2014 Australian Grand Prix Saturday - Qualifying
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A stunning first Saturday of the 2014 Formula 1 season is over - and if race day can match its qualifying counterpart, tomorrow will be an explosive curtain-raiser.
AUTOSPORT Live returns at 0430 tomorrow morning (UK time), 90 minutes before the lights go out and the Australian Grand Prix begins.
We'll leave you with an AUTOSPORT exclusive to get you excited about the race (as if you need another reason to be).
The two Mercedes drivers enter the 2014 F1 season as overwhelming favourites, and have so far reaffirmed that status in Melbourne with Lewis Hamilton's pole position and Nico Rosberg starting third.
So what do Hamilton and Rosberg really think of their chances? In a pair of exclusive interviews, they reveal one or two home truths to EDD STRAW.
Mercedes' dynamic duo on 2014
AUTOSPORT Live returns at 0430 tomorrow morning (UK time), 90 minutes before the lights go out and the Australian Grand Prix begins.
We'll leave you with an AUTOSPORT exclusive to get you excited about the race (as if you need another reason to be).
The two Mercedes drivers enter the 2014 F1 season as overwhelming favourites, and have so far reaffirmed that status in Melbourne with Lewis Hamilton's pole position and Nico Rosberg starting third.
So what do Hamilton and Rosberg really think of their chances? In a pair of exclusive interviews, they reveal one or two home truths to EDD STRAW.
Mercedes' dynamic duo on 2014
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Felipe Massa believes that Williams's underwhelming qualifying session was simply a result of its car not being suited to wet conditions.
The Brazilian will start tomorrow's race ninth, with team-mate Valtteri Bottas 15th after a gearbox penalty. That's a far cry from the top five-challenging pace they showed in practice.
Massa said he was struggling with rear stability, a trait of the new Williams that's exacerbated by the wet weather. He thinks it's possible for them to go back to fighting for a top five finish tomorrow - if it stays dry:
"We have a very long day tomorrow. We need to work on the rear and try to do the best we can in the race. Even if we’re not starting well, it doesn’t take our confidence that we can have a good race tomorrow.
"In the normal conditions in the dry the car was a lot more competitive. Maybe tomorrow the situation can be different and we can be stronger."
The Brazilian will start tomorrow's race ninth, with team-mate Valtteri Bottas 15th after a gearbox penalty. That's a far cry from the top five-challenging pace they showed in practice.
Massa said he was struggling with rear stability, a trait of the new Williams that's exacerbated by the wet weather. He thinks it's possible for them to go back to fighting for a top five finish tomorrow - if it stays dry:
"We have a very long day tomorrow. We need to work on the rear and try to do the best we can in the race. Even if we’re not starting well, it doesn’t take our confidence that we can have a good race tomorrow.
"In the normal conditions in the dry the car was a lot more competitive. Maybe tomorrow the situation can be different and we can be stronger."
Breaking news
JONATHAN NOBLE brings news from the stewards - no further action against Kevin Magnussen or Fernando Alonso either, so the grid is unchanged and they keep their fourth and fifth places.
Magnussen had been investigated for a potential yellow-flag infringement, while Alonso was accused of impeding Gutierrez's Sauber.
Magnussen had been investigated for a potential yellow-flag infringement, while Alonso was accused of impeding Gutierrez's Sauber.
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He may have only got one run, but Max Chilton says 17th on the grid was a decent result for him and Marussia.
"I was really pleased with my lap on the opening run and felt that a few issues from FP3 had really come together. Bar one small mistake it was a clean lap.
"There was more to come of course but I'm reasonably happy given all the factors that we've experienced. It would have been nice to improve as we were close to Q2 but the weather intervened, so this is where we will start the race and that is what we have to focus on now."
Chilton's team-mate Jules Bianchi finished 18th, after having to fiddle with the settings on his quick lap due to a sensor problem.
"I was really pleased with my lap on the opening run and felt that a few issues from FP3 had really come together. Bar one small mistake it was a clean lap.
"There was more to come of course but I'm reasonably happy given all the factors that we've experienced. It would have been nice to improve as we were close to Q2 but the weather intervened, so this is where we will start the race and that is what we have to focus on now."
