15/10/2011
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's all important qualifying session, the air temperature is 22 degrees C, while the track temperature is 28 degrees. It remains bright and sunny.
With yesterday's session all but washed out, this morning's one hour session was as busy and crucial as expected. However, it appeared to pose more questions than it answered.
Unable to get a clear run in the final phase, thanks mainly to Jaime Alguersuari, Sebastian Vettel was unable to post a competitive time in qualifying spec. On the other hand, Jenson Button, who is running a new chassis today, went quickest on a set of option (supersoft) tyres on which he had already completed a number of hot laps. Teammate Lewis Hamilton was also looking good however, on his final flying lap he lost time behind Michael Schumacher.
The lack of (dry) running means that tyre wear is a grey area, with some wildly differing opinions as to how many stops might be required tomorrow.
Therefore, the big question this afternoon is will we see a car other than a Red Bull on pole for the first time this season, indeed, for the first time since Brazil last year? Then again, the odds were very much against the Austrian team going into last week's session only for Vettel to take his twelfth pole of the season… with a little unintended help from Lewis Hamilton.
Leaving the Red Bull-McLaren battle aside, Ferrari is looking strong this weekend, particularly Fernando Alonso who has a new front wing at his disposal, while Mercedes is also looking useful.
After a couple of disappointing races Renault is looking for a better result this weekend, birthday boy Bruno Senna, in particular, looking for a decent tally.
With the Constructors' Championship all but decided - does anyone really expect McLaren to overhaul a 130 point deficit? - interest focuses on the battle for sixth between Force India, Sauber and Toro Rosso, while Williams desperately needs to grab a further point or two before season's end.
Tyre options are soft (prime) and supersoft (option), while the DRS zone for tomorrow's race is on the straight between Turns 2 and 3.
The lights go green for Q1, and after a few seconds birthday boy Senna heads down the pitlane. The Brazilian is subsequently joined by Petrov, di Resta, Perez, Ricciardo, Liuzzi and d'Ambrosio.
Senna, who had a slight brush with the wall this morning after spinning, posts a 39.951 but this is soon beaten by Petrov's 39.406. Hamilton, Button and Webber leave their garages. Vettel is another early rise, curiously, both Red Bull drivers are on the options even at this early stage.
As Hamilton begins his first flying lap, Senna goes quickest in S1. The Englishman goes quickest in S2 subsequently crossing the line at 38.278 to take the top spot.
Button goes second with a 38.768 only to be demoted by Massa (38.670), while Webber goes fourth (39.071).
Alonso, sporting the new front wing, goes second (38.393), while Vettel, on the options, can only manage sixth (39.093). However, are the Red Bulls running with a heavier fuel load?
As both Red Bulls pit, Hamilton, following a 'slow' lap, ups the ante and goes quickest in the first two sectors of his next lap. At the line it's 37.525 as Rosberg goes fourth and Schumacher sixth.
Button improves to second with a 37.929, and with 9:10 on the Williams duo have yet to post a time. The Grove outfit leaving it very late. Ricciardo has been out but has not yet posted a time.
As Barrichello leaves the pits, former teammate Schumacher goes fifth with a 38.502.
4:45 on the clock and while Hamilton, Button and Alonso appear to have settled for their times, the majority of their rivals haven't and are back on track.
Petrov posts 38.378 to go third as Barrichello begins his first flying lap. The Brazilian posts 39.538 to go fourteenth. Moments later, teammate Maldonado goes sixteenth (39.952).
Kobayashi drops into the danger zone, as teammate Perez goes tenth. The Japanese driver improves but can only manage fifteenth (39.464).
Di Resta improves to seventh and teammate Sutil ninth, as Ricciardo remains in the pits, his session over before it began.
Both Williams drivers seeking to improve but the pressure is truly on. That said, Barrichello ease off while teammate Maldonado continues and looks likely to eliminate him. The Venezuelan crosses the line at 39.436 to go sixteenth and thereby eliminate Barrichello at the first hurdle.
Quickest was Hamilton, ahead of Button, Petrov, Alonso, Rosberg, Schumacher, di Resta, Massa, Sutil and Webber.
We lose Barrichello, Kovalainen, Trulli, Glock, d'Ambrosio, Liuzzi and Chandhok.
