17/10/2009
NEWS STORY
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Ahead of today's vital qualifying session, the air temperature is 17 degrees C, while the track temperature is also 17 degrees.
As early as last week it was predicted that the weather would play a major part in this weekend's activities, and while yesterday was not affected too badly, this morning's session was a washout, literally. Other than the heavy downpours, which left parts of the track flooded, the lack of visibility meant the medical helicopter was unable to take off, consequently the session didn't get underway until 12:42, leaving the drivers with just 18 minutes of running. Then, with just 5 minutes remaining, Romain Grosjean span off into the barriers bringing out the red flags.
Consequently, we go into this afternoon's session with little idea as to who's hot and who's not, for while yesterday gave us some insight, the weather forecasts for the remainder of the weekend leave us all confused, even the boffins in the pitlane.
The Williams were quickest this morning, while yesterday it was the Brawns that appeared to have the slight edge, despite the cool temperatures.
Naturally, much attention is focussed on the battle for the Drivers' Championship, however, there is much else to play for this weekend, and drivers such as Hamilton and Raikkonen will be keen to add to their points tally while McLaren very much wants to leapfrog Ferrari in the Constructors' Championship.
Whatever the weather, if he is to wrap up the title this weekend, Jenson Button has to up his performance in qualifying, for it is the Englishman's form on Saturday afternoon's that has really hampered his chances for much of the latter half of the season.
Ten minutes before the session is scheduled to start it's raining cats and dogs, however, according to Race Control, there will be no delays because visibility is sufficient for the helicopter to take off, so the session will begin no matter how wet it is.
With five minutes to go, the Safety Car and Medical Cars are on track, and both appear to be struggling such are the conditions. Nonetheless, the atmosphere is electric, the crowd full of anticipation and only too eager to cheer anything that moves, especially if it's Brazilian.
The lights go green and Fisichella leads the way followed by Grosjean, Alguersuari, Buemi, Vettel and a whole host of others. Heidfeld is told that the rain will continue for some time however, the intensity will fluctuate. This is not what a driver wants to hear.
Lots of standing water, indeed, even 'rain master' Vettel is tip-toeing around the track.
The German posts the first time of the afternoon crossing the line at 1:39.694. As he crosses the line lightning rakes the sky.
Fisichella spins coming out of the Senna S and the session is immediately red flagged. Hamilton complains about the conditions admitting that he's aquaplaning everywhere, while Grosjean spins as if to prove the point.
With 15 minutes remaining there are only 7 names on the timesheets - Vettel, Fisichella, Alguersuari, Rosberg, Grosjean, Nakajima and Buemi.
Race Control announces that "Q1 will not continue until conditions improve", which means we could be here for some time.
After two reconnaissance laps by the Safety Car, the session resumes at 14:18, and Hamilton is one of the first to head down the pitlane. The rain has eased off a little, but there are still rivers running across the track at certain points.
Hamilton and Rosberg are straight on the pace, the Englishman crossing the line at 27.473. Rosberg goes second with a 28.468 before being displaced by Barrichello who posts 27.718.
As Vettel goes eighth, Rosberg raises the benchmark with a 24.356.
Despite the conditions the pace is furious, as Barrichello consolidates second ahead of Heidfeld, Alonso and Raikkonen.
As Alonso goes quickest in the first sector, Nakajima goes quickest in the second as Williams continue s to impress. The Japanese driver crosses the line at 24.154 as Raikkonen goes second and Kubica third.
Rosberg re-takes the top spot with a 22.828 to make it a Williams 1-2. Elsewhere, Hamilton is told that there will be more rain "in a couple of laps".
It's almost impossible to keep track of the order such is the amount of activity and the constant improvements.
With just over six minutes remaining, and the rain due at any time, Hamilton is in the danger zone along with Kovalainen, Vettel and Heidfeld. Fisichella is already out of the game following his spin.
Hamilton pits for another set of full wets as Heidfeld and Sutil battle for position back on track.
Vettel is another driver who is suffering the German failing to get out of the bottom 5. No doubt Red Bull is focussing on tomorrow's race which should be run in easier conditions.
Hamilton spins off onto the grass at Turn 5 but is able to continue. He remains in eighteenth.
With under two minutes remaining, all but Rosberg Raikkonen and Nakajima are on track.
Hamilton drives into the pits as does his teammate, the McLaren duo clearly having given up. Then again, the rain is increasing in intensity.
Vettel also gives up the ghost, the German barely able to keep the Red Bull under control.
Q1 ends with Rosberg quickest, ahead of Raikkonen, Kubica, Nakajima, Barrichello, Button, Kobayashi, Grosjean, Sutil and Buemi.
However, we lose Vettel, Kovalainen, Hamilton, Heidfeld and Fisichella. Who would-a thunk it, two McLarens and the rain master. The German is clearly livid, getting out of his car he slams the steering wheel down and marches off to the back of the garage, his face like thunder.
Elsewhere, Hamilton admits that his car - like a good many others - was set up for dry conditions.
As the rain increases, the start of Q2 is delayed, with the Safet Car and Medical Car both deployed in order to assess the conditions.
At 14:57 Q2 finally gets underway, with all but Trulli, Sutil and Button very keen to get back to work.
As Nakajima goes quickest in the first sector, Liuzzi crashes heavily coming towards the end of the pit straight. "You OK mate," the Italian is asked, "Yeh, I'm OK, I lost it under braking". The session is red flagged once again.
