23/07/2016
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's all-important qualifying session, the air temperature is 23 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 29 degrees. Whilst it was bright, sunny and Scorchio, around forty minutes ago it began to rain, and rain hard.
Nico Rosberg was quickest in this morning's session, as he was in FP2. While the record books will show Max Verstappen as second quickest, just 0.002s off the pace, there is doubt as to how genuine that pace was in terms of fuel loads.
Daniel Ricciardo has looked the more settled of the Red Bull duo thus far, and one cannot help feel that the Australian's 0.465s deficit to Rosberg was a more accurate picture.
Having crashed out of FP2 yesterday, Lewis Hamilton had a scrappy session this morning, and ignoring the 0.508s gap to his teammate, one cannot help but feel that is going to be one of those weekends where he overdoes it in his grim determination to beat the German. We've seen it before.
Struggling for one-lap pace, the Ferraris are no match for the Red Bulls it seems, far less the Mercedes. Victory here in 2015 must seem a lifetime ago for Sebastian Vettel, who, not for the first time this year, was outshone by teammate Kimi Raikkonen earlier.
Behind these three teams is the minefield that is the midfield, with Williams, Force India, McLaren and Renault all giving a good account of themselves earlier.
That said, there was minimal running on the supersofts for the Force India duo so we have yet to see what they are really capable of.
If the Haas was disappointing earlier, what of Toro Rosso, whose two drivers were both over 2s.
Following overnight rain, yesterday's opening session got underway with everyone using Inters, but nobody really expected any further downpours - despite UBIMET's warning of storms on Sunday - so the running wasn't that significant, or so they thought.
As the rain continues to fall, and how, the start of the session is delayed by 10 minutes. Shortly after, another 10 minute delay is announced.
At 14:15, official announce the session will start at 14:20. It has stopped raining but it remains very, very wet.
As we await the green light, Massa heads the long queue at the end of the pitlane.
More rain is expected so drivers will want to get in a 'banker' lap.
As Massa leads his colleagues out on to the circuit, the crowd applauds.
In no time at all, all 22 drivers are on track.
"There's still a chance of more rain after five minutes," Perez is told. Massa is given a similar warning, told to "make these laps count". In other words, 'get on with it, as this might be your one shot'.
Other than trying to stay on the black stuff, drivers are keen to ensure there is enough of a gap ahead.
As conditions deteriorate, Perez is quickest, ahead of Hulkenberg, Alonso, Nasr, Ricciardo and Bottas.
Kvyat, running ahead of Hamilton makes a slight mistake in T13 but is unwilling to give track position to the Mercedes driver. Consequently, Hamilton eases off to give himself some space but in doing so he slows too much and can only post 1:48.428 which puts him 21st. Rosberg is only marginally quicker, in 20th on 48.104.
"It's too much water for these tyres," warns Vettel, as he runs wide in T3, the session is red flagged.
As the drivers return to the pits, the clock is stopped at 13:08, the drop zone comprising Ericsson, Raikkonen, Wehrlein, Rosberg, Hamilton and Haryanto.
At 14:37 officials announce the session will resume at 14:40.
The rain has eased, but like before it is very wet.
Having learned his lesson, Hamilton is one of the first in the queue, which is headed by Verstappen. Rosberg, third in the queue, is told that the rain should stop in seven or eight minutes.
Hamilton, radios his team to say there is "smoke" coming out of his radiator.
The lights go green and off they head again.
Ricciardo posts a purple in S1, whilst teammate goes quickest in S2.
"This is just silly," complains Vettel, "going round in traffic for nothing."
Verstappen goes quickest but is almost immediately leapfrogged by Ricciardo.
Red Flag, Ericsson is off and entangled in the barriers at T10. He is OK, but clearly frustrated. Replay shows him losing the rear end and heading off into the gravel and thence the barriers
Disappointing news for Alonso who had gone quickest in S1.
Rosberg had improved to seventh and Hamilton ninth before the red flag, as Gutierrez, Kvyat, Sainz, Ericsson, Wehrlein and Haryanto comprise the drop zone.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.
As a tractor removes Ericsson's car, which has significant damage to the right-front suspension, the sun begins to shine.
The clock is stopped at 9:00.
At 14:55 the session will resume.
Nasr heads the queue in the pitlane as Sainz, almost T-bones the Medical Car which has stopped outside his garage with nowhere to go.
Ricciardo and Verstappen among the last out.
A mixture of wets and Inters as the sun shines on what remains a very wet track.
Raikkonen is off at T4, whilst Hamilton is off and through the gravel at the chicane.
Out comes the Red Flag again as Massa spears the barriers coming out of T4 and ripping off the left-front wheel after running wide and losing it on the (wet) white lines, the Brazilian having switched from full wets to Inters. The
"I've crashed," unbelievable," sighs the Williams driver.
Meanwhile, countryman Nasr is quickest, ahead of Ricciardo and Verstappen, while Magnussen, Gutierrez, Sainz, Ericsson and the Manors comprise the drop zone.
At the time of Massa's crash, Hulkenberg and Hamilton were looking set for good improvements.
