Fortunately it’ll be a dry qualifying session after the rain in practice caused to so many cars aquaplaning.
(We were away in Halifax, NS, and our PVR failed to record anything over the weekend, but fortunately there’s always the bit torrents … and even better than that, it’s the full BBC coverage with plenty of pre-show!)
Qualifying session 1 (Q1)
KK is first on track
BBC report are still having problems with KERS, again!
KK has backed off on the straight – problem with the Sauber?
BBC report KK didn’t make it back to the pits, so he’ll be P24
VL 1:32.524
Marshalls are pushing KK along the pit lane, but he won’t be allowed to continue qualifying
JD 1:32.251
PD 1:29.420
PD 1:29.223
SV 1:27.039
LH baulked by MS?
10mins gone = halfway through Q1
MW on a flying lap but pitted instead – trying not to show his hand?
5mins left of Q1; bottom 7 are JD, TG, NK, VL, NH*, VP*, KK (No lap time yet for NH or VP but they’re both on track)
3mins left; PD, JT, JD, TG, NK, VL, KK
FM putting in a fast lap on the option tyre – Ferrari playing it safe!
2:30min left; 107% target time = 1:33.1
1min left; bottom 7 are HK, JD, VL, TG, JT, NK, KK
FM 1:27.013
Chequered flag
Bottom of the grid: HK, JT, JD*, VL, TG, NK, KK
*JD has a 5 grid-spot penalty for ignoring yellow flags during practice
Qualifying session 2 (Q2)
MS 1:27.458
MW 1:26.075
SV 1:25.610
2mins left; bottom 7 are RB, MS, PM, JA, AS, NH, PD
Pit-car radio for MS: “magic paddle latched” – clearly an encoded message
Chequered flag; bottom 7 are PD, PM, SP, SB, JA, AS, NH … but all bar JA are on track, so that could still change
(AS P11)
(SB P15)
(NH P10, relegating RB)
Middle of the grid will be: RB, AS, PD, PM, SP, SB, JA
Qualifying session 3 (Q3)
Fighting over the top 10 spots are: SV, NR, LH, MW, FA, FM, JB, VP, MS & NH
VP first out of the pits, followed by JB
VP 1:26.411
JB 1:25.982
FA 1:25.851
MW 1:25.454
(LH P2)
SV 1:25.049
5mins gone = halfway through Q3; order is SV, MW, LH, FA, JB, VP (no lap times for NR, FM, MS or NH)
Everyone’s in the pits
2:45 left – time for one more flying lap … only SV & MW stay in their garage
Chequered flag; everyone except the Red Bulls are on a flying lap
(NH P7)
(NR P3)
(MS P8)
No lap time from FM!?
So the front of the grid will be: SV, MW, NR, LH, FA, JB, VP, MS, NH, FM
That’s the fifth P5 for FA in the 5 races so far this season
Replay of SV’s lap shows he used KERS so maybe Red Bull have finally overcome their problems
Provisional grid: SV, MW, NR, LH, FA, JB, VP, MS, NH, FM, RB, AS, PD, PM, SP, SB, JA, HK, JT, VL, TG, NK, KK, JD