28/05/2016
NEWS STORY
Despite a pretty dreadful - by his standards - Thursday, Sebastian Vettel somehow topped the timesheets in this morning's session, the German edging out Lewis Hamilton by 0.018s.
Vettel suffered all manner of problems on Thursday, most of his own making, as he appeared to overdrive into a number of mistakes.
However, with teammate Kimi Raikkonen, who currently heads Vettel in the standings, down in ninth, almost a second off the pace, one has to wonder which of these illustrious drivers represents Ferrari's true pace.
Both Mercedes drivers were within 0.122s of Vettel, and, never having used the ultrasoft tyre before Thursday, there is concern as to how much quicker the Silver Arrows pair might be as they get more used to the purple-banded tyre.
Despite a slight brush with the walls for Max Verstappen, the Red Bull duo is looking good and many favour Daniel Ricciardo, benefiting from an upgraded Renault engine here, as the man to beat. Unfortunately, due to that clash with the barrier, the resultant yellow flags and traffic, we didn't get to see the true pace of the Red Bull earlier.
The Toro Rosso is looking very strong here, and as a result this might be the Faenza team's best opportunity to shine, with Daniil Kvyat and Carlo Sainz both looking more than capable.
Also looking good thus far is the Force India pair, particularly Sergio Perez, and McLaren.
Williams, on the other hand, continued to struggle, the Grove outfit having really lost out on this type of circuit in recent years.
Indeed, we have a feeling that neither of the Martini branded cars will make it through to Q3.
Those barriers, which at times appear magnetic, drawing the unsuspecting and overambitious to them like sirens, are likely to claim further victims this afternoon, especially in the early stages when traffic leads to frustration. Such incidents, and the resultant yellows, mean we could be in for some shocks, particularly in Q1.
Whilst Verstappen's encounter with the barriers wasn't too significant or costly - unlike last year - a number of other drivers have come to grief this weekend as they discover just how unforgiving this place can be.
Talking of unforgiving, a gearbox change following FP3 for Raikkonen means the Finn drops 5 places.
Ahead of the start of Q1, the air temperature is 21 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 40 degrees.
Whilst a good grid position is more vital here than at any other circuit, it is perhaps worth noting that we are expecting rain tomorrow.
Along with the ultrasofts, the other tyres available this weekend are supersoft and soft.
Haryanto heads the queue at the end of the pitlane, a queue that includes the Mercedes, Ferrari and Williams duos. Whilst the sun is shining and there is zero chance of rain, it is the fear of incidents and yellow flags that means drivers want a 'banker' lap in the bag.
Talking of which, Nasr's Ferrari engine detonates big time in the tunnel , the Brazilian grinding to a halt shortly after.
The session is red flagged as the Sauber is lifted to safety. At the tunnel exit, marshals lay cement where there appears to be some oil following Nasr's issue.
The session resumes, again the Mercedes duo are among the first out, Gutierrez leading the way.
Gutierrez posts 17.126 and teammate Grosjean 16.261, whilst Hamilton goes third with a 23.352. no problems for Hamilton, it's just that the Mercedes drivers are posting their best times on their second hot lap.
Sure enough, Hamilton is purple in the first two sectors, finally crossing the line at 14.831 to go quickest. Moments later Rosberg goes second with a 14.873, just ahead of Vettel (15.250).
Kvyat posts 15.384 to go fourth with Button going fifth (15.554) moments late.
As the Red Bull duo head down the pitlane, Raikkonen posts 15.793 to go sixth.
Another quick lap for Hamilton who goes quickest in S1. He loses time in S2, finally crossing the line at 14.610. Raikkonen improves to fifth with a 15.499.
A 14.610 sees Vettel go top as the Red Bull duo begin their first flying lap.
Ricciardo can only manage fourth (14.912), whilst teammate Verstappen posts 22.467.
With 7:10 remaining, Alonso and Nasr are the only drivers that haven't posted times.
The Force India duo had been out on supers but have now changed (wisely) to ultras.
Out comes the red flag as Verstappen goes into the barriers at the Swimming Pool exit.
Asked if he's alright, the Dutch teenager sheepishly replies that he is.
Replay shows him hitting the barrier on the inside, which damages his steering arm which then leaves him helpless as he heads into the barriers on the outside of the chicane.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.
With the clock stopped at 6:34, Alonso has yet to post a time, though he was on track at the time of Verstappen's crash.
Again, there is a significant queue as we await the session re-start.
The stewards announce that they are to investigate Magnussen for leaving the pitlane after the red light had been shown.
