2014 Australian Grand Prix Friday - Practice
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Vettel's one of those cars still circulating, by the way.
Bit of an awkward pit arrival for Chilton, who appears to bump into some team equipment as he parks.
Quietening down again now heading into the final half hour. Five cars on track, including Chilton, who joins the timesheet in last place (14th) then promptly pits.
So four cars on track!
So four cars on track!
We are all hoping the radical technical overhaul of Formula 1 for this season will make it more unpredictable, after four years of Red Bull domination. Currently, cars from seven different teams occupy the top 10 on the timesheet with less than half an hour to run in FP1.
That said, Massa is still lapping in the mid-1m32s and that's impressive stuff from the Brazilian.
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EDD STRAW reports that the Williams "is not quite as convincing in high-speed". Massa, third fastest, and Bottas, sixth as aforementioned, have to be "a bit hesitant in the direction change between T11/12".
However, STRAW concludes that it is "early in the run so might not have the tyres quite in the window".
However, STRAW concludes that it is "early in the run so might not have the tyres quite in the window".
Bottas now moves into sixth, 0.960s behind Alonso's new benchmark.
Toro Rosso asks Vergne to continue pushing after his Turn 1 excursion. He's not over-keen given his discomfort with how the braking system is working.
Valtteri Bottas
As Massa jumps up the order, here's a proper look at the Martini-liveried Williams.
With the launch taking place under studio lights and the on-track shots issued by the team all having an 'atmospheric' haze edited into them (either that or there was some very weird pollution in the air on that fiming day), today is the first proper chance to judge how cool the car looks.
Stopwatch
Alonso goes quickest on a 1m31.840s.
Magnussen jumps to sixth in the McLaren.
Magnussen jumps to sixth in the McLaren.
Massa shoots up to second on that lap, just 0.074s slower than Button.
Alonso's recovered from that off and is absolutely flying on this lap.
Alonso's recovered from that off and is absolutely flying on this lap.
Crash
Alonso also visits the grass at Turn 1, following the Toro Rossos' example. He continues unscathed, and didn't go as far into the dirt as Kvyat.
Massa's on it again after a slow-down lap and is about to improve in the Williams (currently sixth).
Four different makes in the top four places this morning, and less than a quarter of a second covers Button, Alonso, Ricciardo and Rosberg.
If that's any indication of this weekend (a long shot at this stage) then Sunday will be fantastic! Long way to go yet, though.
If that's any indication of this weekend (a long shot at this stage) then Sunday will be fantastic! Long way to go yet, though.
Sounds like McLaren has had issues on both cars this morning. The team tells Magnussen that the power unit is now working correctly, which rather implies there was a time when it wasn't...
Twitter
Mercedes reveals more about Hamilton's problem. Nothing dramatic, but frustratingly time-consuming:
"Update on @LewisHamilton's car.. An oil pressure alarm led to a precautionary engine shutdown. Cause to be investigated when car returns #F1"
If you're just joining us, Hamilton's car ground to a halt on its first lap earlier.
"Update on @LewisHamilton's car.. An oil pressure alarm led to a precautionary engine shutdown. Cause to be investigated when car returns #F1"
If you're just joining us, Hamilton's car ground to a halt on its first lap earlier.
Massa improves to sixth quickest in the Williams (1m33.358s) and immediately backs off.
Nine cars on track, including eight of the top 10.
That incident for Kvyat occurred at Turn 1. He's following his more experienced team-mate's example perfectly.
Crash
"I had an off-track!" shouts Kvyat down the radio.
"OK Dani, everything OK?" replies the team.
"Yeah, yeah, no problem, just letting you know..."
"OK, thank you, keep pushing."
"OK Dani, everything OK?" replies the team.
"Yeah, yeah, no problem, just letting you know..."
"OK, thank you, keep pushing."
Vergne's had a minor moment at Turn 1, but continued.
Vettel leaves the pits for the first time.
Twitter
We're expecting responses to the sound of the new F1 cars to be a bit mixed, but it's still a bit of a surprise to see an Audi LMP1 driver complaining about another racing car's noise!
Marco Bonanomi: "What a horrible sound from the new #F1cars! Our #R18 is way better even with the TDI !"
Marco Bonanomi: "What a horrible sound from the new #F1cars! Our #R18 is way better even with the TDI !"
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EDD STRAW's moved along at the side of the track.
"At the fast Turn 11/12 left/right sweep. It's great to see the high-speed change of direction.
"The Toro Rosso is a bit hesitant in the transition between the two corners as Vergne can't quite commit as decisively as he would like to when throwing the car into the right-hander.
"After an initial turn in, has to modulate a little to keep the rear under control. He's driving well but the car doesn't quite have the rear grip he wants.
"Alonso's Ferrari looks a bit more stable dealing with this transition. Notably, the Red Bull looks well-balanced, although that is no great surprise."
"At the fast Turn 11/12 left/right sweep. It's great to see the high-speed change of direction.
"The Toro Rosso is a bit hesitant in the transition between the two corners as Vergne can't quite commit as decisively as he would like to when throwing the car into the right-hander.
"After an initial turn in, has to modulate a little to keep the rear under control. He's driving well but the car doesn't quite have the rear grip he wants.
"Alonso's Ferrari looks a bit more stable dealing with this transition. Notably, the Red Bull looks well-balanced, although that is no great surprise."
It is fifth for the Finn. 1m33.345s for Raikkonen.
Twitter
But we won't be seeing any Caterhams for a bit:
"We have issues on both cars after their installation laps - fuel system for @kamui_kobayashi and electrical for @Ericsson_Marcus"
"We have issues on both cars after their installation laps - fuel system for @kamui_kobayashi and electrical for @Ericsson_Marcus"
The first flying lap from Raikkonen is imminent. It'll be about fifth for the Finn.
Hulkenberg is back out now, so too Force India team-mate Perez. Massa out in the Martini Williams.
Lotus hints at an imminent on-track move from Pastor Maldonado by noting that he's put his helmet on.
Improvement for Ricciardo, who splits Alonso and Rosberg on a 1m32.599s.
That's 0.011s slower than the Spaniard in second.
That's 0.011s slower than the Spaniard in second.
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"Are we OK to talk on the radio about balance?" asks a very casual Button.
"Starting to lock rears towards the end of the lap when the rear tyres are overheating. That's starting to cost us.
"I think we should maybe go one step on the brake balance."
"Starting to lock rears towards the end of the lap when the rear tyres are overheating. That's starting to cost us.
"I think we should maybe go one step on the brake balance."
Raikkonen is back out now in the Ferrari.
Kvyat brings the gap from fastest (Button, 1m32.357s) to slowest (himself, 1m36.119s) to 3.7s as he improves.
Vergne stays fourth and doesn't improve after a scruffy final sector.
Vergne stays fourth and doesn't improve after a scruffy final sector.
Ricciardo rejoins in the Red Bull. Vergne and Kvyat are on personal bests.
Stopwatch
Good lap from the Brit. Button goes quickest in the McLaren, lapping Albert Park in 1m32.357s.
And again in sector two...
Fastest first sector of anyone for Button on this lap.
The Russian's team-mate, Jean-Eric Vergne, also rejoins the action.
Button doesn't know what times he's doing, though, calling his team to say "I'm not getting any laptimes on the steering wheel". He's duly updated.
Rookie Kvyat, propping up the list of drivers to have set a time, emerges in the Toro Rosso.
By: Matt Beer, Ben Anderson, Scott Mitchell, Edd Straw, Sam Tremayne
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