F1 Qualifying China 2012 - Nico Rosberg Takes Pole

Enjoy the break? Three weekends slip by and F1 jumps back into the limelight with, seemingly, both size 12's. What with the row over whether Bahrain should take place (it will, the FIA and Bernie say so) then with the start of Lewis Hamilton looking brilliant throughout practice but will he, won't he change his gearbox. Well, he has. So that's a 5 place grid penalty for him wherever he qualifies. Jenson hasn't looked as quick until FP3 when he popped himself into 2nd. The Mercedes look a better outfit, but they weren't exactly slow in qualifying prior to the break, it's whether they can keep that speed in race trim and add to their solitary point. For Red Bull, it's the opposite, average to quick in Quali, quick in race trim so Seb and Mark will be fighting to get a few more points on the board. Ferrari are leading with Fernando Alonso due to his suprising win in Malaysia but still look painfully slow in the dry, many of the Tifosi could be praying for a sprinkling of rain. Lets get down to business in Q1, most of the mid-table to big teams do the usual and stick the harder tyre on to save some options for the race, putting in quick laps knowing that the 3 lowest teams definitely will not match them. Massa struggles and sits on the brink of the drop zone until he heads out on the option tyre and goes top, Ferrari really are having difficulties with Felipe and this F2o12 car. Kobayashi and Perez look quick sticking their Saubers into the Top 10 on Prime tyres easily, could Sauber outdo their parent team this weekend? It was rather close to that in Malaysia. Romain Grosjean, having never driven in Shanghai before throws his car around and takes top spot until Fernando Alonso puts options onto his Ferrari and goes top, swiftly followed by his pursuer from Malaysia in Perez who takes it straight from him. Q1 is all about the smaller teams and who can possibly jump into Q2 and which one person of the mid teams will drop. That man will be Jean-Eric Vergne in the Toro Rosso who was an almighty 0.8 seconds behind his team-mate Ricciardo in 17th, that will sting. So, all 6 drivers from the newest teams (Caterham, Marussia and HRT) are out plus Vergne (Toro Rosso). Q2 starts with the teams heading out on Option tyres so the first time we'll see them at definite full speed. Sauber look handy yet again, and Fernando Alonso must be sick of this Ferrari, with a time nearly 8 tenths of a second off Kobayashi. Mercedes show their hand and look very quick as proven in practice. Both Saubers, McLarens, Mercedes, Red Bulls, a Lotus and Ferrari in so far. With 5 minutes to go just one second separates the Top ten. Massa and Alonso go out on fresh option tyres and don't put in great laps. Button stuggles to 8th, and wait, Vettel is out! 11th in Q2, Massa (Ferrari) 12th, Maldonado (Williams) 13th, Senna (Williams) 14th, Di Resta (Force India) 15th, Hulkenberg (Force India) 16th, and Ricciardo (Toro Rosso) 17th. Alonso scraped through by the skin of his teeth. There was only 3 tenths of a second that separated all of the Top Ten in that session. Investigation into Maldonado for impeding Heikki Kovalainen in Q1. So, No Vettel or Massa but a few fresh faces in Q3. Sauber, Lotus, McLaren, Mercedes plus a Ferrari (Alonso) and a Red Bull (Webber) to fight it out for Pole. Wow, just wow. Nico Rosberg pulls a hot lap from nowhere that is half a second quicker than Schumi and Hamilton following behind him. Nico has never had a pole start, could this be his day? Webber heads out late looking like he'll stick in a single session and not stop for new tyres. Schumi asks for Nico's quickest time and responds with a sharp 'Oh, Ok' obviously not expecting that Michael! Webber starts his flying lap as Jenson, Fernando, Kamui and Sergio come out of the pits to also do a one session run. Disapointing for Webber, a 1:36:2 in Q3 is nowhere near good enough. Nico thinks he's nailed it. Out of the car and off for a wander. Button posts a poor first and second sector. Not his day, Kobayashi goes 4th. Alonso slowest apart from Grosjean who didn't go out. So, 1st Rosberg 2nd Hamilton 3rd Schumacher 4th Kobayashi 5th Raikkonen 6th Button 7th Webber 8th Perez 9th Alonso 10th Grosjean. A happy day for Nico with a cracking lap and a big smile in the Weigh-room. Hamilton takes a 5 place penalty remember so will drop to 7th with all below moving up one. So, will Mercedes get it right? Race Trim has made a massive difference for them lately, chewing tyres and slowing them down but Ross Brawn believes they have this fixed so could we see them perform as expected at the start of the season? Sauber are showing themselves as a force, both drivers doing well and finishing above their much loved parent team of Ferrari. Lotus looking good with Kimi putting himself in 5th quietly and confidently, quite odd I haven't mentioned my favourite driver until now! Jenson struggled with that 1 lap and that showed. Ferrari really need to get this car sorted, such a talent that Fernando is he's managing to drag it around but in reality, as a top team, it's a dog. I shall see you all tomorrow for what will hopefully be an interesting race day!