The lights go green for Q2 but as ever there is a slight delay before an engine breaks the silence and a car heads down the pitlane. It's clear from the flags being flown in the grandstands that it is quite windy.
Almost two minutes into the session, di Resta heads out of his garage. Game on.
Hamilton leaves the McLaren garage followed by his teammate, while Webber and Alonso are not far behind. All, like di Resta, on the option tyres.
Di Resta posts 38.868 but all eyes are on Hamilton, while Vettel is also on track.
A 36.526 sees Hamilton go quickest, while Button takes second with a 37.302. Webber splits the Woking duo with a 37.292 with Alonso taking fourth (37.352). Vettel twitches angrily at the start of the pit straight as he opens up his DRS, the German crossing the line at 37.285 to go second.
As his rivals return to the pits, Webber completes a second flying lap, the Australian going third with a 37.292.
With 6:20 on the clock, Senna, Kobayashi, Schumacher and Maldonado have yet to post a time. That said, Schumacher, who reports a vibration, has the track entirely to himself as he begins his first flying lap of Q2.
On a brand new set of options the Mercedes driver has a totally clear track. However, he can only manage ninth, crossing the line at 38.354.
Massa (seventh) comes out for a second run, the Brazilian clearly not feeling entirely safe. Surprisingly, Schumacher heads back to the pits, possibly unhappy with that vibration.
Sutil goes quickest in S1, as Massa improves to fifth (37.313). Sutil goes ninth which drops Schumacher to tenth, with di Resta, Kobayashi, Perez and Alguersuari all on track.
Alguersuari improves to tenth but is demoted when di Resta posts 38.254 to take the position. Brave efforts from Senna and Perez but to no avail.
Quickest was Hamilton, ahead of Vettel, Webber, Button, Massa, Alonso, Rosberg, Petrov, Sutil and di Resta.
We lose Alguersuari, Schumacher, Buemi, Kobayashi, Senna, Maldonado and Perez.
So, as we await the start of the all important final phase the big question is whether or not Vettel has been sandbagging or McLaren has taken a step forward here. Ferrari appears to believe that Hamilton is "out of reach".
The lights go green for Q3 and, based on experience, it will be interesting to see which - or rather how many - drivers opt not to run, or at least do limited running, in order to save tyres. Interestingly, with a few moments all but the Force Indias are on track.
Rosberg was first out, followed by Hamilton, Massa, Alonso, Button, Webber, Petrov and Vettel, the world champion always liking to be last out.
Rosberg posts 37.754 but this is instantly beaten by Hamilton's 36.130. Button takes second with a 36.566 but is demoted by Webber's 36.468. Vettel goes quickest in S2, crossing the line at 36.160 to go second. Hamilton has provisional pole.
A blistering lap from Hamilton fully deserving of pole, but what, if anything, does Vettel have in reserve. And who would bet against him?
The Red Bulls are very slow in returning to the pits, Vettel really taking his time.
With 2:34 on the clock, Webber leave his garage followed by Hamilton, Massa, Button, Alonso, di Resta, Petrov and Vettel. No sign of Rosberg or Sutil coming out to play.
Button goes quickest in S1, while his teammate is quicker in S2. At the line Hamilton posts 35.820 while Button takes second with a 36.126. Vettel crosses the line at 36.042, the German only managing second and thereby handing Hamilton his first pole since Canada last year.
Surprisingly, told that he has taken pole, there is no response from the Englishman. Vettel, on the other hand, doesn't appear bothered to have lost out, declaring that he is more than happy with the tyres he has for tomorrow.
So, Hamilton starts from pole, ahead of Vettel, Button, Webber, Massa, Alonso, Rosberg, Petrov, di Resta and Sutil.
Hamilton climbs from his car and heads to the weigh-in, still wearing his helmet and showing no outward signs of emotion. We say outward because everything suggests that on the inside he is probably feeling very, very emotional, this has been a very difficult time for the youngster.
Clearly, as Jonathan Neale assured us earlier this week, Hamilton has rediscovered his form, put the demons to one side. With Vettel starting alongside, confident that he has the best package, we have the prospect of a great race tomorrow, especially with their respective teammates so very close.
Check out our Korea qualifying gallery, here.