Formula One news
Kubica fastest in close opening session
03 August 2007 / Results / PhotosRobert Kubica topped first practice for the Hungarian Grand Prix ahead of Felipe Massa in the dry and sunny conditions. The Pole set a fastest time of 1:22.390s, 0.129s faster than the Ferrari driver. However, the times were very close with Lewis Hamilton just 0.264s slower in fifth. Kimi Raikkonen and Fernando Alonso were third and fourth respectively.
Nick Heidfeld was sixth in the second BMW Sauber with Nico Rosberg a solid seventh for Williams. Honda's Jenson Button and Rubens Barrichello, and Toyota's Ralf Schumacher rounded off the top ten. Rookie Sebastian Vettel finished the session 16th and just under a tenth of a second quicker than Toro Rosso regular Vitantonio Liuzzi. It was a particularly impressive performance considering it was the first time he had ever driven the STR2. However, Sakon Yamamoto failed to do the same at Spyker, ending up 20th and almost two seconds adrift of team-mate Adrian Sutil.
The first half hour was the customary Spyker show with Sakon Yamamoto making the most of his time to get used to the Spyker car having never driven it before. After 9 laps the Japanese driver managed to get the time down to 1:30.849s with team-mate Adrian Sutil demonstrating on his first attempt that the car can go 2.125s quicker. Right on cue, the Toro Rossos then appeared with another debutant Sebastian Vettel driving the STR2 for the first time and managing to match team-mate Vitantonio Liuzzi for pace, despite complaining of understeer.
The rest of the field followed with the McLarens quickly establishing themselves at the top - Alonso going fastest with a 1:23.600s. Many of the drivers however were struggling for grip, reporting tyre-graining problems over the radio. Heidfeld, Barrichello and Schumacher all had off-moments.
With half an hour remaining Mark Webber grinded to an erratic halt at the end of the pit-lane after sensing a problem on his Red Bull on the pit straight. He then swiftly directed the marshals to push his RB3 back up the pit-lane. Moments later Vitantonio Liuzzi in the sister Toro Rosso stopped in the same spot leaving everyone wondering if this was some kind of new PR stunt from Red Bull. However, the Italian confirmed on the radio that it was a clutch problem.
In the last 15 minutes, conditions started to settle with Massa bringing the benchmark down to 1:22.519s then Kubica to 1:22.390s. Surprisingly the McLarens failed to go much quicker when they came back out.
The second Friday practice session starts at 14:00 local time.
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