Chilton's team-mate Jules Bianchi finished 18th, after having to fiddle with the settings on his quick lap due to a sensor problem.
You can read a lot more on what Webber's up to now in this week's AUTOSPORT magazine, which has an in-depth feature on the Porsche LMP1 programme, including CRAIG SCARBOROUGH's technical analysis of the 919 Hybrid.
Webber's also here in Melbourne on TV pundit duty this weekend.
Webber's also here in Melbourne on TV pundit duty this weekend.
Twitter
Front-row man Ricciardo gets the social media thumbs-up from Australia's last F1 hero and his Red Bull predecessor, Mark Webber:
"What a quali session... Really really tricky stuff... @danielricciardo massively impressive mate, and have a smooth one tomorrow."
"What a quali session... Really really tricky stuff... @danielricciardo massively impressive mate, and have a smooth one tomorrow."
Breaking news
Kimi Raikkonen doesn't reckon his crash in qualifying cost him anything as traffic had already spoilt his chance of reaching Q3, and says he shunted on his in-lap due to "playing around with switches or something"...
Raikkonen: traffic more costly than crash
Raikkonen: traffic more costly than crash
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It was a promising day for Force India, with Nico Hulkenberg marking his return with a Q3 appearance and seventh on the grid.
According to the German, a well-balanced car made dealing with the difficult conditions much easier.
"It was the first time I've driven the new car in the wet, but right away I felt comfortable and confident with a nice balance on the intermediates and the wets.
"There was a good harmony between me and the car, and the team did a great job helping me manage the traffic.
"Looking ahead to tomorrow, it really is a step into the unknown for everyone. I think we are well prepared and I’m really looking forward to the race where points will be our target."
According to the German, a well-balanced car made dealing with the difficult conditions much easier.
"It was the first time I've driven the new car in the wet, but right away I felt comfortable and confident with a nice balance on the intermediates and the wets.
"There was a good harmony between me and the car, and the team did a great job helping me manage the traffic.
"Looking ahead to tomorrow, it really is a step into the unknown for everyone. I think we are well prepared and I’m really looking forward to the race where points will be our target."
And coming up on AUTOSPORT later today will be CRAIG SCARBOROUGH's Australian GP tech blog, in which he uncovers some of the design secrets only revealed in Melbourne - including Red Bull's camera mounting solution.
For a one-shot list of quotes from all the drivers, head to this page on AUTOSPORT's statistics partner FORIX:
Australian GP driver quotes and data
If you click on each driver's name, you get more stats from their weekend, including their results and speed trap info from each session.
After the GP tomorrow, that's augmented with their full race laptimes and gaps.
Australian GP driver quotes and data
If you click on each driver's name, you get more stats from their weekend, including their results and speed trap info from each session.
After the GP tomorrow, that's augmented with their full race laptimes and gaps.
Breaking news
Sebastian Vettel was another driver to pass the yellow flags brought out by Kimi Raikkonen's Q2 shunt and be subsequently investigated.
The stewards have cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Their statement read: "The driver's explanation supported by the telemetry satisfied the stewards that, under changing track conditions, the driver had slowed sufficiently and was fully in control."
The stewards have cleared him of any wrongdoing.
Their statement read: "The driver's explanation supported by the telemetry satisfied the stewards that, under changing track conditions, the driver had slowed sufficiently and was fully in control."
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Should Magnussen be penalised, it would undo a very impressive couple of days worth of work on his grand prix debut.
The youngster understandably buoyant talking after qualifying.
"The positive thing today was that nobody really has much experience with these cars in the wet. I just tried not to make any mistakes, I tried to take it easy, get a lap done and then push after that.
"The team is doing a great job in just making me feel at home and giving me the time and support I need to feel comfortable. I know that I have the support to take it step-by-step, and progress in my own tempo."
The youngster understandably buoyant talking after qualifying.
"The positive thing today was that nobody really has much experience with these cars in the wet. I just tried not to make any mistakes, I tried to take it easy, get a lap done and then push after that.
