Formula One news

Massa flies in second session

Felipe Massa went quickest in the second Friday practice in Melbourne with a 1m27.353s whilst his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was second fastest, confirming Ferrari is right on the pace. Young Brit Lewis Hamilton impressively set the third quickest time and was within half a second of the in-form Massa.

The 22-year-old debutant was around two tenths faster than double world champion Fernando Alonso in the other McLaren, who ended up seventh having gone fastest in the first Friday session.

Unlike the first session, the second session looked like it might be rain-free until it started to drizzle after half an hour. This slowed down proceedings and the session ground to halt when Rubens Barrichello crashed his Honda coming out of the final corner. However the track started to dry and drivers were grinding out faster and faster times as the practice drew to a close. Giancarlo Fisichella was fourth fastest but the Renault team's session was spoilt by mechanical failures to both Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen's cars.

Nick Heidfeld and Robert Kubica showed that BMW is also up there with a fifth and ninth respectively. Alexander Wurz and Nico Rosberg were also quick for Williams and ended up sixth and eighth quickest respectively. The Super Aguris were most impressive as Takuma Sato and Anthony Davidson went quicker than the team of their engine supplier, Honda.

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