Mark Webber is asked if there are any comments regarding track conditions which should be passed on to (Race Director) Charlie Whiting. "Yes, put your glasses on and take a look out there," says the Australian, "there are rivers all over the place out there". Strong words, bravely spoken, however, isn't it time that some of his GPDA colleague spoke out, after all, they are the ones sitting in the cars putting their lives on the line.
At 15:23 a couple of engines fire up, however, there's still no news from Race Control.
At 15:25 Race Control announces that there will be another track inspection at 15:30.
At 15:33 Race Control announces that there will be a further track inspection at 15:45.
Kimi Raikkonen gets out of his car and heads to the back of the Ferrari garage, this time however, there is no ice cream. Maybe a Horlicks would be more appropriate.
Sure enough, at 15:45 the Medical Car is back on track, checking out the conditions. The reality is that the rain is now falling harder than ever.
On and on and on it goes, as Race Control announces yet another track inspection for 16:00. It is now getting just a little bit ridiculous.
Amazingly, the crowd is still cheering, though God alone knows why. Just goes to show how hardy and passionate these people are. Great stuff.
As the rain stops, Race Control announces that the session (Q2) will resume at 16:10.
As the engines fir up, there is a large gap in the cloud where the sun is doing its best to break through.
At 16:10, as promised, the clock starts ticking again, and with 12:24 still on the meter Q2 resumes.
Once again, Rosberg looks hot, the German going posting a 21.815 as Webber goes second with a 22.441.
As Kubica goes third, ahead of Nakajima, Raikkonen goes quickest overall in the first sector. The Finn loses a little pace in the second sector, finally crossing the line at 21.378 to go quickest.
Though it is no longer raining it remains very wet and in parts visibility is very difficult.
As Nakajima goes quickest in the middle sector, Williams fit his teammate with a set of intermediates, the first driver to do so.
With just under six minutes remaining all but Alonso have posted a time, with Button, Kobayashi and Grosjean all still in the danger zone.
Webber posts 21.185 to go quickest as Rosberg begins his first flying lap on the inters. Elsewhere, Raikkonen also switches to inters.
As Webber goes quickest in the first two sectors, Rosberg is almost a second slower. The Red Bull driver raises the benchmark with a 20.906 while Button fails to improve.
All eyes on Button who is not improving, and has run out of time if he wants to make the switch to inters.
Barrichello posts a personal best in the first sector, going sixth with a 21.659, as Button remains thirteenth.
Less than a minute remaining and Rosberg goes quickest in the middle sector, finally crossing the line at 20.668 to go quickest. Elsewhere, Sutil goes quickest in the first sector, as Nakajima consolidates third with a 21.242.
Sutil goes second with a 20.753 as Kubica goes fourth. However, a late charge sees Trulli take second as Button heads into the pits having failed to make the cut.
At the last minute, Nakajima posts 20.427 to make it a Williams 1-2, the Grove outfit absolutely superb in these conditions.
Therefore, at the end of an extended Q2, it's: Rosberg, Nakajima, Trulli, Buemi, Sutil, Webber, Kubica, Raikkonen, Alonso and Barrichello.
We lose Kobayashi, Alguersuari, Grosjean, Button and Liuzzi. A dreadful session for the World Championship leader who will start just ahead of Vettel tomorrow afternoon, while the other championship hopeful, Rubens Barrichello, must now do all in his power to get as far up the grid as possible.
Q3 gets underway and all but Sutil head down the pitlane.
Buemi goes quickest with a 21.721, as Webber goes second ahead of Raikkonen. However, having gone fifth on his first flying lap, Rosberg goes quickest in the first sector of his next lap.
Kubica crosses the line at 21.764 to go second however, moments later he is leapfrogged by Barrichello who takes provisional pole with a 21.167. Trulli goes third ahead of Raikkonen and Webber.
Kubica goes quickest, the Pole posting 20.655, however, Trulli and Rosberg are both on hot laps.
Trulli takes pole with a 20.596 only to be beaten by Rosberg who crosses the timing beam at 20.492. In no time at all Barrichello has slipped down to sixth.
Trulli and Barrichello both on hot laps, the Italian goes quickest but the Brawn driver is even quicker, much to the partisan crowd's delight.
Next time around, Barrichello goes even quicker in the first sector, however, Webber is also on a charge. The Australian takes provisional pole with a 20.109, as Barrichello can only manage 20.210.
Rosberg goes third (20.326), ahead of Trulli, but once again Barrichello is charging as is Webber.
The Red Bull driver posts 19.668, but Barrichello is quickest in the second sector, crossing the line at 19.576 to take the top spot.
The clock reaches '0' but there are several cars still on track.
Sutil takes third while Raikkonen improves to fifth, meaning that Rubens Barrichello takes pole and thereby keeps his championship hopes alive.
"You beauty, P1 in Brazil," screams Jock clear over the radio. "P1, Jenson Button P14, Sebastian Vettel P16, where are you now, well done Rubens, you beauty!"
After almost three hours we finally have a result, and by the look on Barrichello's face, not to mention the cheers from the stands, it's the right result.
Mark Webber finishes second, ahead of Sutil, Trulli, Raikkonen, Buemi, Rosberg, Kubica, Nakajima and Alonso.
At the bitter end, after an hour or so of absolute tedium, we got an absolutely fantastic session, as session worthy of a (possible) World Championship decider.
Tremendous performances from Rubens, Mark, Adrian, Jarno and Sebastien, indeed, it seems unfair to single out anyone, for these guys gave their all when it was needed most.
A fantastic climax to a difficult day, and if tomorrow's race is only half as good we could be in for a real thriller.