"The team is doing a great job in just making me feel at home and giving me the time and support I need to feel comfortable. I know that I have the support to take it step-by-step, and progress in my own tempo."
Breaking news
Fernando Alonso is also under investigation for impeding Esteban Gutierrez at Turn 1.
Breaking news
Uh-oh. Kevin Magnussen could lose his fourth place on tomorrow's starting grid.
The McLaren rookie is under investigation for an alleged yellow-flag infringement at Turn 3/4 in Q2.
That was when Kimi Raikkonen crashed his Ferrari. Magnussen improved right at the end of the session, while team-mate Jenson Button and world champion Sebastian Vettel failed to get out of Q2.
The McLaren rookie is under investigation for an alleged yellow-flag infringement at Turn 3/4 in Q2.
That was when Kimi Raikkonen crashed his Ferrari. Magnussen improved right at the end of the session, while team-mate Jenson Button and world champion Sebastian Vettel failed to get out of Q2.
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Alonso's playing it coy with regards Ferrari's chances of a podium finish tomorrow.
"The fuel consumption we need to see tomorrow, or even after the next couple of races when we know a little bit more. In testing and practice you never know. I did a race sim yesterday [but] the pace is difficult to see on Friday.
"This first race, the first priority is the finish the race. That may sound pessimistic, but even the guy in pole position cannot be 100 [per cent] that he will finish the race. We need to make sure we cross the line. If we do so, then we can be on the podium."
"The fuel consumption we need to see tomorrow, or even after the next couple of races when we know a little bit more. In testing and practice you never know. I did a race sim yesterday [but] the pace is difficult to see on Friday.
"This first race, the first priority is the finish the race. That may sound pessimistic, but even the guy in pole position cannot be 100 [per cent] that he will finish the race. We need to make sure we cross the line. If we do so, then we can be on the podium."
If Vettel/Red Bull think their issues are bad, then what must Lotus be feeling right now?
This perfectly-timed shot from our snappers at LAT is proof for the world champions that no matter how bad it is, someone's always got it worse than you...
Breaking news
Here's the story on Vettel's engine software issue - confirmed by Renault, maligned by the world champion.
Vettel hurt by engine software issue
Vettel hurt by engine software issue
Breaking news
An engine software issue was to blame for Vettel's poor qualifying performance.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said: "It was unlucky for Seb. His engine software meant he was down on power with extremely poor drivability and we need to understand that, as it compromised his qualifying."
Full story will be with you shortly.
Red Bull team boss Christian Horner said: "It was unlucky for Seb. His engine software meant he was down on power with extremely poor drivability and we need to understand that, as it compromised his qualifying."
Full story will be with you shortly.
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Vettel's failure to get into Q3 coincided with Kimi Raikkonen crashing his Ferrari and bringing out the yellows just ahead of him at Turn 3.
But the world champion was adamant that he wouldn't have blamed yellow flags even if he hadn't had the software/driveability issues that he felt were his main issue today:
"I had the yellow flag on the last lap, but I'm not a big fan of blaming that.
"There were other cars behind me that had yellow flags as well, and equally Kimi didn't drop it on purpose.
"A lot of things came together. But it's a long year and a long race tomorrow."
But the world champion was adamant that he wouldn't have blamed yellow flags even if he hadn't had the software/driveability issues that he felt were his main issue today:
"I had the yellow flag on the last lap, but I'm not a big fan of blaming that.
"There were other cars behind me that had yellow flags as well, and equally Kimi didn't drop it on purpose.
"A lot of things came together. But it's a long year and a long race tomorrow."
With Ricciardo in second and Vettel down in 13th, will a dry race expose any limitations to the Red Bull's performance? Or will reliability be the only thing that robs the Aussie of a strong result on his debut alongside the four-time world champion?
One thing's for certain, Vettel will not enjoy the gap between them on the grid tomorrow. He cut a despondent figure after being eliminated in Q2 earlier.
Breaking news
Red Bull is putting Vettel's 13th place down to issues with the engine software affecting his car's driveability.
JONATHAN NOBLE has just got back from the Red Bull briefing, full story coming up in a moment.
