Korean GP Practice 1,2 & 3

[Chrissie]

Quote:Hamilton sets early Korea pace

By Matt Beer Friday, October 22nd 2010, 02:34 GMT


Lewis Hamilton led the way for McLaren as Formula 1 explored the Korean Grand Prix circuit for the first time in Friday morning practice at the hurriedly-completed Yeongam track.

Robert Kubica ended up second for Renault, 0.081 seconds down on Hamilton, with Mercedes' Nico Rosberg third ahead of Sebastian Vettel's Red Bull and Jenson Button in the second McLaren, but the positions and times will prove largely irrelevant as the circuit develops and teams acclimatise.

Track conditions were, if anything, even more dusty and treacherous than expected when practice got underway. It was Lotus' Heikki Kovalainen who had the honour of officially christening the circuit as he left the pitlane first, while Toro Rosso's Jaime Alguersuari set the first flying-lap time in a leisurely 2m20.611s.

That mark would be beaten, but not immediately as most drivers crept around the course extremely tentively until grip levels started to improve.

As times came down, Sakon Yamamoto, Michael Schumacher, Sebastien Buemi, Mark Webber, Nico Hulkenberg, Vettel, Button and Rosberg all had spells at the top of the timing screen before the McLarens came to the fore in the final minutes.

Though he had been one of the first out on track, Hamilton did not go for a flying lap until the closing stages, having spent a while in the McLaren pit changing to the newer rear wing.

He soon got up to speed when he resumed running, and after swapping the top spot with team-mate Button (who was also using the latest wing), he made sure he would end up in front with a blistering 1m40.887s lap - 1.053s faster than the sister McLaren. Hamilton could have gone quicker still, setting an even better time in sector one on his next lap before pitting.

But he did not maintain his one-second cushion, with Kubica getting to within 0.081s with his own last lap. Late improvements from Rosberg and Vettel then pushed Button back to fifth.

Schumacher stayed near the front and took sixth for Mercedes, ahead of points leader Webber's Red Bull. Nick Heidfeld (Sauber) and Williams duo Hulkenberg and Rubens Barrichello completed the top 10, while title contender Fernando Alonso had another quiet Friday morning and was only 15th for Ferrari.

Despite the slippery track and relative lack of run-off, no one made it into the barriers in the opening session. Turns 1 and 11 proved particularly tricky, though, with several drivers kicking up dust in both corners' run-off, while Kamui Kobayashi investigated the grass in the pit entry in his Sauber and Vettel had a very near miss with Yamamoto in the final corners.

Bruno Senna provided the session's main incident when his Hispania arrived at Turn 9 with its left rear suspension already awry. The Brazilian spun to a halt without reaching the barriers.

Also missing out on mileage was Jarno Trulli, whose Lotus was sidelined with gearbox problems.

Pos Driver Team Time Gap Laps
1. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m40.887s 15
2. Robert Kubica Renault 1m40.968s + 0.081s 18
3. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m41.152s + 0.265s 21
4. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m41.371s + 0.484s 18
5. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m41.940s + 1.053s 16
6. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m42.022s + 1.135s 25
7. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m42.202s + 1.315s 23
8. Nick Heidfeld Sauber-Ferrari 1m42.293s + 1.406s 18
9. Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1m42.678s + 1.791s 21
10. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1m42.883s + 1.996s 23
11. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m42.896s + 2.009s 22
12. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m43.054s + 2.167s 25
13. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m43.309s + 2.422s 20
14. Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1m43.602s + 2.715s 18
15. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m43.928s + 3.041s 21
16. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m43.940s + 3.053s 23
17. Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1m44.887s + 4.000s 21
18. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m45.141s + 4.254s 26
19. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1m45.588s + 4.701s 20
20. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 1m46.613s + 5.726s 17
21. Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1m47.115s + 6.228s 22
22. Sakon Yamamoto Hispania-Cosworth 1m50.347s + 9.460s 29
23. Bruno Senna Hispania-Cosworth 1m50.821s + 9.934s 15
24. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1m51.701s + 10.814s 11

McLaren looking good, Red Bull looking good, Ferrari.....well, time will tell - don't think we can take too much out of this session - couldn't believe how dusty and dirty the track was this morning...but twas only to be expected I suppose. Looks like Renault may be in for a good weekend too

[Chrissie]

Quote:Webber ends second practice on top

By Matt Beer Friday, October 22nd 2010, 06:33 GMT


Championship leader Mark Webber led the way in a wide-open second practice session for the Korean Grand Prix, which saw Red Bull, Ferrari, McLaren and Renault all represented in the top four.

