16/03/2019
NEWS STORY
If nothing else, in just over an hour's time we should be able to put to bed all those annoying "10 things we need to know..." and "5 things we learned..." headlines that have dominated the F1 media in recent weeks.
We should also know, whether - in terms of Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton's claims regarding Ferrari's 0.5s advantage - whether it really was all BS.
Based on the evidence of the three practice sessions thus far, it was, with Lewis Hamilton leading the way in all three.
However, this is when it really matters - when the BS stops, so to speak - as the gloves finally come off, legs and stretched and the mode is full-on party.
Red Bull appeared to lose a little ground this morning, but then again, other than a new chassis for Verstappen, the Austrian team has been keeping its cards close to its chest, keeping its runs on the softest rubber late and to the very minimum.
Whether Mercedes was bullshitting and sandbagging, or whether its two rivals have something in reserve, will soon be revealed, as will the pecking order of the midfield.
Haas was very strong this morning, finishing ahead of Renault, however, as in testing, we don't know about fuel loads.
While both McLaren and Racing Point were further behind, it was interesting to note the disparity in performance within some teams, most notably Toro Rosso and McLaren, where the more experienced Kvyat and Sainz led the way.
Though Kimi Raikkonen was at the wrong end of the timesheets, and his teammate 12th, this was down to a DRS issue, the Finn having looked strong for much of the session.
Indeed, Raikkonen, along with Bottas, Verstappen and the Renault pair were quicker in FP2 than they were this morning.
The one certainty this afternoon, the one thing we do know, the one thing we have learned, is that unless there is some sort of divine intervention, the Williams pair will be eliminated at the first hurdle, though who else fails to make the cut remains to be seen.
Ahead of Q1, the air temperature is 23.8 degrees C, while the track temperature is 40.4 degrees. It remains gloriously sunny.
The lights go green and Norris, Kubica and Russell are first out.
Norris posts 24.654 and Kubica 26.728 as Vettel and Leclerc head out on the medium rubber. All others thus far are on the red softs.
Unsurprisingly, Vettel goes quickest with a 23.891, though he is subsequently demoted by Raikkonen, Leclerc and the Kvyat, the Russian posting 23.313.
Giovinazzi goes third, ahead of Raikkonen, Albon and Vettel, as Hamilton heads out on softs.
Hamilton goes quickest with a 22.681 but is instantly leapfrogged by his teammate who posts 22.658.
A 22.942 sees Perez go third as the Bulls finally head out.
Verstappen can only manage seventh (23.188), just behind his teammate who posts 23.020.
Vettel improves to third with a 22.885 as Norris goes eighth with a 23.269.
A 23.138 sees Ricciardo go eighth, as Verstappen improves to third with a 22.876.
Hamilton goes quickest in the first two sectors, maintaining the pace in S3 as he goes top with a 22.043.
Fourth and twelfth, for reasons only they know, the Ferrari pair persist with the medium tyres.
With 2 minutes remaining, Magnussen, Stroll and Albon comprise the drop zone with the Williams pair. The Alfas and Sainz are hovering.
A 22.942 sees Perez go fifth, as Stroll improves to eighth.
Leclerc goes quickest in the first two sectors, on softs, as Raikkonen improves to tenth. Leclerc goes quickest with a 22.017.
Replay shows Kubica clouting the wall at T10 and getting a puncture for his troubles.
A late charge sees Ricciardo go thirteenth, as Albon goes ninth.
Along with the Williams pair, Stroll, Gasly - yes Gasly - and Sainz, miss the cut.
Quickest is Leclerc, ahead of Hamilton, Bottas, Giovinazzi, Kvyat, Magnussen, Hulkenberg, Norris, Albon and Verstappen.
That session really came alive in the final minute or so, hence some very odd names near the top of the timesheets, this of course caused problems for those drivers who had already settled for their times, not least Gasly.