JONATHAN NOBLE has just got back from the Red Bull briefing, full story coming up in a moment.
Twitter
More on that Caterham social media love-in between Kobayashi and Fernandes - the Japanese has responded!
"Thanks tony. Still we are learning a lot. Important for us tomorrow is finish race and take more mileage!"
"Thanks tony. Still we are learning a lot. Important for us tomorrow is finish race and take more mileage!"
Not quite the qualifying sessions Williams would have hoped to be reflecting on.
Here's the rotated Martini car of Valtteri Bottas. He ended the session 10th, one place behind team-mate Felipe Massa.
But to compound the Finn's issues, he'll start 15th - a legacy of his gearbox troubles from FP3 and the five-place penalty the required change subsequently invoked.
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Toro Rosso is a happy garage right now. We've already mentioned the efforts of Vergne (sixth) and Kvyat (eighth on his debut grand prix weekend)
Technical director James Key reckons it's reward for the effort that's gone in since the first test - when Toro Rosso, like most Renault teams, looked in serious trouble.
"We had a plan for our qualifying session which we quickly had to change. Clearly in the wet it was about being reliable, the drivers keeping it together and having the right calls on the pit wall. I have to say that all of this worked very well and the drivers did a fantastic job.
"We’ve had a long road to come to this point after winter testing and to start the first race with both cars in Q3 is a very positive way to start the new season."
Technical director James Key reckons it's reward for the effort that's gone in since the first test - when Toro Rosso, like most Renault teams, looked in serious trouble.
"We had a plan for our qualifying session which we quickly had to change. Clearly in the wet it was about being reliable, the drivers keeping it together and having the right calls on the pit wall. I have to say that all of this worked very well and the drivers did a fantastic job.
"We’ve had a long road to come to this point after winter testing and to start the first race with both cars in Q3 is a very positive way to start the new season."
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P14 might not sound like much, but according to Adrian Sutil, a trouble-free run into Q2 was a good result for Sauber on what was a difficult day.
"The car is not where we want it to be yet, but I am quite satisfied we were able to run without any problems during qualifying and that we made it into Q2.
"The yellow flag at the end didn't help, I think I could have pushed to get even more out of the car. But I think P14 is solid for today and I will definitely get the most out of the car tomorrow to improve that position."
Sutil's team-mate Esteban Gutierrez, meanwhile, had a shocker. The Mexican missed FP3 while the team changed his gearbox, before qualifying 19th – which turns into the back row with the penalty for the gearbox switch.
"The car is not where we want it to be yet, but I am quite satisfied we were able to run without any problems during qualifying and that we made it into Q2.
"The yellow flag at the end didn't help, I think I could have pushed to get even more out of the car. But I think P14 is solid for today and I will definitely get the most out of the car tomorrow to improve that position."
Sutil's team-mate Esteban Gutierrez, meanwhile, had a shocker. The Mexican missed FP3 while the team changed his gearbox, before qualifying 19th – which turns into the back row with the penalty for the gearbox switch.
Daniil Kvyat
We've got two rookies in the top 10 today, with Daniil Kvyat qualifying his Toro Rosso eighth.
He admitted that the emotions were "quite big", adding "we wouldn't have expected this two months ago".
Kvyat took that position despite spinning into the wall on the fast back straight kink on his final Q3 lap. He admitted he still needed to learn the track a bit better, having been caught out on the slippery white line.
He actually did well not to damage the car more substantially, catching the flat-out spin with only some relatively light biffs of the barriers.
Breaking news
Lotus has confirmed that its disastrous day was down to technical problems, with Maldonado's car hit by an issue with its power unit, and Grosjean suffering mapping problems that affected braking.
Twitter
Ricciardo's former Toro Rosso team-mate Jean-Eric Vergne, himself a cracking sixth in qualifying, has tipped his hat to the Aussie after his front row effort.
"Congrats to my mate @danielricciardo for this 2nd position. You ll have a great view on the grid tomorrow ;) #norearwing"
"Congrats to my mate @danielricciardo for this 2nd position. You ll have a great view on the grid tomorrow ;) #norearwing"
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Shock images from that qualifying reveal a rarely-seen side of Daniel Ricciardo - he's smiling.
