13/11/2010
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's sole free practice session, the air temperature is 30 degrees C while the track temperature is 43 degrees. Humidity is 33%.
Though there was some rain yesterday evening, it has been dry ever since. However, there is still talk of rain tomorrow.
With yesterday's morning session compromised by an earlier downpour it was the second session that gave us a better idea of the running order. Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets - courtesy of a new rear wing - with the Red Bulls and Fernando Alonso in close proximity.
Ahead of this afternoon's qualifying session, over the next hour we should get a much better idea of how things stand as the drivers prepare for the most important race of the 2010 season. It is not only the world championship at stake this weekend, a number of drivers have yet to secure drives and this is effectively their last chance to impress. Indeed, even the pole-man in Brazil, Nico Hulkenberg, has yet to confirm a seat for next year.
Furthermore, there remains the battle of the constructors. While Red Bull has secured the title, let's not forget that the final standings decide who gets what in terms of the all-important prize money. In other words, there's everything to play for right throughout the field.
Trulli leads the way when the lights go green, di Grassi, Heidfeld, Glock, Alguersuari, Petrov and Rosberg follow.
Five minutes into the session, only the McLarens are on track, the other twenty-two drivers each having completed the obligatory installation lap. "I have a vibration," says Hamilton.
Despite the fact that so much depends on this weekend, indeed, this session, there follows one of those interminable periods of total inaction with drivers either chatting to their engineers in the garage, waving to the fans from the pit wall or waiting patiently in their cars.
Di Grassi and Trulli finally head down the pitlane and once again the sound of F1 engines fills the air.
Di Grassi gets the session underway in earnest, crossing the line at 1:48.532. Next time around the Brazilian posts a 47.992 as Trulli posts 48.549. Having had a chat with Button, Martin Whitmarsh is now in conversation with Hamilton and his engineers.
A 47.025 sees Glock go straight to the top of the timesheets as Heidfeld and Buemi begin their first flying laps. Heidfeld posts 44.415 but this is immediately beaten by Alguersuari (44.339).
As Alguersuari raises the benchmark with a 44.043, Rosberg and Schumacher head down the pitlane. With twenty-five minutes gone only seven drivers have posted times.
On his first flying lap Kubica shoots straight to the top of the timesheets, the Renault driver posting 43.186. Elsewhere, both Ferraris are now on track, as is Vettel.
Kubica consolidates his top spot with a 42.615 only to be demoted when Schumacher posts a 42.518 having gone quickest in the final two sectors.
Alonso goes third with a 42.619 while Massa takes eighth place. Button begins his first flying lap.
At half-time, it's: Schumacher, Kubica, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Vettel, Petrov, Heidfeld, Buemi, Massa and Alguersuari.
Having gone quickest in S1, Alonso backs off as Petrov goes second overall with a 42.580. Elsewhere, Rosberg runs wide. He isn't the first to do so this weekend and he won't be the last.
Vettel goes quickest in S1 as Webber finally heads down the pitlane. Alonso posts 42.291 to go quickest but moments later Vettel raises the ante with a 41.721.
Rosberg posts 42.099 to go second having gone quickest in S2. However, Vettel responds with a 41.628.
As Hamilton finally leaves the pits, Button goes sixth (42.546) and Webber eleventh (43.202).
A 42.353 sees Webber improve to fourth as Hamilton locks up big time. Nonetheless, on his first flying lap the Englishman goes second with a 41.994.
With 22:00 on the clock we've yet to see the super-softs make an appearance. Though that will change in the next ten minutes as the teams start to focus on qualifying as opposed to the opening stagers of the race.
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo is doing the rounds, shaking hands with Christian Horner then Michael Schumacher.
Webber makes it a Red Bull 1-2 with a 41.621 as Button makes it a McLaren 3-4 with a 42.079.
A number of drivers, including Schumacher, have incurred front wing damage on the kerbs here, though the kerbs don't look particularly high, certainly compared to Monza.
Other than Alonso, who is currently seventh, 1.039s off the pace having only done 6 laps, it's interesting to note that Kobayashi is twenty-third having only completed 7 laps. That said, despite a big slide in the final corner, the Sauber driver improves to seventeenth.
With 14:43 on the clock, Alonso is back on track on a qualifying run. This will be interesting.
The Spaniard begins his first flying lap however, by the end of S2 it looks as though he will not improve on his previous best. However, a 41.790 sees the Ferrari driver go fourth, posting a personal best in S3. Schumacher - still on the harder compound - posts 41.912 to go fifth.
Alonso improves to second with a 41.490 as Vettel'' first qualifying run is somewhat disappointing though he is quickest in S3.
Massa goes quickest in S2 but subsequently aborts the lap and dives into the pits.
Vettel improves with a 41.142 as Alonso returns to the pits. Elsewhere, having posted personal bests in sectors one and two, Webber backs off.
Now Button goes quickest in S2 as Webber posts personal bests in sectors one and two. The Englishman goes third overall (41.578) only to be demoted when Webber posts 41.153 to go second.
All eyes on Hamilton who goes quickest in S2 before crossing the line at 41.484 to go third. The order, with less than three minutes on the clock, is Vettel, Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, Button and Schumacher.
Now Petrov goes quickest in S2 - the Russian, like the McLarens, making good use of the F-duct.
Everyone bar the Ferraris is on track, the Maranello outfit seemingly confident that its work is done. That said, with just over a minute on the clock Alonso heads down the pitlane, followed by his teammate. There won't be enough timer for a flying lap.
Vettel and Webber both improve, the German posting 40.696 and his teammate 40.829. However, Hamilton is on a hot lap as is his McLaren teammate. Hamilton fails to improve as does his teammate after making a mistake at Turn 17 and running wide.
The session ends with Vettel quickest, ahead of Webber, Hamilton, Alonso, Button, Petrov, Schumacher, Rosberg, Kubica and Heidfeld.
Hulkenberg is eleventh, ahead of Massa, Barrichello, Kobayashi, Sutil, Liuzzi, Alguersuari, Buemi, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, Senna, di Grassi, Klien.