No sooner have the lights gone green for Q2 than Hamilton is out on track, followed by the Ferraris. All are on softs, which is likely to be the order of the day (session). Bottas subsequently joins them.
A mistake, caused by traffic ahead which caused him to lock-up, in the final corner means Hamilton can only manage 21.861. Nonetheless, Vettel posts 21.912.
Leclerc goes top with a 21.739 but Bottas responds with a 21.241.
Raikkonen goes fifth (22.349), ahead of Hulkenberg, Kvyat, Albon and Giovinazzi.
As Magnussen goes sixth with a 22.519, all eyes are on Verstappen who heads out on the softs.
A mistake in the final corner means Grosjean can only manage 22.906, which puts him tenth.
Despite it being a scrappy lap, Verstappen goes second with a 21.712, 0.471s off Bottas' pace.
With six minutes remaining, Grosjean, Kvyat, Albon, Giovinazzi and Norris comprise the drop zone.
As they head out for the final assault, sporting the tyres they will probably use at the start tomorrow, Bottas, Hamilton, Vettel and Raikkonen are on brand new tyres. Indeed, only Leclerc emerges on used softs.
Hamilton goes quickest in S1, while Raikkonen and Ricciardo fail to improve.
Magnussen goes sixth (22.221) as Hamilton goes quickest (21.014).
Norris goes ninth, but Giovinazzi fails to improve, as does Kvyat.
Perez goes tenth (22.532) while Vettel aborts his lap after running wide and through the gravel and wisely settles for sixth.
Hamilton is quickest, ahead of Bottas, Verstappen, Leclerc, Grosjean, Vettel, Magnussen, Raikkonen, Norris and Perez.
We lose Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Albon, Giovinazzi and Kvyat.
Magnussen and Norris are first out for Q3. Soon, all bar Raikkonen and Perez are on track.
Hamilton reports that he's struggling with his right-front... brake.
The Mercedes pair trade fastest sectors, and while Magnussen posts a 22.907 benchmark, Hamilton responds with a 21.055 and Bottas a 20.598. A very, very fast lap from the Finn.
Vettel can only manage third, 0.652s down on Bottas, while Leclerc (fourth) is 0.844s off the pace.
Verstappen goes fifth with a 21.656 ahead of Grosjean, Magnussen and Norris.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Melbourne, here.
Perez and Raikkonen head out for their sole Q3 laps.
With 3:25 remaining, Hamilton heads out, to get the final assault underway. Last out is Verstappen.
Hamilton goes quickest in S1, posting a PB in S2.
Perez posts 22.781 to go 8th.
Hamilton crosses the line at 20.486 but Bottas appears to have already aborted his lap.
Leclerc fails to improve as does Vettel, while Verstappen digs deep and manages to split the Ferraris with a 21.320 to go fourth.
As the dust settles, it is Hamilton who will start from pole tomorrow, ahead of Bottas, Vettel, Verstappen, Leclerc, Grosjean, Magnussen, Norris, Raikkonen and Perez.
Hulkenberg will start eleventh, ahead of Ricciardo, Albon, Giovinazzi, Kvyat, Stroll, Gasly, Sainz, Russell and Kubica.
So, those annoying headline writers finally have some answers to their questions, while we also now know that Ferrari's edge, was, to use Lewis' phrase, BS.
However, while it's business as usual at the top - except for Gasly's absence, it's surely surprising to see Haas so strong, especially after it didn't exactly impress in Spain. Perhaps, it's the black and gold livery.
A great performance from Norris, while Raikkonen and Perez showed their respective teammates how it should be done.
Renault will be bitterly disappointed, as will Toro Rosso, while Sainz has got his McLaren career off to the worst possible start.
Last year, Vettel won the race courtesy of a strategic error by Mercedes, down by 0.7s on the German team, Ferrari will need to produce something very special tomorrow if it is to prevent Mercedes getting its season off to the perfect start.
Check out our Saturday gallery from Melbourne, here.