With the circuit conditions getting ever faster - and more familiar to the drivers - the afternoon session saw pretty much every frontrunner leading the way at some point.

Fernando Alonso was among the early pacesetters, as Ferrari showed its hand after a typically cautious Friday morning, while Michael Schumacher also popped up on top for Mercedes for a brief spell mid-session between McLaren duo Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button swapping the lead.

Sebastian Vettel's first lap on soft tyres was wasted by a trip off the road dodging Jarno Trulli's Lotus, but he hit the front next time around, deposing Button.

Webber had a similar experience - spinning at the sweeping Turn 12 before regaining his composure and setting the fastest time on his next lap. Bar a quick return to the top by Hamilton, the Australian would remain in front for the rest of the session.

Alonso moved back up to second between Webber and Hamilton, with morning second-place man Robert Kubica fourth for Renault this time.

Button's car required attention in the McLaren pit after an overheating rear end forced the crew to deploy fire extinguishers. But the damage was soon repaired and the reigning champion returned to take fifth.

Felipe Massa was sixth for Ferrari, despite complaining about poor handling in the final sector, with Vettel seventh in the end ahead of Renault's Vitaly Petrov, Mercedes' Nico Rosberg and the two Saubers.

It was another troubled session for Hispania at the tail of the field. Bruno Senna only got out in time to complete three laps following his morning problems, and Sakon Yamamoto caused a brief red flag after spinning, brushing the wall and stalling in the tight confines of the final corners.


Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:37.942 23
2. Alonso Ferrari 1:38.132 + 0.190 30
3. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:38.279 + 0.337 29
4. Kubica Renault 1:38.718 + 0.776 29
5. Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:38.726 + 0.784 19
6. Massa Ferrari 1:38.820 + 0.878 32
7. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:39.204 + 1.262 22
8. Petrov Renault 1:39.267 + 1.325 28
9. Rosberg Mercedes 1:39.268 + 1.326 29
10. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:39.564 + 1.622 26
11. Heidfeld Sauber-Ferrari 1:39.588 + 1.646 25
12. Schumacher Mercedes 1:39.598 + 1.656 26
13. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1:39.812 + 1.870 35
14. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:39.881 + 1.939 27
15. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:39.971 + 2.029 22
16. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1:40.478 + 2.536 30
17. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:40.578 + 2.636 29
18. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:40.896 + 2.954 32
19. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1:42.773 + 4.831 29
20. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1:42.801 + 4.859 19
21. Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1:43.115 + 5.173 26
22. di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1:44.039 + 6.097 29
23. Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth 1:45.166 + 7.224 19
24. Senna HRT-Cosworth 1:46.649 + 8.707 3

I'm annoyed with myself...slept through this session But it's starting to look like Ferrari might at least be in the fight - but we won't get any meaningful times til tomorrow I don't think


Some Alonso news....

Alonso says Red Bull still favourite

[icegirljenni]

:hugs: Thank you so much Chrissie... am back now! You have to woke early to get this done i feel so sorry..

Yes according to the info they have gather from the FP, many speculate benefit still on RBR side. Lets see FP3 and qualifying. This is going to be interesting, racing on new track with the championship still open. WOW interesting!

[Chrissie]

icegirljenni Wrote:You have to woke early to get this done i feel so sorry..

Don't worry about it dear I was up early anyway....fool that I am I always get up to watch the practice sessions


(except when I sleep through my alarm and miss them, lol)

[Tension_36th]

Times are still improving but the dust and traffic ruined many laps to come. Mclaren sees to be the fastest and a real threat to beating Redbull. Ferrari have to worry about Kubica now.

[Chrissie]

Well, I think they've all got to worry about Kubica really, lol

Still, the top 4 separated by 9 hundredths of a second....should be an interesting quali anyway