15/03/2014
NEWS STORY
As if things weren't complicated enough, and they are complicated, it appears the weather gods are seeking to add to the fun and throw a spanner in the works.
As driver struggle (literally) to understand the new cars, it should be remembered that in pre-season testing there was very little wet running, consequently the spots of rain beginning to fall here, and the ominous dark clouds closing in, are of great concern.
Think especially of Lotus. Already under the cosh, the Enstone outfit didn't attend the Jerez test therefore it has had no wet running. Then again, some of you might rightly point out that the black and gold cars have had precious little dry running.
As expected, Mercedes has been setting the pace thus far, Lewis Hamilton yesterday and teammate Nico Rosberg this morning. Indeed, the German was 1.3s ahead of his closest rival (Jenson Button) this morning and such was his confidence he (and his teammate) were out of their cars and 'relaxing' long before the end of the session.
Ignoring the weather gods, it would be a very brave man who would risk more than a few coins on the outcome of today's session, or indeed tomorrow's race. Despite Mercedes pace and reliability the one thing we can be certain of this year is that nothing is certain.
That said, the Mercedes powered teams are looking very good and over the course of the season the works outfit can expect a strong challenge from McLaren, Williams and even Force India.
At Ferrari, Fernando Alonso appears to be settling into the new-style F1 quicker than his teammate, Kimi Raikkonen already showing signs of frustration.
However, the Finn's problems are nothing compared to those of his former teammate Romain Grosjean as Lotus seemingly lurches from one problem to another.
Even though it's the first race of the season, drivers are already paying the price in terms of reliability, Bottas and Gutierrez both incurring 5-place grid penalties after their teams opted to change the gearboxes on their cars.
Pastor Maldonado and Marcus Ericsson both had ERS changes heading in to final practice this morning though they are not penalised as they are able to use another of the five units available. Nonetheless, such issues so early in the season are a cause for concern.
With so many unknowns - and that includes the weather - it would be foolish to even try and predict the outcome of today's session, other than that it will probably be a Mercedes driver - or Mercedes-powered driver - on pole.
Many of the others out there, including some of the big names, will be happy simply to get through the session without any problems.
Air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 32 degrees. It is dry but very windy. The dark, worrying clouds are still hovering tantalisingly.
With an eye on those very clouds, the Mercedes duo are side by side at the end of the pitlane and when the lights go green Hamilton heads his teammate on to the track. Button follows close behind ahead of Alonso, Hulkenberg, Magnussen and Perez.
As Hamilton begins his first flying lap, all but Vettel are on track.
The Mercedes driver posts the benchmark (31.699) however this is soon beaten by Massa (31.549). However, whereas Hamilton is on mediums, the Brazilian is on softs. Vettel, now on track, is also on softs.
Magnussen goes second, putting a broad grin on Ron Dennis' face, while a 30.775 sees Ricciardo go quickest.
Alonso is told to pit and change to softs, the Spaniard, concerned at the weather, replies: "OK, but quickly".
Vettel brushes the wall subsequently posting a 32.109 to go sixth.
Sutil pits without posting a time as does Maldonado. Back on track, Grosjean is really struggling.
Having gone fourth (31.396), Button says that it is a lot hotter than normal, no doubt due to the very large battery his car is now carrying.
A massive lock-up for Alonso yet somehow he keeps it all together.
With 7:42 on the clock, both Lotus are in the drop zone.
Alonso goes fourth (31.388) as the first rain drops begin to fall. The fans, almost as one, don their rain macs.
Disaster for Maldonado who spins in T3 but somehow manages to get back on track. However, with the rain now falling he is unlikely to make it into Q2. Chilton, Bianchi, Gutierrez, Ericsson and teammate Grosjean also look to fall at the very first hurdle.
As Maldonado goes off again (T13), Grosjean, who has slowed to a crawl, is told to "speed up". "I cannot," he replies tersely.
With 4:00 on the clock, all 22 drivers are back in the pits.
The big winner here is Kobayashi, who looks to have made the cut.
The cameras pick up on a very animated - yet still smiling - Grosjean in the Lotus garage. Let's just hope he's getting paid for all this pain.
For reasons probably known only to himself, Gutierrez is on track. He's on inters. His team subsequently confirms that it's a "balance check" with an eye on tomorrow's race.
Q1 ends with Ricciardo quickest, ahead of Magnussen, Massa, Alonso, Button, Bottas, Hamilton, Vettel, Raikkonen and Rosberg.
We lose Chilton, Bianchi, Gutierrez, Ericsson, Grosjean and Maldonado.
Renault tweets: "According to the forecast there's a storm approaching. ETA 20-30 mins. 60-70km/hr winds and intense rain expected but short lived."
Like Mercedes, the Toro Rosso duo posted their times on mediums and therefore have a set of softs saved.
