04/10/2013
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's second practice session, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, while the track temperature is 36 degrees.
Lewis Hamilton was quickest this morning, with the Red Bulls, teammate Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button in hot pursuit.
On a morning where the green track condition meant plenty of offs, Kimi Raikkonen crashed in the final moments doing substantial damage to the front and rear of his car.
Tyre options this weekend are medium (prime) and supersoft (option), while, unlike 2012, this year there are two DRS zones. The detection point of the first is 70m after Turn 2, with activation 360m after Turn 2. The second detection point is 60m before Turn 16 with activation 95m after Turn 18.
The bumpy, slippery surface at the new pit exit was causing problems this morning.
Replaced by their teams' reserve drivers this morning, Paul di Resta and Jules Bianchi are back in action this afternoon.
The lights go green and Bianchi leaps into action, the Frenchman having been confirmed for 2014 by Marussia.
As Chilton, Bottas, Maldonado, Ricciardo and Sutil join Bianchi, work continues on Raikkonen's car in the Lotus garage, the Enstone outfit working on the front and rear left hand corners. Thanks to "heroics from the mechanics" the teams claims the car will soon be ready.
Within five minutes there are eleven names on the timesheets, Hulkenberg (41.191), heading Vergne, Ricciardo, Sutil and Bottas.
Early frustration for Vettel who is held up by Grosjean, the German making his feelings quite clear.
On his next lap there are no such problems for Vettel, the world champion going quickest in all three sectors and crossing the line at 39.696, the quickest time of the weekend. Moments later, Hamilton, who looks to be his nemesis this weekend, goes second with a 40.196.
As Massa goes third (40.511), the cameras pick up Alonso who is really suffering on the bumps. Nonetheless, the Spaniard goes third (40.466).
Webber goes straight to the top of the heap, the Australian posting a 39.598, as Raikkonen heads down the pitlane. Moments later Hamilton raises the bar with a 39.510.
As Rosberg goes fourth (39.731), the top four are covered by just 0.221s.
Having got in the way of Hulkenberg, who is forced to run wide, Grosjean appears to be brake-tested by the Sauber drive. Fists are waved. Elsewhere, a moment for Rosberg as he enters the pitlane.
The "car is too pointy at high speed," complains Hamilton.
Hulkenberg is the first driver to switch to options, twenty-five minutes into the session, the Sauber driver twelfth (41.191) fails to improve after losing time in traffic in S3. Webber and Van der Garde are also on the supersofts.
Webber posts 38.844 to go quickest as Sutil has a very hairy moment in T13.
Over aggression almost gets the better of Maldonado, the Williams driver pushing very, very hard. Elsewhere, Hamilton is on the options, the Mercedes driver having a scary moment between turns 11 and 12. Nonetheless, he posts 38.673 to go quickest.
A 38.797 from Rosberg, also on the option, makes it a Mercedes 1-2. That said, Vettel has yet to switch to the softer rubber, though, on the mediums, he is just as quick as Hamilton in S1.
Alonso (options) is pushing hard but the Ferrari clearly lacks grip. Nonetheless, he improves to fifth with a 39.444. Moments later teammate Massa posts 39.114.
At half-time, it's: Hamilton, Rosberg, Webber, Massa, Grosjean, Alonso, Vettel, Raikkonen, Button and Perez.
Vettel, like di Resta, Vergne and Ricciardo, has yet to make the switch to options. Bottas, on the other hand, is on Inters, at least according to the live timing.
A big spin for Gutierrez at T12, the Mexican pushing hard as he continues to impress.
Now on the option rubber, the Force India duo go tenth and eleventh, di Resta just one-thousandth slower than his teammate.
Vettel finally makes the switch to options. Ominously, he immediately goes quickest in S1, though he can only manage a PB in S2. At the line it's 38.781, which puts him second, 0.108s off Hamilton's pace.
Vettel heads back to the pits where his mechanic await him wearing rubber gloves which suggests a KERS issue for the German. The crew was expecting teammate Webber and even had a new nose waiting for him.
Back on track, drivers are now focussing on longer runs on heavy fuel. Hamilton passing Alonso with frightening ease. The Englishman is on primes whilst his teammate is on options.
Hulkenberg, who has done 11 laps, complains that he is struggling for grip. Judging by his voice he's also taking a pounding from the bumps.
In the McLaren garage mechanics are working on Button's car, attention appearing to focus on something in the cockpit. They are even taking pictures of something in there.
Hamilton continues to show good pace, lapping at 45.4 on the primes whilst Vettel is 45.6 on the options. Webber also showing good pace, as is Raikkonen.
"I've got a lot of life left in these tyres," says Hamilton, the Mercedes driver still setting a healthy pace, as confirmed by his team.
Behind the big guns it's almost perfect symmetry, the Force Indias tenth and eleventh, and behind them the Saubers, Toro Rossos, Williams, Caterhams and Marussias.
Raikkonen won't have done his back much good, the cameras picking up the Lotus driver taking a real pounding as he runs over one of the kerbs.
Big lock-ups for Alonso and Button at turns 10 and 1, respectively. The first corner also catching out Bianchi who runs wide.
A massive lock-up for Massa as he pulls out from behind Raikkonen, the two battling as though it was Sunday afternoon.
As the clock ticks down to 59 seconds, all 22 drivers are on track
The session ends with Hamilton quickest, ahead of Vettel, Rosberg, Webber, Massa, Grosjean, Alonso, Raikkonen, Button and Sutil.
Di Resta is eleventh, ahead of Perez, Gutierrez, Hulkenberg, Vergne, Ricciardo, Maldonado, Bottas, Van der Garde, Pic, Bianchi and Chilton.
Check out our Friday gallery, here.