Maybe it's because he's beaten Vettel on his Red Bull qualifying debut. Maybe it's because he's on the front row for the first time in his F1 career. Maybe it's because he came within a whisker of a shock pole at his home grand prix.
Joking aside, that was a star performance from Ricciardo, who is as delighted as you'd expect from a man who never stops grinning.
"It was exciting. It was the first time e had really driven these cars on the limit in wet conditions. "It was tricky but at the same time a lot of fun, and nice to be always up there.
"I don’t know what his [Vettel's] issues were. For now I am happy for me to be at least up here and for the team to have a front row start. It wasn’t looking like this a few weeks ago, so I am pretty pleased right now."
Kevin Magnussen has a much better view from his grid spot than his Dad Jan did when his F1 career began here in Melbourne with the Stewart team in 1997.
Jan qualified 19th, 1.5s and eight places down on his team-mate Rubens Barrichello, though he got as high as ninth in the race before having to park with suspension problems.
Verstappen, of course, later ousted Magnussen from Stewart halfway through 1998, ending the Dane's F1 career.
But he's gone on to be a highly-successful sportscar star and is racing for Corvette at the Sebring 12 Hours this weekend, where he and team-mates Ryan Briscoe and Antonio Garcia will start fifth in GTLM later today.
Jan qualified 19th, 1.5s and eight places down on his team-mate Rubens Barrichello, though he got as high as ninth in the race before having to park with suspension problems.
Melbourne 1997
Verstappen, of course, later ousted Magnussen from Stewart halfway through 1998, ending the Dane's F1 career.
But he's gone on to be a highly-successful sportscar star and is racing for Corvette at the Sebring 12 Hours this weekend, where he and team-mates Ryan Briscoe and Antonio Garcia will start fifth in GTLM later today.
Twitter
Those Q3 heroics from the likes of Ricciardo, Kvyat and Magnussen have detracted attention from a Q1 star - Kamui Kobayashi.
Fortunately, the ever-reserved Caterham boss Tony Fernandes has (in a rather broken way) expressed his delight via Twitter.
We've helped make it a bit more understandable, but we get why Fernandes would be too excited to type properly - getting a Caterham into Q2 is a great feat, especially given the difficult start to 2014 the team endured:
"Well done @kamui_kobayashi. Your spirit, determination and can-do is a lesson for all of us."
Fortunately, the ever-reserved Caterham boss Tony Fernandes has (in a rather broken way) expressed his delight via Twitter.
We've helped make it a bit more understandable, but we get why Fernandes would be too excited to type properly - getting a Caterham into Q2 is a great feat, especially given the difficult start to 2014 the team endured:
"Well done @kamui_kobayashi. Your spirit, determination and can-do is a lesson for all of us."
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Nico Rosberg is already looking ahead to tomorrow, and with the weather likely to be a bit drier, he says fuel consumption will definitely be in play.
"Of course it will be a completely different to today. There is a small chance of rain tomorrow, but more likely it will be dry.
"It will be totally different, especially as Melbourne is the most difficult track for fuel consumption. It will be difficult to save enough fuel. It will be a big challenge."
"Of course it will be a completely different to today. There is a small chance of rain tomorrow, but more likely it will be dry.
"It will be totally different, especially as Melbourne is the most difficult track for fuel consumption. It will be difficult to save enough fuel. It will be a big challenge."
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Fourth on the grid for his F1 debut is an amazing start for Kevin Magnussen. He's got the F1 platitudes nailed already, praising his McLaren team for its fantastic preparation etc - and noting that he's pretty proud of himself too.
Can he get on the podium tomorrow?
"I'll do the best I can. To be on the podium would be amazing. If it's dry, that's not what we have the pace for at the moment.
"But if it's wet, anything can happen..."
Can he get on the podium tomorrow?
"I'll do the best I can. To be on the podium would be amazing. If it's dry, that's not what we have the pace for at the moment.
"But if it's wet, anything can happen..."
