Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of qualifying for the Monaco Grand Prix. It's all happening in Monte Carlo... |
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Firstly, it's RAINING. As if we needed any more drama today. There's also a race against time in the Ferrari and Lotus garages as they work to try and repair cars in time for qualifying following crashes for Felipe Massa and Romain Grosjean earlier |
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Massa had a big shunt approaching Ste Devote with the team saying it was just driver error. He's had a gearbox change and is set to take a five-place grid penalty whatever happens this afternoon |
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It was a big one for Massa...
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Rain is really going to mix it up this afternoon, but if you want to get a prediction in to us (or a question or other comment) you can do so in one of two ways. Either email us using the link above or get in touch via Twitter @ESPNF1 |
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Siddhesh emails in: "Rain washing away Merc chances of a win? It was almost a given that they would be quickest in the dry, but in the wet its anyone's game." |
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The rain has eased off now and it's only spitting. The track is slippery but it's warm enough for it to dry out if there is no more rain |
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The weather radar says it will keep raining until 14:20 local time (the end of Q1) with "light rain or drops" until then |
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Five minutes to go - who is your tip for pole? |
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Not sure if Massa's going to make this, you know... |
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There's also a lot of work going on at Lotus still too. Grosjean's car is being worked on:
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Cars are waiting at the end of the pit lane on intermediate tyres as the rain continues to fall |
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Both Caterhams and both Toro Rossos waiting |
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We are go and van der Garde leads Pic out |
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We've got a smoking Marussia leaving the pit lane... |
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Very slow and careful out laps |
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I told you it was a smoking Marussia. Bianchi has stopped at Massenet and that's his qualifying over already. Such a shame, would have been great to see what he could do here |
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Hamilton got very close to Rosberg at the final corner trying to start their laps. Very close indeed. |
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Track is clear again but it is raining more heavily now |
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Gutierrez runs wide at Mirabeau and has to reverse back. Got a very slow Force India out there too... |
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Webber goes quickest from Hamilton and Button. Webber's 1:36.529 is two seconds quicker than anyone |
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Alonso second now, then Vergne |
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Chilton the latest to go wide at Mirabeau and it takes him a while to find reverse |
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Hamilton asks if he can use DRS and is told he can because there's been no message yet |
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Alonso goes fastest from di Resta and Gutierrez |
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These times are all over the place so I'll keep you posted as to the drop zone |
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Grosjean is sat in his car but still waiting to get out on track. Massa has his helmet on but is watching the work take place around his Ferrari |
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Sutil's made it out on track though |
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With no sign of Massa or Grosjean and Bianchi already out, it's Chilton, Rosberg and Pic in the drop zone for now. Van der Garde with a good lap for P9 |
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Everyone on intermediates at the moment. Vettel radios in to say the circuit is drying out pretty quickly. |
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Maldonado goes fastest by over a second with a 1:30.126 |
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Sutil the latest to run off at Mirabeau |
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Webber goes fastest with a 1:27.288, Rosberg up to second and now the drop zone is Chilton, Gutierrez, van der Garde, Bianchi, Massa and Grosjean |
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Hamilton pits from P8 as Perez goes fifth |
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Hamilton has put on another set of intermediates. He's 12th now |
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Vettel does a 1:25.352, we've got a number of cars outside 107% for now too |
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Hamilton needs to get a time in soon because he's now in the drop zone alongside van der Garde, Chilton, Bianchi, Massa and Grosjean |
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A number of drivers pitting and its another set of inters at McLaren |
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Hamilton flying on this lap. Grosjean has tyres going on his car and looks like he'll make it out... |
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Out goes Grosjean, but Massa looks unlikely to make it |
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Hamilton down in to the 1m23s at the top of the times. Hulkenberg now in the drop zone |
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Raikkonen was asked to remove the James Hunt wording facing the onboard camera on his helmet, but it appears he's ignored that (or it's been overturned). Good on him |
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Grosjean starts his first flying lap - it's a huge unknown for him |
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The track is coming to everyone right now and Grosjean goes quickest! That's impressive |
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One minute to go. Anything could happen now |
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Massa hasn't made it |
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Drop zone is now Gutierrez, Sutil, Vergne, Chilton, Bianchi and Massa |
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Sutil only a tenth inside the time he needs on this lap |
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Nobody can start a new one. Vettel pits from P6 |
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Pic is out in 17th. Di Resta on the bubble and Sutil improving |
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Sutil goes 12th, Di Resta now in trouble |
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Di Resta drops out - Van der Garde is through! |
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Di Resta was sliding around everywhere and couldn't improve. OUT: Di Resta, Pic, Gutierrez, Chilton, Bianchi and Massa |
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Maldonado ended the session quickest ahead of Vergne and Alonso |
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That was a really impressive job from Grosjean in fourth and van der Garde in 16th - he's done well for Caterham in front of the team owner |
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Di Resta's engineer apologises to him over team radio and says "that was a mess" - di Resta replies with "You're joking?!" |
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It's still spitting so conditions aren't likely to change too much - it might not dry out enough for slicks |
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Vettel, Webber, Alonso, Hamilton and Rosberg straight out on track - perhaps concerned the rain will get heavier? |
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Tony Fernandes is all smiles and thumbs up in the pit lane as van der Garde waits to head out again |
