2014 Australian Grand Prix Saturday - Qualifying
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Queue at the end of the pitlane, headed by the Mercedes drivers.
Breaking news
Some of the big things to look out for in this session then:
* How will Ricciardo fare on Red Bull qualifying debut alongside four-time world champion Vettel?
* Are the McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Williams drivers going to be blown away by Mercedes' dominant duo?
* What about the rookies? Magnussen versus Button will be a key watch, as will the progress of Ericsson and Kvyat respectively.
* How will Ricciardo fare on Red Bull qualifying debut alongside four-time world champion Vettel?
* Are the McLaren, Ferrari, Red Bull and Williams drivers going to be blown away by Mercedes' dominant duo?
* What about the rookies? Magnussen versus Button will be a key watch, as will the progress of Ericsson and Kvyat respectively.
Vettel listening to music with his eyes closed ahead of the session. Getting himself keyed up ready for business.
Lots of questions to be answered in this session, namely - is Mercedes' advantage as big as it looks?
The pitlane is open. Less than 10 minutes to go until the first qualifying session of a new era for Formula 1.
Red Bull boss Christian Horner was having a quick chat over the fence with next door neighbours Mercedes chiefs Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda just now - before the Australian Air Force jet stopped the paddock in its tracks.
Excitement is mounting ahead of qualifying - as we start to get some proper answers on pace. We may well see a changing of the guard in F1 - as Mercedes takes over from Red Bull as the team to beat.
The conditions have made the cars very difficult to drive today, leading many drivers to create their own rallycross element to the Australian GP.
JONATHAN NOBLE has just back from a paddock walk and the threat of immediate rain appears to have gone. But it is windy - very windy.
The gusts could have a big impact on qualifying - especially with drivers already struggling with their braking points this weekend.
The gusts could have a big impact on qualifying - especially with drivers already struggling with their braking points this weekend.
Spoiler alert: Though that picture may suggest otherwise, one of the changes is not for F1 to incorporate a rallycross element.
One member of AUTOSPORT Live can only dream of such an eventuality.
One member of AUTOSPORT Live can only dream of such an eventuality.
With a bit of time to kill before the start of the first qualifying session of F1's new era, how about a look at just how different this year is?
DIETER RENCKEN looks at how the sport has been shaken up during the winter. You've got just over 20 minutes, which should be enough time to take a look.
The changes that shook up F1
Half an hour until qualifying, and there are still some question marks over the weather. There is some rain about on the radar, we'll have to wait and see if it actually hits the circuit.
Breaking news
Here's the confirmation that Valtteri Bottas and Esteban Gutierrez have been hit with five-place grid penalties for their gearbox changes.
BEN ANDERSON back from a paddock walk: "Blustery scenes in the paddock in Melbourne as the teams frantically re-prep their cars for qualifying.
"Spied Mercedes chief Toto Wolff in deep conservation with Toyota factory sportscar racer and ex-F1 man Alex Wurz, who is probably here on TV duties."
"Spied Mercedes chief Toto Wolff in deep conservation with Toyota factory sportscar racer and ex-F1 man Alex Wurz, who is probably here on TV duties."
Less than an hour to go until qualifying, which means not much time to get your Castrol GP Predictor...predictions...in.
Mercedes has dominated so far, but are you confident enough to go for a one-two? Time's running out to decide.
Mercedes has dominated so far, but are you confident enough to go for a one-two? Time's running out to decide.
And Van Gisbergen makes it three out of three at Albert Park in the non-championship V8 Supercars Challenge ahead of Coulthard, Lowndes, McLaughlin, Tander and Caruso.
A few spots of rain starting to fall late in the V8 race. Could be a dramatic finish in the battle for second between Coulthard and Lowndes.
Breaking news
F1 drivers are concerned that saving fuel may cause accidents this season. Full story online:
Formula 1 drivers raise safety concerns over fuel saving methods
Van Gisbergen has this race in his pocket. Only has a gap of just over a second to Coulthard, but all looks completely under control with eight laps gone.