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According to polesitter Lewis Hamilton, the choice between full wets and inters in Q3 was an incredibly difficult one to make.
"It's very difficult to know what the turnover point is, do you take the risk or not? Daniel did a really good job on inters, and it was a close call between the two.
"I am really happy with the job the team did, and these new cars are a lot harder to drive in the wet. It was hard to drive, a serious task and a challenge today."
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While Hamilton was left celebrating, fellow Brit Jenson Button just missed the cut for Q3.
He'll start 11th, and was a driver who failed to get a clean final lap in - not helped by Raikkonen's yellow flag-inducing shunt.
That's left him in a pretty foul mood.
"In the wet the car was working fine. But when I came in and put tyres on at the end it was so difficult to get a lap in.
"The car was working really well in the wet, I was very happy with the pace. [It was] quickest in wet conditions, which we expected. But at the end the yellow flags hurt us and ruined any chance of getting a lap in.
"I'm too annoyed about qualifying [to think about the race]."
He'll start 11th, and was a driver who failed to get a clean final lap in - not helped by Raikkonen's yellow flag-inducing shunt.
That's left him in a pretty foul mood.
"In the wet the car was working fine. But when I came in and put tyres on at the end it was so difficult to get a lap in.
"The car was working really well in the wet, I was very happy with the pace. [It was] quickest in wet conditions, which we expected. But at the end the yellow flags hurt us and ruined any chance of getting a lap in.
"I'm too annoyed about qualifying [to think about the race]."
Nigel Mansell Adelaide 1994
In claiming pole position, Hamilton has joined Nigel Mansell on 32 career Formula 1 poles.
The two Brits now share sixth on the all-time list. Our Nige's 32nd pole also came in Australia - at a wet Adelaide in '94. He went on to claim his final grand prix victory the next day.
Ripper.
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Sebastian Vettel says he is confused about his lack of pace in qualifying, after being dumped out of Q2.
"There is not much I can do now. It's disappointing as the car seemed to be very good yesterday. The car seems to have potential, Daniel is showing that.
"I was struggling a bit more with intermediate and wet conditions. I struggled with the driveability – for some reason we lost [speed] overnight and we need to understand why that was."
The reigning world champion will start 13th, 11 spots behind his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.
"There is not much I can do now. It's disappointing as the car seemed to be very good yesterday. The car seems to have potential, Daniel is showing that.
"I was struggling a bit more with intermediate and wet conditions. I struggled with the driveability – for some reason we lost [speed] overnight and we need to understand why that was."
The reigning world champion will start 13th, 11 spots behind his team-mate Daniel Ricciardo.
Breaking news
Here's the report from that breathless session. Lewis Hamilton claimed the first pole position of 2014, Sebastian Vettel failed to get out of Q2 and two of the three rookies starred:
Hamilton denies Ricciardo Melbourne pole
Hamilton denies Ricciardo Melbourne pole
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So, starting from the bottom - quite literally - and that awful session for Lotus.
Their cars qualified 21st and 22nd, but will avoid the ignominy of filling the back row with Grosjean inheriting 20th thanks to Gutierrez's grid penalty.
Maldonado, who will start last, is refusing to be too downbeat though.
"It is quite difficult but it is what we have at the moment, we need to work harder than before we knew it was quite difficult especially from the beginning of the weekend.
"We need to work harder to resolve all the problems around the engine; we are waiting for Renault answers. They have been working hard in the last few weeks but it seems it is not enough for us.
"We need to wait. For sure in the future we will have some good news and good results."
Breaking news
So many things to pick out from that qualifying session. Where do you begin? In the briefest possible way, we have:
* Hamilton takes the first pole of F1's new era
* Ricciardo clinches maiden front row start for Red Bull debut
* Magnussen, Kvyat will start their first race in F1 fourth and eighth
* Hamilton takes the first pole of F1's new era
* Ricciardo clinches maiden front row start for Red Bull debut
* Magnussen, Kvyat will start their first race in F1 fourth and eighth
By: Scott Mitchell, Ben Anderson, Edd Straw, Jonathan Noble, Andrew van Leeuwen, Matt Beer
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