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Rosberg outbrakes himself in to the Nouvelle Chicane |
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I sense someone binning it in this session... |
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15 minute session this one, and the first time is a 1:34.439 from Rosberg |
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Webber down in to the 1m32s ahead of Vettel. Looks like drivers need more time to build up again |
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Perez goes quickest with a 1:29.537 |
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Rosberg now quickest with a 1:27.790 - waved yellows at Ste Devote and Maldonado had gone straight on but recovered |
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Grosjean does a 1:25.601 and is fastest for now |
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A proper dry line around Loews. Still spitting though |
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Maldonado pits for a new set of inters as Button does a 1:23.014 |
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Current drop zone is Hamilton, Webber, Vettel, Ricciardo, Maldonado and Vergne |
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Rosberg does a 1:22.119 |
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A lot of the track is dry now but nobody gambling on slicks. Still rain in the air |
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Van der Garde has made the switch to super-softs! He's made the gamble, and why not? |
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Hulkenberg sticks on intermediates |
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Kimi has been wheeled back in to the Lotus garage with four minutes to go |
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Hamilton asks for slicks - this could be fun |
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Alonso is improving but needs to pit for slicks... will he pit? |
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And Alonso does pit. He's in the bottom six at the moment so he needs a good lap |
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Lots on slicks now |
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Van der Garde goes sixth |
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All about who crosses the line last - someone could get caught out if they can't get a clear lap in |
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Webber in to the 1m19s |
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You've got to push hard at this point to keep the temperature in the tyres. All or nothing round here. |
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Button goes second. Alonso improving |
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One minute to go and the drop zone is Vergne, Hamilton, Hulkenberg, Raikkonen, Alonso and Sutil |
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Webber and Raikkonen now the top two in the 1m17s |
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Alonso goes sixth and can do another lap |
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Times are going to tumble as Sutil starts another lap |
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Van der Garde goes 10th and takes the flag. He's already 13th as I type! |
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Webber in the pits and down to third... |
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Alonso needs a lap! Grosjean is out |
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Alonso goes fifth. Webber down to seventh behind Sutil... |
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Button pits and is through in eighth |
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Grosjean complains that he was held up by a Toro Rosso and when he's told he's out he says "Unbelievable, unbelievable" |
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OUT: Hulkenberg, Ricciardo, Grosejan, Bottas, van der Garde and Maldonado |
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Maldonado didn't get to set a competitive super-soft time. Great job from Vergne and Both McLarens through too |
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With it dry enough for slicks, is it coming together for Mercedes now, Vettel and Raikkonen looked quick, Webber too |
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A word for Sutil too - good job to get through in P6 |
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Raikkonen is first man waiting at the end of the pit lane for Q3 |
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Raikkonen heads out along with Alonso, Perez, Rosberg, Webber, Hamilton and Button |
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Vettel heads out - all ten cars on track |
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Everyone on super-soft tyres too |
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Hamilton with the fastest first sector |
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Webber beats it. Raikkonen first to complete a lap in 1m20s |
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Hamilton does a 1:15.790 |
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Alonso a 1:15.9s |
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Webber goes fastest with a 1:15.134 |
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Vettel with a slow lap, Vergne goes P4 a second off the pace |
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Hamilton improves to a 1:14.968 |
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Rosberg with a 1:14.919 |
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Webber fastest again in 1:14.726 but here comes Vettel... |
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Vettel with a 1:14.333 - that is a cracking lap |
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Button improves to P7 but is 1.3s off the pace |
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New tyres on at Mercedes and Ferrari. Out goes Raikkonen and Webber |
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Vettel heads out as the last man on track. All 10 out there again |
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Spitting again and Kimi is told to push hard on the first lap |
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They're all struggling to get tyre temperatures and are having to go for one flying lap |
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Raikkonen and Webber very fast in sector one |
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Rosberg with the fastest first sector |
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Button says a problem with power |
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Webber goes fastest on a 1:14.1, Raikkonen third |
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Rosberg goes fastest with a 1:13.8s and Hamilton a 1:13.9s! |
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Here comes Vettel and Webber... |
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Vettel is improving |
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Vettel only goes third! |
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Webber's backed off. It's a Mercedes one-two once again and three in a row for Rosberg! |
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NICO ROSBERG TAKES POLE POSITION FOR THE MONACO GRAND PRIX |
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The top three are covered by 0.104s, it was close but not close enough for Vettel |
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Hamilton was just 0.091s slower than his team-mate, but Rosberg's had the edge all weekend and adds pole position to the three fastest times in practice too |
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All-Mercedes front row and all-Red Bull second, with Raikkonen and Alonso lining up together on row three |
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Oliver emailed in to ask if it's a new lap record for Monaco - no it isn't, Kimi did a 1m13.5 in qualifying in 2006 |
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I leave you with this email from Tony: "I wouldn't write off Vettel yet" As much as I agree, if the Mercedes can get off the line cleanly then they should be able to dictate the pace. What really matters is if they have to pit once or twice... Can they win from here? Join us tomorrow for live coverage of the Monaco Grand Prix to find out. |