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Formula 1
Australian GP
2012 Australian Grand Prix Qualifying
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9 min: Button takes over at the top, lapping at 1m26.986s for McLaren.
9 min: Senna is quickest in the first sector but loses time in the middle part of the circuit.
9 min: Meanwhile, Kobayashi is the next man to top the order with a 1m27.048s lap in his Sauber.
9 min: Maldonado improves with a lap of 1m28.069s and is now back up to sixth.
9 min: Hamilton has missed his braking point for the first corner and taken the popular route over the grass.
8 min: Webber moves into fourth with 1m28.365s, but only briefly ...
8 min: Heavy traffic for Alonso as he is slowed by Karthikeyan at the end of his flying lap. The Spaniard is now 10th in the early order.
8 min: Vettel is on a better lap this time and he goes fastest with a lap of 1m27.369s.
7 min: Raikkonen slots in fifth fastest with a lap of 1m28.857s.
7 min: Senna takes over at the front with 1m28.223s.
7 min: Ricciardo moves into third spot with a time of 1m28.673s.
6 min: Di Resta is now second with Hulkenberg third and Vettel pops in 1m31.455s for fourth.
6 min: Maldonado takes the other Williams to the top of the early times with 1m28.370s.
5 min: Raikkonen and Grosjean are out on the harder tyre for Lotus.
5 min: Senna goes third with a time of 1m33.635s.
5 min: Hamilton and Alonso are on track, using the medium compound to bank a time.
4 min: Vergne joins the racetrack as the early runners begin to post times on the board.
4 min: Pic beats his team-mate with an initial offering of 1m32.349s.
3 min: Glock sets the ball rolling with a first flyer of 1m32.997s.
3 min: Vettel, di Resta and Ricciardo are also out there to begin a first run.
3 min: Pastor Maldonado heads out and he is followed by Nico Hulkenberg.
3 min: @Marussia_F1Team tweets: "Such an amazing moment for young Charles Pic. Whatever happens now he's done a fantastic job so far yfrog.com/h3xoimpj"
2 min: The new Marussia failed to make pre-season testing after problems with the mandatory crash test, but Glock is now on a flying lap.
1 min: Glock and team-mate Pic, who is also on track, are under pressure to deliver a lap under the 107% time in this segment.
0 min: Want to know who Pirelli's @PaulHembery is tipping for pole? Well, his latest tweet might provide a steer - "I am going for Lewis on pole in our team sweepstake"
0 min: Glock is the first man out of the pits with soft tyres on his Marussia.
0 min: The first qualifying session of the year begins at Albert Park.
Final preparations being made in the garages with the first qualifying hour now less than a minute away.
Sebastian Vettel is belted into the RB8 as he gets ready to rock this afternoon. Webber similarly climbs into the sister car.
That means the harder rubber will be useful for making early progress, again allowing leading teams to save tyres for use in the race.
The performance gap between the two Pirelli compounds has been reduced this year, with the soft tyre providing around half a second per lap.
Track conditions remain relatively poor around the parkland track, with grip levels set to improve as the session goes on.
Just five minutes remain until the qualifying action begins at Albert Park.
Motor racing fans love to debate and discuss the action on track, and the live forum at the bottom of the screen is your chance to let everyone know your thoughts on events as they unfold at the circuit.
• Will the HRT drivers get near the 107% target? Who else will join them for an early bath after Q1?
• Do you envisage any surprises in Q2 and a big name or two getting caught out?
• Who will claim the season-opening pole position for tomorrow's race?
Tell the world what you think.
Click the SHOW LIVE FORUM link in the red bar at the bottom of your browser window if you'd like to join the debate.
• Will the HRT drivers get near the 107% target? Who else will join them for an early bath after Q1?
• Do you envisage any surprises in Q2 and a big name or two getting caught out?
• Who will claim the season-opening pole position for tomorrow's race?
Tell the world what you think.
Click the SHOW LIVE FORUM link in the red bar at the bottom of your browser window if you'd like to join the debate.
Weather conditions are much improved over yesterday's squally showers. It is fine and dry with mainly sunny conditions and temperatures just beginning to fall away from a maximum of 22 degrees Celsius.
Lewis Hamilton blasted his way round the 5.303km parkland circuit in 1m25.881s earlier today to top the final practice session, ahead of Romain Grosjean in the Lotus, Mark Webber, Jenson Button and Nico Rosberg.
The session was building nicely towards qualifying simulation runs in the final stages, but excursions into the gravel for Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher put paid to any dramatic climax.
Hamilton quickest in final practice
The session was building nicely towards qualifying simulation runs in the final stages, but excursions into the gravel for Sebastian Vettel and Michael Schumacher put paid to any dramatic climax.
Hamilton quickest in final practice
Hello everyone and welcome back to AUTOSPORT Live as we continue the story of the 2012 Australian Grand Prix - round one of the FIA Formula 1 world championship from Albert Park, Melbourne.
By: Emlyn Hughes, Geoff Creighton, Sam Tremayne
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