The lights go green and almost everyone heads out on inters, bar Kvyat who is on full wets. As is Kobayashi.
In the Williams garage Claire Williams looks on as Bottas goes off on to the grass at T9. He is able to continue but the car is very twitchy.
Bottas posts 47.881 but this is soon beaten by his Williams teammate who crosses the line at 47.160. Rosberg ups the ante with a 46.708.
A 46.646 sees Ricciardo snatch the top spot, teammate Vettel going eighth (48.404).
Next time around, Bottas improves with a 45.689. Alonso, still on his first lap, goes second with a 45.751, the F14 T clearly 'happy' in these conditions.
Bottas spins in T1, as Ricciardo, once again, goes quickest.
Magnussen, Sutil, Raikkonen, Perez, Kvyat and Kobayashi comprise the drop zone.
Alonso goes quickest with a 45.034, but this is beaten by Rosberg and then Hamilton (44.662), as the pace slowly increases.
Ricciardo splits the Mercedes duo while Hulkenberg takes third, Raikkonen improving to seventh.
As Ricciardo goes quickest in S2, Vergne improves to fifth. Moments later Button takes the top spot (44.437) but is immediately leapfrogged by Ricciardo who stops the clock at 44.031.
Massa (47.160) is now in the drop zone, as is Vettel, the clock now showing 3:13 remaining.
The Brazilian posts 44.385 thereby improving to second however, teammate Bottas and Kvyat go quicker, demoting him to fourth in no time at all.
Rosberg and Alonso both on hot laps, trading fastest sectors. The Spaniard goes quickest (42.805), but this is beaten by Ricciardo (42.681) and then Rosberg (42.264).
As Vettel drops to 15th, Raikkonen goes into the wall at T3 thereby bringing out the yellow flags.
Vettel, who has lost pace as a result of the yellows, is pushing hard to make the cut, as is Magnussen. The German can only manage twelfth, having made a mistake at T11, whilst Magnussen improves to fifth.
The partisan crowd erupts as Vettel's failure to make the cut becomes apparent.
Replay shows Perez having a big moment just before Raikkonen crashed, though the two incidents were not connected.
Rosberg is quickest, ahead of Ricciardo, Alonso, Hamilton, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Vergne, Bottas, Massa and Kvyat.
We lose Button, Raikkonen, Vettel, Sutil, Kobayashi and Perez.
That's a McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull out whilst we still have a rookie Russian in a Toro Rosso. Indeed, both Toro Rossos have made the cut.
Cameras catch Raikkonen and Vettel walking back to the pits, both still staunchly wearing their helmets. Back in the motorhome, the Iceman ignores everyone and heads straight out the back.
The rain now falling with a vengeance, Rosberg is first out for Q3, followed by Ricciardo, Alonso, Hamilton, Vergne and Kvyat. All, bar Alonso, on full wets.
Rosberg gets proceedings underway with a 45.550 however, further back Kvyat goes quickest in S1.
Hamilton goes second (46.250) and Vergne third as Kvyat takes fourth (47.368) only to be demoted when Hulkenberg takes third with a 46.834.
Hamilton takes the top spot with a 45.335 as Ricciardo dismisses the suggestion of inters. The Australian subsequently posting 46.107 to go third.
Magnussen dives into the pits after a strong couple of opening sectors. He switches to inters as does Ricciardo. While Hamilton sticks with full wets Hulkenberg opts for inters.
Rosberg locks-up in T9 and takes to the grass, as Alonso switches to full wets.
Sheesh! Massa gets horrendously close to the wall, the Brazilian doing brilliantly not to lose it, the car seeming to have a mind of its own.
Hamilton and Rosberg trading fastest sectors as Magnussen goes third, only to lose out when Ricciardo takes provisional pole with a 45.314.
Local hearts are broken when Hamilton and then Rosberg go quicker, meanwhile a hairy moment for Kvyat .
The crowed is willing on Ricciardo and he responds by posting 44.548 however, moments later the crowd's roar turns to dismay when Hamilton goes quicker (44.231).
So, Hamilton takes pole, ahead of Ricciardo, Rosberg, Magnussen, Alonso, Vergne, Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Massa and Bottas.
Button will start eleventh, ahead of Raikkonen, Vettel, Sutil, Kobayashi, Perez, Chilton, Bianchi, Gutierrez, Ericsson, Grosjean and Maldonado.
Superb performances by the rookies, Magnussen and Kvyat, especially in light of the Russian's problems yesterday, while Ricciardo has really risen to the occasion.
Despite the (warranted) complaints about the sound of the engines, how wonderful it was to actually hear the sound of the crowd, the cheers of delight rapidly turning to moans of despair as Ricciardo's hopes were dashed.
All in all a good session, let's hope the race - and the cars - live up to the promise.
Check out our Qualifying gallery, here.
Chris Balfe