Sector times: please log in to view this image please log in to view this image please log in to view this image Rosberg eighth quickest in sector 3, where they were supposed to be dominant. I think Mercedes had the best car today, what a mess they made of it all.
Seb looking good for heavy fuel load then while being vulnerable towards the end when he hits the limiter. It's looking like Monza 2011.
Done some quick calculations to estimate how quick Alonso could have been had he set a lap in Q3. Just to note: All 8 drivers who set a lap in Q3 were faster than in Q2 Vettel's gain from Q2 to Q3 was the biggest: 1.105 And the results... The average gain was 0.590 - applying this to Alonso's Q2 time, his theoretical Q3 lap would have 1.32.813 - good enough for P5 and 0.391 off pole position. The average gain excluding Vettel was 0.516 - applying this to Alonso's Q2 time, his theoretical Q3 lap would have 1.32.887 - good enough for P6 and 0.465 off pole position. Bear in mind that Ferrari have no updates for this race and this is a circuit which highlight Ferrari's weaknesses. Amazing what a top driver can do in a midfield car.
Well, it looks like Seb's "worrying about stuff that really matters - tyre temperatures, cars..." has really paid off, he must be so proud of himself.
Post-quali press conference and a pic of the lesser-spotted Force India: please log in to view this image
Nice to see Vettel has mastered the art of talking in asterisks. And good to see a FI, I'd forgotten what they looked like.
Seb, the new bad boy of F1. He's been hanging around Kimi too much lol! Next he will be craving ice-creams!
this is just ridiculous regarding FI. imo they didn't do anything wrong. they were just ensuring that their staff were safe, something the FIA failed to do on Wednesday.
Is this just people jumping to conclusions about Force India because di Resta's Q2 lap wasn't shown? FOM can't show every driver's lap live, Ricciardo put a belter in in Q3 which also wasn't broadcast.
If we can't indulge in a juicy little conspiracy theory in relation to F1 and, moreso, in relation to F1 in Bahrain, then Ecclestone's not doing his job properly. Autosport's joining in.
But to not appear at all even a brief shot on an outlap in three sessions. Cant be a coincidence. HRT got more airtime.
I know people have seen me do body language a few weeks back, but Lewis looks scared. He was avoiding eye contact right from the start, quite a bit in that interview with a lot of rapid eye movement, and his voice sounded to me a bit nervous, that kind of voice when you're going to cry etc.. Scratches his nose at 0:38, he's annoyed that RBR have caught up so quickly, he's also taking huge gulps around about here, dont know what that means but I would guess he's trying to calm down. At 1:02-1:04 he scratches his top lip with his lower teeth with regard to the RBR upgrades or "something" so he is already becoming paranoid what RBR have devised to make them so quick again and he doesn't look happy because of that. At 1:13-1:14 he licks his lip with regard to tyre wear which means he is nervous about that, does it again at 1:23- 1:24 with the amount of stops, might be worried that RBR can do 1 less stop and still go quick possibly. I reckon Lewis will do a 3 stopper, just seemed to pick up when he talked about it. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17797723 Compare that to Vettel who seemed pretty relaxed with long durations of eye contact between DC and Jake with the odd visual of the past in his head while looking away from both. He also shakes his head so I think he is stunned how well the car works for him now after the "boys" pulled their thumbs out for him, he's very happy indeed. If it's not the camera shaking at 1:38-1:40 Seb raised his feet showing excitement, oozing confidence for tomorrow. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17799832
I had virtual money on Schumi for pole, and got Vergne in the sweepstakes. Not looking too promising...
I had real and virtual money on Rosberg for pole, AND I had him in the sweepstake. Got Vettel for the win though and had Newcastle to beat Stoke 3-0.
