09/05/2015
NEWS STORY
Whilst the media informs us that Lewis Hamilton "dominated" Friday's practice sessions, it is interesting to note that whilst he did set the fastest time in FP2 on the option rubber, teammate Nico Rosberg set a faster time in FP1 on the primes.
Whilst last year it was the rear tyres that suffered here, this time around it appears to be the fronts that are hurting.
In the opening session, which saw Rosberg lead a Mercedes 1-2, the Ferraris were third and fourth but both around a second off the pace. In FP2 however, Vettel split the two Silver Arrows, albeit posting a best time 0.4s off the pace.
Not for the first time this year we are seeing Mercedes strong on one lap pace but the Ferraris coming into their own on longer runs, with Williams and Force India also looking good on the 'Sunday sims'.
Strong in both sessions were the Toro Rossos, whilst Red Bull had a difficult day, Daniel Ricciardo having (very) limited running due to engine issues. Indeed, the Australian took on his fourth engine of the year just before FP2. On the other hand, teammate Daniil Kvyat finished FP2 an impressive fifth.
McLaren was looking notably better yesterday, and whilst Capt. No Grip complained of, well... no grip, teammate Fernando Alonso allowed himself a 360 spin for the fun of it. His words.
As expected, almost every team has brought updates here, some (Ferrari) more than others. Quite how effective these upgrades will be is something we shall have to wait on, though at this (admittedly early) stage the order doesn't appear to have changed significantly. Also, it does seem somewhat overambitious of the Maranello outfit to be trying so many new things at the same time.
This morning's session, particularly in the closing stages, will see attention switch to qualifying, and with 11 of the previous 13 races being won from pole, it will be interesting to see how things develop.
Air temperature for this final session is 21 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 19 degrees. It is bright and sunny.
The light go green and Maldonado is first out, he is subsequently followed by Button and Grosjean. The Frenchman, of course, suffered that massive bodywork failure on the pit straight in yesterday's second session.
Alonso, is another early riser, the newly liveried McLaren said to be around 60% aerodynamically different to what we have witnessed previously. Both drivers say they are happy with the results.
Nasr posts the first time of the day, the Sauber driver stopping the clock at 1:31.478. Moments later Ricciardo posts 37.114.
Next time around Ricciardo improves with a 29.027 as Stevens goes third ahead of Merhi and Rosberg (42.572).
Merhi cuts the corner at T1, the Spanish driver locking-up as he struggles for grip.
Quickest in the first two sectors, Ricciardo ups the ante with a 28.656, as Perez (30.104) goes second. Elsewhere, Bottas gets all out of shape after a late decision to pit.
A very scrappy lap for Alonso, including a vicious snap of understeer in T9, sees the McLaren driver head straight back to the pits.
As Sainz goes second (28.875) and Verstappen third (28.977), Raikkonen is on a quick lap posting purples in each sector. He crosses the line at 27.330. Moments later, teammate Vettel goes second (27.840 having been purple in S2 only.
Seventeen minutes in, only 11 drivers have posted times.
At Red Bull, just as Ricciardo appears to show the team has made progress, it is teammate Kvyat who is suffering, the Russian understood to have an "engine issue".
"Front locking everywhere," reports Grosjean. "Yeh, we can see that," comes the response.
After twenty minutes, though they have been out, Button, Alonso, Hamilton, Massa and Bottas have yet to post times.
On one of his first laps out, Hulkenberg goers seventh (29.686), just ahead of his teammate. However, his team appears to be facing a tough weekend.
As Ricciardo makes the (very) early switch to options - there are 34 minutes remaining - Rosberg complains that he cannot get heat into his rear brakes. Ricciardo posts 27.048 to go quickest, albeit by just 0.282.
Bottas and Hamilton are now on track. The Finn goes fourth (27.768), whilst Hamilton - on his first flying lap remember, and on primes - goes quickest with a 26.965. Moments later Rosberg bangs in a 26.777.
Hamilton spins coming out of T3, and as he struggles to get the car going again out come the yellow flags. Replay shows he touched the Astroturf coming out of the corner sending him into an instant spin. This, remember, is the corner where Alonso came to grief earlier in the year.
Just after 'half-time', it's: Rosberg, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Bottas, Vettel, Alonso, Verstappen, Massa and Sainz.
Kvyat, who has yet to post a time, climbs into his car.
"With wear and degradation levels as is, looking more and more like a two stop race," says Pirelli. "Track conditions generally better than yesterday."
Following a massive lock-up in T10, Grosjean complains that "something is not right".
Kvyat's first lap sees the Red Bull driver post 36.583, as Hulkenberg is the second driver to make the switch to options.
Hulkenberg improves from seventeenth (29.686) to seventh (28.082) as Kvyat goes eleventh with a 28.795.
Bottas is next out on options, the Finn improving from 27.768 to 26.682 to go quickest, having been quickest in S2. Teammate Massa (options) can only manage fifth (27.207).
With ten minutes remaining options are the order of the day.
Vettel goes quickest (26.177) but this is almost instantly beaten by Rosberg (26.021).
Hamilton is on track but can only manage 26.222 which puts him third. Replay shows the Briton locking-up on what was a scrappy lap.
Raikkonen posts 26.944 to go fifth, 0.923s off Rosberg's pace.
Told he had a wrong setting on his car, Raikkonen dryly responds; "excellent, excellent".
Button goes tenth (27.938) whilst a poor final sector means teammate Alonso can only manage thirteenth (28.304).
A hugging session in the paddock involving (former Mercedes boss) Norbert Haug and Jean Alesi.
Finally on the option rubber, Kvyat improves from seventeenth to ninth with a 27.313.
As the session comes to an end, the cameras pick up on a nice slide from Merhi.
Rosberg is quickest, ahead of Vettel, Hamilton, Bottas, Raikkonen, Ricciardo, Massa, Verstappen, Kvyat and Sainz.
Button is eleventh, ahead of Hulkenberg, Nasr, Alonso, Grosjean, Maldonado, Ericsson, Perez, Stevens and Merhi.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.