05/07/2014
NEWS STORY
Following yesterday's ideal conditions - other than those strong winds - this morning was a little more 'British', with unseasonably cool temperatures and rain.
With confusion as to how the weather will play out for the remainder of the weekend, and not wishing to take any risks damaging their cars ahead of qualifying, a number of drivers opted not to run this morning including Alonso and the Mercedes duo.
In their absence their rivals made hay, Renault powered cars filling the first four places on the timesheets... and when did we last see that happen.
The Red Bulls, which have a clear aero advantage in the dry, were the class of the field, Vettel clearly revelling in the conditions. Indeed, it would be understandable if a tabloid journo were to uncover a snap of the entire Milton Keynes squad doing a rain dance.
Looking good this morning and yesterday were the McLaren duo while a late charge saw Sutil take fifth in the Sauber.
That said, the German's time was subsequently scrutinised by the Stewards following Charlie Whiting's announcement that, as in Austria, he will have "zero tolerance" to cars running wide and gaining an advantage. The corners he will be paying particular attention to are the final corner (Club) and Copse (Turn 9).
While the rain has stopped it remains damp and the dark clouds lining the circuit indicate we are sure to be in for more of the wet stuff during the course of the next hour.
Marussia has been busy over the break, repairing the damage to Bianchi's car following his off and changing the gearbox on his teammate's car. Sadly, the change o gearbox means that the Briton picks up a five-place grid penalty for his home race.
In terms of temperature, little change since this morning, air temperature remains 16 degrees C, while the track temperature is 21 degrees.
With the rain making a gradual return, there should be action from the outset, drivers keen to get in that all important banker lap.
In case you'd forgotten - pay attention - tyre options are hard (prime) and medium (option), though Inters look to be the order of the day right now. Also, there are two DRS zone, the detection point of the first is before Turn 3, with the activation point after Turn 5, while the second detection point is at Turn 11 with the activation point after Turn 14.
The lights go green and Bianchi heads the queue at the end of the pitlane. Surprisingly, the big guns hang back, even though the sky is getting darker. All those on track are using Inters.
Eyeing the sky, the Mercedes duo get to work, all but Bottas, Raikkonen and Massa are on track. As the Ferrari heads out of its garage only the Williams duo remain.
Hamilton reports that the track is "very dry". That said, he then has a wobble on the Wellington Straight.
As the first flying laps are completed, the Williams duo remain stoically in their garage. Are they intending to appear on slicks we wonder.
Vettel goes quickest (45.086) but is subsequently eclipsed by Rosberg, Ricciardo and Hamilton (43.676).
Perez is told that there is rain on the pit-wall. It's light but it is raining. Massa lave the pits... on Inters. Shortly after, Bottas follows.
"If the weather stays as it is you should be safe," Hamilton is told. Looking at the sky that's a mighty big if.
A pair of scrappy laps from Raikkonen but he improves to 12th with a 47.350.
Massa goes fifth on his first flying lap, however a 45.318 from his teammate sees the Brazilian drop to sixth.
Gutierrez, Sutil and Chilton swap to options as does Button. The problem, of course, is generating sufficient heat into them, not easy in these conditions.
As Button goes quickest in S1, Hamilton and Rosberg emerge on options. The McLaren driver goes quickest in S2 also finally crossing the line at 47.357. However, with Kvyat just ahead, he makes a mistake and runs wide in the final corner. Will his time be allowed?
Nonetheless, the McLaren driver has signalled that options are the options are the tyres to have. With 1:40 remaining all 22 drivers are on track.
Button's time is disallowed however, next time around he goes tenth.
Kvyat is currently quickest ahead of Bianchi - yes Bianchi and Hulkenberg.
Alonso goes off at Brooklands and spins as Sutil is beached. Indeed, the subsequent yellow means a number of drivers, including Raikkonen, might not be able to improve.
A 40.380 sees Rosberg go quickest while teammate Hamilton goes third. (41.058).
A major disaster for Williams and Ferrari as neither team gets a driver through to Q2.
Along with the Grove and Maranello outfits we also lose the Caterhams... so no change there.
