Hamilton quickest in FP2

06/06/2014
NEWS STORY

Ahead of today's second practice session the air temperature is 20 degrees C and the track temperature is 28 degrees. It remains bright though there have been some suspect clouds from time to time.

Tyre choices this weekend are the same as in Canada, soft and supersoft, whilst there are be two DRS zones with both sharing a single detection point, located 110m after Turn 9. The first activation point is 55m before Turn 12, the second 70m after Turn 14.

Fernando Alonso, clearly benefitting from the work Ferrari has been carrying out in terms of its engine, upset the formbook this morning when he set the fastest time, albeit with a car that appeared almost impossible to control. As ever, the Mercedes duo were on the pace, Lewis Hamilton just 0.016s down on the Spaniard and Nico Rosberg 0.146.

Monaco hero Jules Bianchi limped back to the pits with a badly damaged rear suspension after clouting the wall after T4, while there were problems which resulted in restricted track time for Massa, Gutierrez and Raikkonen.

The ever smiling Daniel Ricciardo has been reprimanded during the break, the Australian having overtaken Pastor Maldonado in the pitlane. It is the Red Bull driver's first reprimand of the season.

Having handed his car over to Alexander Rossi this morning, this afternoon Kamui Kobayashi is back in action in the Caterham.

The lights go green but unlike this morning, when there was an extra set of tyres available, there is no mad scramble to get to work.

After a couple of minutes silence Magnussen finally heads down the pitlane followed by Chilton. The Marussia crew has worked throughout the break in order to fix his teammate's car after this morning's incident.

As more drivers take to the track there appears to be a problem with Rosberg's helmet however a Schuberth technician is soon on hand.

Magnussen crosses the line at 1:25.338 to get the game underway, drivers mindful that there is now a thirty percent chance of rain - as opposed to twenty percent this morning.

A spin for Kobayashi in T2 as he gets to find how green and dusty this track really is. Elsewhere, Chilton trips over himself at T9.

An 18.546 sees Button go quickest, ahead of Vergne, Sutil, Hulkenberg and Kvyat as more drivers take to the track.

Bottas goes quickest (18.249) and teammate Massa second as Vettel and Raikkonen look set to go out.

As Sutil has a big lock-up in T10, Maldonado is pushed back up the pitlane to his garage after grinding to a halt. No such problems for teammate Grosjean who heads down the pitlane.

Bottas consolidates his top spot with a 17.597 as Magnussen goes second. Hamilton's first lap sees the Mercedes driver post 22.596 before improving to 17.625.

Gutierrez, who had his control unit changed over the break, goes cross country at T4.

A 17.610 sees Rosberg go second just 0.015s ahead of his teammate.

"The power in on/off, on/off," complains Gutierrez who has had two offs in as many laps.

Having gone quickest in all three sectors, Rosberg crosses the line at 16.892. Moments later Hamilton posts 17.065.

Twenty minutes into the session all but the Red Bull duo have posted a time.

That said, Ricciardo goes thirteenth with a 19.350 with teammate Vettel posting 19.035 moments later.

Rosberg raises the bar ever higher, the German banging in a 16.777. A big moment for Maldonado at T4, the Lotus driver kicking up huge chunks of grass.

Having gone third with a 17.153, Alonso goes quickest in S1. Meanwhile, Rosberg asks about Hamilton's time and where he needs to improve.

As Grosjean runs wide in T10, Hamilton improves with a 16.692. Game on.

Maldonado is informed that there was a problem with his DRS, the wing not closing properly hence his handling problems.

A very, very silly mistake by Magnussen sees Sutil almost come a cropper. He appears to be heading into the pits but in fact turns into the final chicane completely throwing the Sauber driver who does well to avoid him... though it means a harsh ride across the kerbs. Ron Dennis is far from impressed.

The stewards subsequently announce that they are investigating the incident.

As Chilton and Sutil switch to supersofts, Ericsson parks his Caterham in the run-off at T3.

Surprisingly, indeed highly surprisingly, the stewards announce that no further action will be taken re the Magnussen/Sutil incident.

All eyes on the Mercedes duo who have now switched to the softer rubber.

Having gone quickest in S1, Rosberg loses time in s2. Nonetheless, he posts 16.687 to go quickest, just 0.05s quicker than his teammate's best on the prime tyres.

Hamilton goes quickest in all three sectors, crossing the line at 16.118.

No sooner has Kobayashi shed a piece of debris on the pit straight than Bottas sheds a piece at T6.

Following his earlier problem, Lotus has changed the rear wing on Maldonado's car.

Now on the options, Massa goes third with a 16.882. Teammate Bottas is fourth, ahead of Alonso, Vergne, Raikkonen, Perez, Magnussen and Sutil.

Alonso, now on the option rubber, improves to third with a 16.701, the Spaniard still keeping the Mercedes duo honest.

Raikkonen does well to avoid Bottas whilst also keeping out of the wall at T4 as he seeks to improve on 9th (17.503). Which he does, crossing the line at 16.648 to go third.

No sooner has Button complained of brake dust in T1 than Grosjean appears to experience it. Shortly after, Kobayashi has a problem at the same corner while Raikkonen makes a mess of T10.

With around thirty minutes remaining, it's: Hamilton, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Alonso, Massa, Bottas, Magnussen, Button, Vergne and Grosjean.

Mercedes has now switched its focus to longer runs with an eye on Sunday afternoon.

A massive lock-up and lots of tyre squealing for Kobayashi at T14 having previously got it wrong in T10.

Work continues on Bianchi's car, the Frenchman having only completed 3 laps thus far. Kvyat has completed just 9 laps.

With around 24:00 on the clock Vettel finally switches to options, the German immediately going sixth (16.841).

Locking up in the final chicane, Rosberg has to cut the corner and thereby aborts the lap.

Perez is told he must do a better job in terms of lifting and coasting.

Button complains that his rear tyres are graining at which point he pits.

Having improved to third (16.573), 0.455s off Hamilton's best, Vettel pits.

His session clearly over - he's on the pit wall with his crew - Kvyat watches as Massa and Raikkonen post some impressive time on their long runs. Elsewhere, another off for Grosjean (T8), the Frenchman trailing all manner of detritus behind him as he rejoins the track.

Another lap, another off, this time Maldonado getting T8 all wrong.

With just over three minutes remaining some drivers are on options others on primes. Others are now focussing on pit stops.

Williams continues to set a very strong pace almost matching the Mercedes duo on these longer runs.

Vergne takes to the escape road at T4 however, unlike Ericsson earlier, he is able to continue.

The session ends with Hamilton quickest ahead of his teammate with Vettel third, ahead of Raikkonen, Alonso, Massa, Bottas, Magnussen, Button and Vergne.

Grosjean is eleventh, ahead of Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Perez, Maldonado, Sutil, Gutierrez, Chilton, Kvyat, Kobayashi, Ericsson and Bianchi.

Check out our Friday gallery, here.

Chris Balfe

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Published: 06/06/2014
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