And Lowndes down to third behind Coulthard after a brief excursion. Now having to hold off pretty much the whole field, which is trying to pass him for third.
Racing back underway in the V8s. Van Gisbergen retains the lead at the restart with Lowndes holding off Coulthard.
Van Gisbergen leads from Lowndes, Coulthard, Bright, Caruso and McLaughlin under the safety car.
The V8 Supercars race is underway and is already under safety car. Dale Wood's Holden is stricken after t-boning Chaz Mostert's Ford, which spun after contact with another car.
Breaking news
Despite its non-championship status, points are being awarded for this V8 quadruple-header , with an overall event winner being declared. To spice things up, organisers have made tomorrow's finale an F1-style double points race.
The grid is now lining up for the third non-championship V8 Supercars Challenge race. Shane van Gisbergen, winner of the first two races, is on pole position ahead of Craig Lowndes, Fabian Coulthard and Michael Caruso.
In terms of running, it was Marcus Ericsson who led the way with 21 laps. Massa and Button both completed 20, while at the other end of the scale Bottas and Gutierrez completed just two laps each, Grosjean the next worst with four.
Checkered flag
Australian Grand Prix FP3 results:
1 Rosberg (Mercedes) 1m29.375s
2 Button (McLaren) +1.391s
3 Alonso (Ferrari) +1.501s
4 Hamilton (Mercedes) +1.544s
5 Ricciardo (Red Bull) +1.595s
6 Hulkenberg (Force India) +1.603s
7 Raikkonen (Ferrari) +1.781s
8 Magnussen (McLaren) +1.876s
9 Perez (Force India) +2.290s
10 Massa (Williams) +2.348s
1 Rosberg (Mercedes) 1m29.375s
2 Button (McLaren) +1.391s
3 Alonso (Ferrari) +1.501s
4 Hamilton (Mercedes) +1.544s
5 Ricciardo (Red Bull) +1.595s
6 Hulkenberg (Force India) +1.603s
7 Raikkonen (Ferrari) +1.781s
8 Magnussen (McLaren) +1.876s
9 Perez (Force India) +2.290s
10 Massa (Williams) +2.348s
Breaking news
A little bit of news, Bottas will go into qualifying with a penalty for a gearbox change.
The chequered flag comes out. Session over.
Button takes a trip across the grass at Turn 9.
Trouble for Maldonado. He's stopped on circuit and is walking away from his Lotus.
Kobayashi gives Caterham more reason to celebrate - he's jumped ahead of Maldonado to go 16th, 5.0s off Rosberg's session benchmark.
Bianchi leads the way in that Marussia-Caterham battle though. The Frenchman is an excellent 14th, ahead of Sutil. Team-mate Chilton has just moved ahead of Maldonado to go 17th.
Bianchi leads the way in that Marussia-Caterham battle though. The Frenchman is an excellent 14th, ahead of Sutil. Team-mate Chilton has just moved ahead of Maldonado to go 17th.
Quote
"The car doesn't accelerate" says Vettel. Appears he and Red Bull were trying a new setting.
Windy conditions here in Melbourne are making things very difficult for the drivers as they try to complete qualifying runs late in this session. Hence we're seeing lots of corrective steering and wild moments.
Perez goes ninth quickest. He is one of a few drivers improving as the session reaches its conclusion.
Ericsson has improved in the Caterham to leapfrog Chilton. That's 32 laps between the Team Green cars now, but both are still 6s off the pace.
Well, off Mercedes's pace. That's 4.5s off the rest of the field, mind. More respectable.
Well, off Mercedes's pace. That's 4.5s off the rest of the field, mind. More respectable.
Scruffy lap for Vettel who backs off in the final sector and doesn't improve on 10th.
In better news for Magnussen, he has been the busiest man of the day and has 19 laps to his name.
Now Kevin Magunssen is saying that he is struggling with tyres. Seems to he becoming a bit of a theme as the session wears on.
By: Scott Mitchell, Ben Anderson, Edd Straw, Jonathan Noble, Andrew van Leeuwen, Matt Beer
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