Quickest was Rosberg, ahead of Kvyat, Hamilton, Bianchi, Hulkenberg, Chilton, Perez, Magnussen, Sutil and Vergne. However, having stopped on track Sutil will play no further part.
Pat Symonds attempts to justify a litany of mistakes including not sending the Williams out early enough and not forecasting the rain. Austria, where the Grove outfit locked out the front row, seems a lifetime ago.
Ahead of Q2 the rain has increased in intensity, one can imagine the wide grin on Vettel's face.
Sixth quickest in Q1, Chilton can hardly wait to get out for Q2, his teammate equally enthusiastic. In moments all but Hamilton are on track, everyone on Inters.
The first wave sees Hamilton go quickest (44.639), ahead of Rosberg and Vergne, Vettel only managing 14th.
Next time around the German improves with a 44.085 despite not being quickest in the two final sectors.
Asked if he wants to swap to slicks now or leave it for later, Hamilton is in no doubt. "Now!" he replies.
Vettel's previous time is disallowed, thereby dropping the German back to 14th.
As the German is told about his deleted time, teammate Ricciardo goes second (44.826).
More and drivers now switching to the option rubber.
Bianchi goes quickest in S1 but this is instantly eclipsed by Button.
No sooner has Rosberg gone quickest (42.730), than Gutierrez and Bianchi go quicker, the Frenchman posting 39.712.
Hamilton runs wide at Abbey as Verne goes quickest and Vettel second.
Rosberg improves with a 35.179 to go quickest by 3.131s. Moments later Hamilton bangs in a 35.000. Hulkenberg third and Ricciardo fourth.
Game over for Gutierrez who has gone into the barriers backwards at Luffield, thereby bringing out the yellow flags.
A number of drivers are caught out by the yellow flag, most notably Bianchi.
Hamilton is quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Vettel, Button, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Perez, Magnussen, Vergne and Ricciardo.
We lose Grosjean, Bianchi, Chilton, Gutierrez, Maldonado and Sutil.
Just moments after the end of Q2 the rain begins falling again, meaning that Inters will once again be the order of the day.
Kvyat heads down the pitlane to get Q3 underway, followed by Vergne, Button and Perez. All are on options, the rain having eased off again.
Rosberg reports "drizzle at Stowe", indeed, it's a lot more than drizzle and a n umber of drivers are almost caught out.
Perez posts 40.457 to go quickest, ahead of Kvyat and Vergne as the rain increases in intensity.
Hamilton takes provisional pole (39.232) and Rosberg second (39.426), as Button confirms that it is raining hard.
Vettel dives into the pits as the Stewards announce that they are investigating an incident involving Perez and Maldonado in Q2.
With the rain falling harder now, Vettel could be looking at starting from the fifth row having not set a time.
With just under five minutes remaining, it remains to be seen whether the drivers will come out for a final run, certainly those lower down the timesheets. The rain does appear to have eased off.
With just under two minutes remaining, a number of drivers head down the pitlane, indeed, all bar Ricciardo, Kvyat and Vergne.
"It's pretty slippery out here," warns Hamilton.
"Tell Lewis he needs to speed up," shouts Rosberg. His teammate losing time behind Perez.
Clearly frustrated, Rosberg passes his teammate, whilst Vettel is quick through the first two sectors.
Hulkenberg takes provisional pole but seconds later Vettel goes quicker only to be beaten by Rosberg whilst Hamilton has dropped to sixth having dived into the pits.
What just happened?
Fact is, nobody was looking set to improve but then somehow a few wily souls found a heap of time in S3.
As Rosberg celebrates a pole he didn't expect, a totally dejected Hamilton climbs from his car, his confusion and frustration matched only by the partisan crowd.
To clarify - and there is sure to be fall out in terms of what happened to Hamilton and why - Rosberg will start from pole ahead of Vettel, Button, Hulkenberg, Magnussen, Hamilton, Perez, Ricciardo, Kvyat and Vergne.
Grosjean will start eleventh, ahead of Bianchi, Chilton, Gutierrez, Maldonado, Sutil, Bottas, Massa, Alonso, Raikkonen, Ericsson and Kobayashi.
Check out our Qualifying gallery, here.
Chris Balfe