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Formula 1
Australian GP
2014 Australian Grand Prix Saturday - Qualifying
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Checkered flag
Official end of Q1 as the chequered flag falls.
The other rookie, Ericsson, ended up 20th - but only three tenths off Bianchi in the Marussia. A respectable effort given his troubled Friday.
Also worth noting that Daniil Kvyat, in his first F1 qualifying session, made it through to Q2 relatively comfortably in circumstances that could easily have caught him out.
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He's warned to be careful by his team, it's "a balance check for tomorrow".
Gutierrez has left the pits on intermediate tyres. At least he'll get some data, if nothing else.
Considering the weekend Caterham has had, all credit both to team and to driver Kobayashi for making Q2. He was the last to make the cut, pipping Max Chilton by just 19 thousandths of a second.
That means Kamui Kobayashi will progress to Q2 - unless there's a substantial change in conditions in the next three minutes (and a drying of the track to match).
In the drop zone are both Marussias, Gutierrez, Ericsson and the two Lotus drivers. Grosjean and Maldonado will not occupy both places on the back row of the grid though, thanks to Gutierrez's grid penalty.
Scant consolation for the Enstone squad.
Scant consolation for the Enstone squad.
That's likely the order set for Q1 now. both Lotus drivers were in the drop zone and struggling to improve on slicks on a slick track.
Grosjean is asked by the team to speed up. He tells them it's not possible in these conditions.
Four minutes remaining and this has mixed things up very nicely.
And that sends everyone scurrying and sliding back into the pits.
Rain
It's definitely, definitely raining a lot harder now.
Looks like only the Mercedes drivers are confident enough to not require a soft tyre run.
Pastor Maldonado has an off, spinning on the exit of Turn 3. Things not going well for Lotus.
If the rain falls and this is how it ends up, Kobayashi would take Caterham into Q2.
Fourth fastest for Alonso, with a 1m31.388s lap.
Vettel improves his time, but not position on that lap.
Rain jackets going on in the grandstands opposite the pits. Rain on its way...
Gutierrez errs at Turn 9, but continues. He's 19th at the moment.
Alonso has a small lock-up on the way into Turn 1 as he starts a flyer. Seems to have got away with it... just.
Vettel's on a much smoother lap this time and should improve on seventh.
Sutil's first proper lap gets him well clear of the drop zone and up to 11th.
Hamilton's quickest of anyone in the first sector but his second sector is somewhat sluggish.
Romain Grosjean's frustrations continue as he has a brief off in the Lotus. He's currently 20th fastest.
In the drop zone are Bianchi; Gutierrez; Ericcson; Grosjean; Sutil and Maldonado.
After the first flurry of runs, Ricciardo leads Magnussen; Massa; Button; Bottas; Hamilton; Vettel; Raikkonen; Rosberg and Vergne.
Vettel biffs the wall slightly on the exit of Turn 10 but continues undeterred.
Stopwatch
The rookie had gone top briefly but Ricciardo knocks the McLaren off top spot immediately, pipping him by 0.174s. 1m30.775s is the new benchmark.
Kevin Magnussen currently sits second fastest after his first effort.
Necessary to get timed laps on the board early as a rain storm is currently headed for Melbourne.
Stopwatch
Massa comes through a pips the Mercedes man, 1m31.549s on the soft tyre.
Stopwatch
First time on the board - Hamilton stops the clock at 1m31.699s.
Massa, on the soft tyre, is quicker than Hamilton on this lap. But that's it. And he's slower in the middle sector.
One of the Toro Rossos was sparking heavily from the right-rear as it came across the start/finish line.
Only Vettel remains in the garage, we have 21 cars on circuit.
Speaking of tyres, there seems to be quite a split in choice for Q1.
Nearly all the drivers head out immediately and we have a packed Albert Park as the session begins.
The difference between the soft and the medium compound Pirellis is massive in terms of peak, fresh rubber, laptime.
That will be significant in qualifying, although the extra set of soft rubber that those who make Q3 can use will mean that there is less of a premium on not using softs where possible.
Still worth doing when you can though, as the soft will be the tyre of choice in the race.
That will be significant in qualifying, although the extra set of soft rubber that those who make Q3 can use will mean that there is less of a premium on not using softs where possible.
Still worth doing when you can though, as the soft will be the tyre of choice in the race.
Green flag
Green flag, here we go. The first qualifying of F1's brave new world begins.
By: Scott Mitchell, Ben Anderson, Edd Straw, Jonathan Noble, Andrew van Leeuwen, Matt Beer
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