29/10/2016
NEWS STORY
Sebastian Vettel topped the FP2 timesheets yesterday, however even the most fervent fan will admit that the Scuderia is unlikely to be represented on the podium come Sunday, far less take the win.
Indeed, on the day Mr E celebrated his 86th birthday, that pretty much summed up the two practice sessions... a mystery.
The combination of a very dusty track, high altitude and cool temperatures mean that we are still unclear of the true of order, Pirelli admitting that it is baffled by the lack of tarmac evolution since last year.
Degradation, particularly with the supersofts, was high, however Pirelli insists that if drivers can manage the graining it will remain a competitive race tyre. Interestingly the red banded tyre appeared to improve on its second flying lap.
Lewis Hamilton was second quickest, just 0.004s off Vettel's pace, with Nico Rosberg third around 0.4s off his teammate's pace.
To further confuse matters, Vettel's time was posted on the supers, Hamilton's on the softs and Rosberg's on the mediums.
As ever Kimi Raikkonen was in the hunt, while Nico Hulkenberg did well to split the Red Bulls, Max Verstappen missing much of FP1 due to damage caused to an electrical loom by his brakes.
Few drivers failed to run wide, spin or take a trip into the Mexican countryside and with conditions unlikely to improve this could prove problematic this afternoon and tomorrow.
Traffic was a major factor and led to a number of drivers getting quite tetchy, or in some cases more tetchy than usual. In one incident, Vettel branded fellow world champion an "idiot".
Ahead of this morning's session, the air temperature is 13 degrees C, while the track temperature is 24 degrees. It is brighter than yesterday, though just as 'cool'.
The lights go green and Grosjean heads out, the Frenchman having had another problematic day yesterday. He is followed by Haas teammate Gutierrez.
As they return to the pits to perform practice starts, they are joined by Button.
As Button returns to the pits, he is replaced by Ocon, Wehrlein and Verstappen.
It's slow, but we're getting there.
As Ocon posts the first time of the day (32.013), Button calls for a darker visor, proof that it is indeed brighter than yesterday.
As Ocon improves to 24.142, teammate Wehrlein posts 29.509.
"Steering feels a little bit left-hand down," says Hamilton as he begins his out lap.
Ocon gets down to 23.171 as Rosberg posts 24.046 and Wehrlein improves with a 22.743.
Hamilton's first timed lap is a 31.916 as the world champion prepares for a busy day.
That's more like it, Rosberg posts 20.566 and Hamilton 20.158 as the session finally kicks into life.
Scrub that, the session kicks into life when Perez emerges from his garage in the Force India and the crowd roars a welcome.
The Mexican responds by posting 20.749 to go third, while Hulkenberg reports that his steering, unlike Hamilton's, is pulling to the right.
Quickest in all three sectors, Hamilton (softs) raises the bar with a 19.721, as Hulkenberg pits after going fourth despite his steering issue.
Again, as was the case yesterday, the softs and supers appear good for a strong second flying lap.
A 20.734 sees Sainz go third, as teammate Kvyat posts 21.234 to go sixth. The Russian complains of problems with the balance at the rear, he is told that Sainz is suffering similar issues and that this is due to the conditions.
Masa goes fourth, 1.026s off Hamilton's pace. Elsewhere, on his first lap, Raikkonen posts 26.208 as Vettel finally emerges from his garage.
"I have warning lights on the dash," warns Button, "temperature."
Raikkonen improves to sixth with a 2.940 despite losing time in the Stadium behind Nasr.
As Vettel posts 24.330 to go 18th, Raikkonen goes quickest in S1. The Finn posts a PB in S2, but fails to improve following a poor final sector.
Vettel stops the clock at 20.048 to split the Mercedes, the German quickest of all in S1.
With 33:00 remaining we've yet to see a time from either Red Bull driver.
Alonso asks for Button's lap time for reference - it was 24.4 - the Spaniard posts 24.1.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Mexico City, here.
Again, Raikkonen is quickest in S1 but again it is S3 where he loses time.
The Red Bull duo finally post times but remain rooted to the foot of the timesheets.
"I don't know what to do," admits Grosjean, "I cannot get the front tyres to work, it's a disaster."
Meanwhile, Verstappen posts 19.959 to go second, while Ricciardo can only manage sixth with a 20.353.
Ricciardo is told that he's losing out to his teammate in the apex at T1, the entry to T2 and exit of T4.
The Australian takes all that on board and improves to 19.950 to go second, eclipsing his teammate by 0.009s.
As was the case with Ricciardo, Verstappen is told where he is losing out, T10 and T11.
"Sort yourself out with traffic," Rosberg is told, "we need three good traffic clear laps."
A big lock-up for Sainz as he enters the Stadium.
Ahead of the qualifying sims, Pirelli advises: "Top four times are covered by just over 0.3 seconds. With such small gaps, strategy will make a big difference."
Ahead of the qualifying sims, it's: Hamilton, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Vettel, Rosberg, Bottas, Massa, Sainz, Hulkenberg and Perez.
Massa improves to fourth with a 19.997, just 0.276s down on Hamilton though the Briton is sure to improve.
"You've let me out in a lot of cars," says Hamilton. "Roger that Lewis," comes the reply, "they all left the pits at the same time."
"I won't be able to get lap one because there is so much traffic," says the Briton. "Copy that Lewis, we'll have lap two."
Verstappen goes quickest with a 19.137 as Vettel goes purple in S1.
Ricciardo goes second (19.444) having lost a heap of time in the Stadium, Magnussen proving particularly awkward.
Vettel also loses timer in the final sector, as does Raikkonen, while Grosjean spins at T11 further hampering his rivals progress.
Verstappen looks set to improve but he too suffers in the final sector.
A mistake from Rosberg as he enters the Stadium, as Bottas improves to fourth with a 19.811.
Alonso improves to thirteenth while Ricciardo improves but remains second, only to be leapfrogged when Hamilton posts 19.231. The Briton is 0.094s off Verstappen's best.
Rosberg also makes a late improvement (19.618) but can only manage fourth.
Having given up on improving, Raikkonen and the Mercedes duo opt to perform practice starts in the pitlane.
The session ends, with Verstappen quickest, ahead of Hamilton, Ricciardo, Rosberg, Bottas, Vettel, Raikkonen, Massa, Hulkenberg and Sainz.
Perez is eleventh, ahead of Kvyat, Alonso, Palmer, Button, Ericsson, Gutierrez, Magnussen, Grosjean, Wehrlein, Ocon and Nasr.
Not for the first time, a session poses more questions than it answers, though Mercedes, and in particular Hamilton, are looking very strong.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Mexico City, here.