Webber dominates opening practice at Interlagos
Red Bull's Mark Webber dominated the opening practice session timesheets in Sao Paulo this morning, clocking an impressive time of 1m12.463s just minutes from the end of a ninety-minute dry-wet-dry session. The Australian's laptime was over four tenths of a second faster than second-placed Rubens Barrichello, who also improved late in the session.
After a dry start to the session, with Toro Rosso's Alguersuari and Buemi going out to get a feel for the track, Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen rose to the top of the timesheets after 20 minutes with a time of 1m14.021s, soon bettered by Webber's 1m13.951s, Hamilton's 1m13.631s, Barrichello's 1m13.121s and Vettel's 1m12.932s. However, no sooner had Vettel clocked his pace-setting time than the heavens opened, bringing the session to a near stand-still.
Although a number of drivers ventured out for a cautious run before the hour mark, there was little improvement to be had in the slippery conditions. Renault's Romain Grosjean demonstrated just how tricky the conditions were when he ran wide at turn 11, hitting a polystyrene brake marker board and bringing out a 10-minute red flag as marshals cleared up the track.
Once the red flag period was over, drivers returned to the track, with Webber setting his best time at the start of a six-lap stint at the end of the session. Barrichello set a time of 1m12.874s in his BGP001, while championship rival Sebastian Vettel (1m12.932s) was third. McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton were line astern on times of 1m12.989s and 1m13.048s respectively.
Williams drivers Kazuki Nakajima (1m13.067s) and Nico Rosberg (1m13.147s) sandwiched championship leader Jenson Button (1m13.141s) in seventh place, with Adrian Sutil (1m13.232s) and Kimi Räikkönen (1m13.321s) rounding out the top ten.
Manipe F1
After a dry start to the session, with Toro Rosso's Alguersuari and Buemi going out to get a feel for the track, Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen rose to the top of the timesheets after 20 minutes with a time of 1m14.021s, soon bettered by Webber's 1m13.951s, Hamilton's 1m13.631s, Barrichello's 1m13.121s and Vettel's 1m12.932s. However, no sooner had Vettel clocked his pace-setting time than the heavens opened, bringing the session to a near stand-still.
Although a number of drivers ventured out for a cautious run before the hour mark, there was little improvement to be had in the slippery conditions. Renault's Romain Grosjean demonstrated just how tricky the conditions were when he ran wide at turn 11, hitting a polystyrene brake marker board and bringing out a 10-minute red flag as marshals cleared up the track.
Once the red flag period was over, drivers returned to the track, with Webber setting his best time at the start of a six-lap stint at the end of the session. Barrichello set a time of 1m12.874s in his BGP001, while championship rival Sebastian Vettel (1m12.932s) was third. McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis Hamilton were line astern on times of 1m12.989s and 1m13.048s respectively.
Williams drivers Kazuki Nakajima (1m13.067s) and Nico Rosberg (1m13.147s) sandwiched championship leader Jenson Button (1m13.141s) in seventh place, with Adrian Sutil (1m13.232s) and Kimi Räikkönen (1m13.321s) rounding out the top ten.
Manipe F1
