23/08/2008
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's all-important qualifying session, the air temperature is 26 degrees C, while the track temperature is 30 degrees. Although temperatures are not as high as expected, it is bright and sunny with the dark clouds that hovered overhead at the end of free practice having now moved on.
After three practice sessions it's a close one to call with Robert Kubica going quickest this morning, but Ferrari and McLaren both looking very, very good. Furthermore, some of the smaller teams, particularly Toro Rosso, have been setting a good pace.
Having failed to post a time in this morning's session following a string of gearbox problems, Jarno Trulli has it all to do this afternoon.
The lights go green, and Piquet leads the way, followed by Trulli and Fisichella. The BMW duo is also out early.
The tyre options this weekend are, as in Monaco, soft and super-soft, which we will refer to as hard and soft.
Piquet, who hits a bird at the start of his flying lap, crosses the line at 1:40.044 to set the benchmark. However, within moments Kubica has raised the benchmark even higher, the Pole posting 38.935.
Massa is on track, the Brazilian running on softs. Hamilton also on track, as is Hamilton.
While Massa can only manage sixth (39.428), the Englishman goes quickest (38.464). The McLaren driver was on hards, as is Raikkonen who leapfrogs his Ferrari teammate to go sixth. At this stage in proceedings, with the temperatures somewhat cool, the hard option appears to be the correct one to choose.
As Bourdais goes second, ahead of Kubica, Raikkonen goes quickest in the first sector. He loses time in sector two, but a strong final sector sees the World Champion go fifth with a 38.990.
Vettel goes third, as the crowd cheers on Alonso, who takes second with a 38.604. All but Jenson Button have posted a time, but the Englishman is now on track.
As Kovalainen improves to fourth, and Rosberg goes quickest in the first sector, dark clouds are gathering overhead. Rosberg goes second with a 38.595, as Glock goes quickest in the second sector. The Toyota driver edges out Rosberg with a 38.532 with just under six minutes remaining.
Barrichello fails to improve and therefore remains last and in the danger zone, along with Heidfeld, Piquet and the Force Indias.
Massa is back on track, again on softs, however, he appears to be struggling for grip.
The camera on the helicopter has spots of rain on its lens, as Massa goes quickest in the first sector. He posts a personal best in the second sector, before going quickest of all in the third, crossing the line at 38.176 to go quickest of all.
With just over a minute remaining, only the McLarens are not on track. Can Kovalainen really afford to gamble, seeing as he is only seventh quickest?
Glock gets in the way of Heidfeld, which could result in problems, as Alonso improves to second with a 38.268.
Piquet goes tenth, as Vettel goes quickest overall and Trulli goes quickest in the second sector, going on to go quickest overall with a 37.948.
As the first phase comes to an end, we lose Coulthard together with both Hondas and both Force Indias. Piquet, Heidfeld and Raikkonen make it through to phase two, but only just.
Quickest was Trulli, who finished ahead of Vettel, Massa, Alonso, Kubica, Hamilton, Glock, Webber, Rosberg and Bourdais.
As the drivers prepare for phase two, a few spots of rain begin to fall. Never one to miss an opportunity, Kimi Raikkonen is first out, the Finn running on softs. There are a few drops of rain on the camera lens on his car.
Massa, Heidfeld, Kubica, Vettel and Bourdais are also on track as Raikkonen begins his flying lap.
The Finn crosses the line at 38.276, as Massa (softs) begins his first flying lap of this phase. No sooner has the Brazilian gone second (38.319), than Kubica (softs) goes quickest with a 38.050.
It's that boy again, Vettel goes quickest with a 37.842, as his teammate goes fifth ahead of Heidfeld.
A 38.120 sees Kovalainen go third, as Hamilton (softs) gets all crossed up. Elsewhere, Trulli goes quickest in sectors two and three, posting 37.928 to leapfrog Hamilton for second. Let's not forget, the Italian only completed two installation laps this morning.
Glock is twelfth (38.499), but there is a good chance that hew will receive a grid penalty following the incident with Heidfeld in phase one.
Kovalainen is back on track on softs. Raikkonen and Massa also back on track.
The Brazilian goes quickest in the first sector, as the remaining cars take to the track. He maintains a strong pace in sector two.
Kovalainen fails to improve, as Massa goes second (37.859), while Raikkonen, who also fails to improve, drops a position to seventh.
Personal bests in sector one for Trulli and Vettel, however, nobody else appears to be improving significantly.
Trulli goes third (37.928), as Kubica goes quickest in the final sector to take fifth. Moments later, Heidfeld takes third with a 37.859 - the same time as Massa - as a mistake sees Alonso fail to improve and thereby miss the cut.
Consequently, we now lose Nakajima, Glock, Webber and both Renaults, including local hero, Fernando Alonso.
Quickest was Vettel, ahead of Massa, Heidfeld, Trulli, Hamilton, Kubica, Kovalainen, Raikkonen, Rosberg and Bourdais.
The final phase gets underway, and Jarno Trulli is first out. A few moments later, Bourdais and Vettel follow him down the pitlane. Hamilton and Raikkonen are also 'early risers'.
As Trulli begins his flying lap, all ten drivers are on track and most appear to be on hards.
Trulli posts a 40.309 to set the benchmark, but moments later Vettel takes the top spot with a 40.142. However, no sooner has the German taken provisional pole than Hamilton (softs), Raikkonen and then Massa all go quicker. The Brazilian takes provisional pole with 39.371.
A 36.352 sees Kubica go third, ahead of Hamilton, as Vettel drops to fifth ahead of Kovalainen, Trulli and Heidfeld.
Hamilton sticks with softs, while Raikkonen stays with hards and Massa switches to softs. On the pit-wall Michael Schumacher applauds Massa's lap.
Hamilton begins his final flying lap of the day, immediately going quickest in the first sector. However, Vettel and Raikkonen are also on the pace, as is Massa, who goes quickest in the first sector.
Hamilton is quickest in the second sector, going on to go quickest with a 39.199, however, all eyes are on Massa who takes provisional pole with a 38.989.
Kubica takes third, ahead of Raikkonen, ahead of Kovalainen and Vettel. Trulli, Heidfeld, Rosberg and Bourdais complete the top ten.
Shortly before the start of the session, the FIA announced after observing the behaviour of some of the cars, pole position has been moved from the left to the right hand side of the track.
A great performance from Felipe, but all credit also to Kubica, Vettel and Trulli.
Like pretty much every other session here this weekend, qualifying threw up a few surprises, and it would be foolish to assume that we will not see more of the same tomorrow.
Before Hungary, it appeared that McLaren had the edge over its Italian rivals, and though Massa suffered that engine failure, it is clear that the Maranello outfit still has its eyes on both titles.
Behind the title protagonists however, it will be interesting to watch BMW as it continues its fight back, and Toyota's continuing fight for the 'best of the rest' title.
Tomorrow, however, will be the real test, for the Valencia Street Circuit as much as it will be for the runners and riders.
It would take a very brave man to bet on the outcome.