primes), goes quickest in S1, PBs if the next two sectors see him improve to fourth with a 32.454.
No sooner has Rosberg gone second (32.192), than Webber (primes) bangs in a 32.078 to take the top spot.
All eyes of Raikkonen, the second driver to switch to options and equipped with ‘the device’.
Webber’s time at the top is short-lived however, as first Rosberg and then Hamilton go quicker, the Englishman posting 31.750.
Raikkonen posts a PB in the first sector, followed by another in S2. At the line the Lotus driver posts 32.498 to go sixth, 0.748s off Hamilton’s prime tyre pace.
In the McLaren garage Perez is back in his car. In the Ferrari garage, Massa is out of his car, the Brazilian appearing to have a problem with his car.
With 9:25 on the clock all twenty-two drivers are in the pits, shortly after Perez heads Maldonado and Gutierrez down the pitlane.
After one exploratory lap on the primes, Perez pits for a set of options.
Ferrari reports that Massa is having a “precautionary” engine change.
As Webber goes quickest in S1, Vettel, currently 20th (37.085), improves to third overall with a 32.037.
Perez’ misery continues, the Mexican going off at Chapel after taking too much speed in Becketts.
A 32.391 sees Grosjean improve to fifth as Hamilton goes purple in S1. A mistake at Brooklands destroys Hamilton’s lap, while Rosberg posts a PB in S1.
As the chequered flag is waved, Rosberg goes quickest in S2, crossing the line at 31.487 to take the top spot.
The session ends with Rosberg quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Vettel, Webber, Grosjean, Ricciardo, Alonso, Raikkonen, Sutil and di Resta.
Vergne is eleventh, ahead of Button, Maldonado, Hulkenberg, Massa, Bottas, Gutierrez, Perez, Pic, Bianchi, Chilton and Van der Garde.