The leaders, including Vettel, Hamilton, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Raikkonen and Button, have settled for their times. That seems a massive gamble for Button.
Alonso posts 16.010 to go thirteenth.
Ericsson and Palmer currently keeping the Manor duo company in the drop zone. The Swede improves to 16, thereby demoting Magnussen. However, the Dane improves and returns the compliment.
Hulkenberg improves to sixth with a 15.333, but is demoted moments late by his Force India teammate who crosses the line at 15.328.
Ericsson fails to improve, unlike Alonso who goes tenth with a 15.504. However, a late charge by Grosjean drops the Spaniard to eleventh.
Quickest is Vettel, ahead of Hamilton, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Perez, Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Grosjean, Sainz and Raikkonen.
We lose Ericsson, Palmer, Haryanto, Wehrlein, Verstappen and Nasr.
As in Q1, there's a queue ready and waiting for the second phase of the session, the Mercedes and Ferrari duos among the first out, along with Ricciardo.
Kvyat gets things underway, Vettel going second ahead of Button and Alonso.
No sooner has Magnussen gone quickest (yes Magnussen), than Perez raises the bar with a 19.400
A 14.056 sees Hamilton go quickest, whilst Rosberg takes second with a 14.491.
A superb lap from the world champion
Ricciardo posts 14.543 to go third, ahead of Vettel and Sainz.
With 8:50 remaining, it appears the Williams duo will go for one run.
Raikkonen improves to seventh with a 14.846, thereby demoting Alonso to ninth.
Whilst the Mercedes duo sit tight, Ricciardo is out again, this time on supersofts.
On his first flying lap Bottas can only manage 12th, having locked-up in Rascasse. Teammate Massa can only manage 16th.
Vettel, Raikkonen and Hulkenberg, are all back on track.
As Massa can only improve to 11th (15.385), the Mercedes duo are back on track.
Rosberg brushes the barrier where Verstappen came to grief but appears to get away with it.
Ricciardo posts a PB in S2, and goes quickest in S3, improving to second with a 14.357. This means the Australian can start on the supers and save a set of ultras.
PBs in the first two sectors for Vettel who subsequently crosses the line at 14.318 to go second and demote Ricciardo.
Bottas looks to have missed the cut, as teammate Massa aborts his lap knowing that he too have lost out.
Rosberg goes quickest in S2, stopping the clock at 14.043.
Perez improves to eighth, whilst Alonso also makes the cut.
Quickest was Rosberg, ahead of Hamilton, Vettel, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Kvyat, Sainz, Perez, Hulkenberg and Alonso.
We lose Bottas, Gutierrez, Button, Massa, Grosjean and Magnussen.
As Ricciardo gets Q3 underway, Hamilton is on his radio. "Guys, guys, there's something wrong with the engine. I've got no power."
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.
He has stopped in the pitlane, consequently his crew can rescue him. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking.
The remaining nine drivers are on track, all on ultras bar the Force India duo who are on supers.
Ricciardo posts 26.791 but this is beaten by Alonso and then Hulkenberg (15.120. Vettel, like Ricciardo, posts an exploratory time (26.789).
Ricciardo goes purple in all three sectors, crossing the line at a stunning 13.622.
Vettel can only manage 14.552 and Raikkonen 14.732.
As work continues on Hamilton's car, Rosberg goes quickest in S1. In S2 the German can only manage a PB. At the line the Mercedes driver posts 13.913 to go second by 0.291.
Meanwhile, as the drivers head back to their garages for the final assault, Hamilton is back on track. Indeed, has virtually has the track to himself.
He posts a PB in S1, followed by another in S2. At the line he posts 20.968. However, as he begins what should be his real flyer, his rivals are on track on their out laps. Posting a PB in S1 he subsequently slows.
On board, Hamilton clearly has an issue, and seems destined to start from tenth.
Raikkonen and Hulkenberg look set to improve, the German going fourth with a 14.726. The Finn aborts his lap.
Meanwhile, Hamilton has now gone quickest in S1, the Briton cannily having allowed his rivals to complete their laps. The Briton crosses the line at 13.942 to go third, whilst teammate Rosberg fails to improve leaving Ricciardo with pole.
Some more expletives from Vettel, who complains his car has "just got worse", the German starting tomorrow's race from fourth.
A brilliant save from Hamilton, who looked destined to start from much further down the grid, but the star of the day has to be Ricciardo.
A very, very entertaining session, with Ricciardo, what with that lap, and the canny tyre strategy in Q2, proving himself very much to be the smiling assassin.
All that remains now is to see what the weather gods have in store for us tomorrow.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.