The clock is now stopped at 5:20. We're getting there.
At 15:05 officials announce the session will resume at 15:07.
Alonso heads the queue at the end of the pitlane. All are on Inters, Magnussen being the sole exception.
Hamilton goes quickest in S1, while Alonso is quickest in S2.
Magnussen pits to switch to the Inters.
Alonso goes quickest with a 35.165 but is almost instantly leapfrogged by Hamilton who posts 34.210.
As Rosberg posts 33.302 the session is Red Flagged as Haryanto is off and in the barriers at T10. The session will not re-start.
Rosberg is quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Alonso, Vettel, Grosjean, Sainz, Kvyat, Raikkonen, Nasr and Button.
Hearing the news that he has missed the cut, through no fault of his own, Palmer is understandably miffed.
Along with the Briton, we lose Massa, Magnussen, Ericsson, Wehrlein and Haryanto.
Vettel is ready and waiting at the end of the pitlane for the start of Q2, like teammate Raikkonen, the German's Ferrari is sporting Inters. Indeed, everyone is on the green-banded rubber. Last out is Verstappen.
While the sun is shining and clear dry line is emerging, there remain a number of damp spots, most notably T1.
Vettel posts 34.137 but this is soon beaten by Sainz, Grosjean, Rosberg, despite a big moment in the final corner, and Hamilton (32.378).
A 32.088 sees Ricciardo go quickest, the Australian having gone purple in S1 and S3.
Verstappen goes fourth, just 0.4s off the pace of his teammate, but 1.4s clear of fifth-placed Grosjean.
Nobody appears to be improving on their second lap, except Hamilton and Verstappen, whilst Bottas switches to the supersofts.
Hamilton improves to 31.571 and Verstappen 31.661, as Alonso and Perez follow Bottas' example.
Button is told to pit so he can get three laps on slicks; "it's so difficult, there's still a lot of wet patches" says the Briton.
As Bottas begins his first lap on the supers, more and more drivers pit to make the switch.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.
Bottas goes quickest (30.647), though he is only quickest in S3.
As the clock counts down, Perez goes quickest, as Bottas looks set to improve again. However, the Finn dives into the pits.
Vettel posts 28.374, but is beaten by Alonso. Hamilton goes second and Rosberg third before the Mercedes duo are split by Verstappen.
Hulkenberg goes quickest in S1 as Ricciardo makes a mistake in T1 and fails to improve, thereby dropping into the drop zone. He is told to push on his next lap "regardless".
A 25.434 sees Raikkonen go quickest, before losing out to Sainz, Vettel and Alonso.
A mistake sees in T1 and subsequent lock-up means Hamilton fails to improve, while Rosberg goes second and Verstappen quickest.
Another chaotic session ends, with Raikkonen one of the shock casualties.
Quickest is Verstappen, ahead of Rosberg, Ricciardo, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Vettel, Button, Bottas, Sainz and Hamilton. The world champion making the cut by the skin of his teeth.
We lose Grosjean, Kvyat, Perez, Raikkonen, Gutierrez and Nasr.
Rosberg heads down the pitlane to get Q3 underway, the German followed by Alonso, Hamilton, Button, Sainz and Ricciardo.
Clearly fired up, Hamilton is quickest in S1, while Rosberg and Hulkenberg look good in S2.
Of the first wave, Hamilton is quickest (20.108), ahead of Rosberg, Ricciardo and Verstappen.
A massive wobble for Ricciardo as he exits the final corner and hits a very nasty puddle, the Australian doing well to hold it all together.
Roberg goes quickest in S2, crossing the line at 20.201, a mere 0.093s off his teammate's pace.
Vettel hits the same puddle that almost caught Ricciardo, like the Australian he does well to avoid a massive mishap.
A great improvement for Alonso which sees the Spaniard take sixth, just ahead of his McLaren teammate.
Verstappen complains that his gearbox sync is playing up again.
Sainz posts 21.131 to take sixth, nudging the McLarens a little further down the grid.
All ten drivers pit, all ten drivers taking on fresh supers for the final assault.
"And after probably the most varied and unpredictable quali session so far, it's another Hamilton v Rosberg shoot-out for pole," tweets Pirelli.
Out come the yellows as Alonso spins in T3, much to the frustration of the drivers behind him who include Hamilton who has to back off.
Rosberg eases off as he should but from then he attack again and goes on to take pole, and thereby a psychological advantage over his teammate.
The late yellows also work against Verstappen though the Dutch youngster is sure to be happy with fourth.
That said, the whole yellow flag thing is borderline and at a time the FIA is cracking down on tack limits and radio communications it remains to be seen whether they might see the remainder of Rosberg's lap as pushing the rules to the limit.
Pending an alternative view by the stewards, Rosberg will start from pole tomorrow, ahead of Hamilton, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Vettel, Sainz, Alonso, Button, Hulkenberg and Bottas.
Grosjean will start eleventh ahead of Kvyat, Perez, Raikkonen, Gutierrez, Nasr, Palmer, Massa, Magnussen, Ericsson, Wehrlein and Haryanto.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.