19/03/2016
NEWS STORY
It's fair to say that none of us really know how the next hour or so is going to work out.
Not in terms of the pecking order - of which we are beginning to get a basic idea following FP3 - but rather how well this new qualifying format will work and whether it proves popular with fans and drivers.
Maurizio Arrivabene, like us, is firmly in the 'if it aint broke' camp, but the fact is the new format is agreed so we've got to get on with it.
The intention is not so much to spice up the races on Sunday - the idea behind Bernie Ecclestone's reversed grid, but instead to promote more action in qualifying. That said, if we get some of the shocks we are expecting we are going to see drivers starting out of position.
Arrivabene also believes that the format is going to lead to "supermarket" style queues in the pitlane, drivers eager to get out on track and on the pace as quickly as possible, and if FP3 was anything to go by he's correct. All of which could lead to more incidents like this morning, when Haryanto and Grosjean collided, the Indonesian subsequently picking up a grid penalty.
In terms of the pecking order, Mercedes is still the benchmark, but Ferrari has closed in, certainly based on this morning's evidence.
As expected Toro Rosso is very strong, as is Williams, Red Bull, and McLaren.
That said, this is based on FP3, and like this afternoon's session let's not forget that this is the first race weekend of the year, so let's not get too carried away.
Air temperature is 17 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 25 degrees. The risk of rain is 20%.
As for tyres, like the qualifying format, it's all change, teams now having access to three compounds, in this weekend's case, supersoft, soft and medium.
Rosberg almost clips the pit-wall in his eagerness to get out and in the process is leapfrogged by his teammate. As predicted, the pitlane is chock-a-block. In no time at all, all 2 drivers are on track.
Hamilton cannot pass Grosjean to find clear track, much to the delight of Gene Haas, whilst a mistake sees Rosberg run wide in T1.
Hamilton posts 26.635 and Rosberg 33.717, the German leapfrogged by a while load of drivers as he pays the price for that error.
Raikkonen goes second (26.825), ahead of Verstappen, Sainz and bottas. Moments later, Rosberg posts 26.934 to go fourth.
Vettel posts 26.945 to go fifth.
Whilst attention is focussed on the top of the sheets it is the bottom that matters, currently Wehrlein is slowest.
Raikkonen goes quickest (26.579) but is instantly eclipsed by Hamilton (25.351).
Wehrlein is the first to lose out, the German failing to get out of the pits before the cut off.
Ninety seconds later, Haryanto is the second driver to be eliminated.
Alonso goes second (26.537) and Button fourth (26.740) ahead of Verstappen, Rosberg and Vettel.
Gutierrez is the third driver we lose, with teammate Grosjean likely to be next.
Kvyat is out of his car and out of the session, with Nasr and Palmer also looking to be early victims of this new format.
Massa goes second (25.918), the Brazilian quickest of all in S1.
Nasr is next out, but for reasons best known to his team is sent out even though he cannot make the cut.
A late charge sees Palmer go 14th, which means that Ericsson gets an early bath.
So, Wehrlein, Haryanto, Gutierrez, Grosjean, Kvyat, Nasr and Ericsson are out, whilst Hamilton is quickest, ahead of Massa, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Perez, Button, Verstappen, Rosberg and Vettel.
Early days, but that was manic as opposed to entertaining. Furthermore, based on the Wehrlein, and certainly Kvyat, the teams remains as confused as we are.
The Mercedes duo are ready and waiting at the end of the pitlane for the start of Q2, Rosberg leading the way.
As the Mercedes duo and Vettel begin their first flying laps, the Renault duo head down the pitlane.
Rosberg posts 24.796 but this is soon beaten by Hamilton who crosses the line at 24.605. Vettel can only manage 25.804, 1.199s off the world champion's pace.
Indeed, Perez goes third whilst Verstappen goes fifth.
A 25.644 sees Massa go third as teammate Bottas posts 25.961 to go seventh.
Magnussen looks set to be the first to be eliminated, his teammate likely to join him in around ninety seconds time.
Meanwhile, Mercedes rules the roost, again, the pair, separated by just 0.191s, is 1.039s clear of third-placed Massa.
It is all getting a bit farcical, Button is eliminated as he is unable to get out of the pits in time. This really hasn't been thought through.
Ricciardo improves to fourth (25.599), much to the delight of the crowd.
Sainz, who looked set to be eliminated, improves to fourth (25.384).
A minor improvement from Hulkenberg, but it is unlikely to save him.
All eyes on Bottas who makes a costly mistake in the final corner that sees him eliminated, thereby sparing Hulkenberg for a few more moments.
Sure enough, Hulkenberg is out, and as Perez is pushed back into his garage his day's work is also over.
Shambolic springs to mind.
We lose Magnussen, Palmer, Button, Alonso, Bottas, Hulkenberg and Perez.
Hamilton was quickest, ahead of Rosberg, Vettel, Sainz, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Verstappen and Massa.
The lights go green, and again Rosberg leads the way, followed by Vettel, Raikkonen and Hamilton.
Rosberg and Hamilton trade fastest sectors, though Vettel is also looking good.
Rosberg posts 25.260 but this is instantly beaten by Vettel who posts 24.675 only to lose out to Hamilton's 24.133.
Raikkonen goes third (25.033) , Massa fifth and Ricciardo sixth.
Ricciardo is the first to be eliminated, which will not go down well with the locals, and why should it.
A massive lock-up for Verstappen, who is currently fifth, while Sainz is eliminated before he's even managed to get back to the pits for fresh rubber.
It goes from bad to worse, as Massa is eliminated, Raikkonen and Vettel are out of their cars...
Rosberg improves to 24.197 but moments later Hamilton slams in a 23.387... but did anyone really notice. There are several minutes remaining but everyone else appears to have given up including Rosberg.
What an anti-climax.
Hamilton takes pole, ahead of Rosberg, Vettel, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Massa, Sainz, Ricciardo, Perez and Hulkenberg.
Bottas is eleventh, Alonso, Button, Palmer, Magnussen, Ericsson, Nasr, Kvyat, Grosjean, Gutierrez, Wehrlein and Haryanto.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.