Formula One news
Hamilton tops timesheets in second practice
10 July 2009 / Results / PhotosLewis Hamilton has finished Friday on top by claiming the quickest lap time in afternoon practice at the Nürburgring. The World Champion beat second-placed Sebastian Vettel, who recovered from an earlier stoppage, by almost two tenths of a second with Jenson Button and Mark Webber next up in a rain-interrupted session.
 |
| Lewis Hamilton hopes to carry leading pace through to Saturday |
After being classified thirteenth in the morning's first one and a half hour session of the day, Hamilton's McLaren jumped up to the top spot with a best effort of 1.32.149 at a cool and dull Nürburgring. The session was split up by rain, however, as the drivers made use of Intermediate tyres for small numbers of laps in order to gain data in case such weather should hit the circuit over the weekend.
The session started with a bang, however, as Giancarlo Fisichella's Force India lost control in the damp conditions at Kumho Kurve, making relatively heavy contact with the retaining wall on the 100mph corner and damaging both right-front and rear suspension parts. Team-mate Adrian Sutil enjoyed a positive session at home, though, winding up sixth fastest after stopping in the morning with gearbox problems.
 |
| Adrian Sutil stopped in the morning, but was sixth in the afternoon session |
Vettel had also ground to a halt earlier although the German finished the day as the leading championship contender, edging out Jenson Button's Brawn by 38 thousandths of a second on Super Soft tyres (the softer compound on offer this weekend, labelled as 'Option' and identified by a green stripe on the sidewall of the tyre). Mark Webber completed a strong day with fourth position after being fastest in the morning as Trulli made the top five for Toyota despite an off at Turn 1 and a Turn 4 spin.
In a session where all cars struggled for grip, particularly on the Medium compound Bridgestone Potenzas (the harder on offer this weekend, labelled as 'Prime'), Rubens Barrichello finished the day seventh ahead of Alonso, Nakajima - who visited the Coca-Cola Kurve gravel trap early on - and Nelsinho Piquet in the second Renault. Nick Heidfeld - who completed most laps (36) - was the third German in 13th with compatriot Timo Glock 15th and Nico Rosberg 13th for Williams, needing to be fastest in Saturday's morning practice in order to have set a fastest practice time on all Grand Prix weekends so far this year.
 |
| Vettel was the leading German driver in Friday's second practice |
Although team-mate Hamilton posted the fastest lap time, Heikki Kovalainen's McLaren finished the day 17th, just behind compatriot Kimi Räikkönen in the Ferrari whose own team-mate, Felipe Massa, experimented with front wing settings in order to dial out oversteer.
Third and final practice for the German Grand Prix will last for one hour and takes place at 11am German time (BST +1 / GMT +2) on Saturday ahead of qualifying which will begin two hours after the morning session.
more news
- 22 Nov.
- 21 Nov.
- 20 Nov.
- 19 Nov.
- 18 Nov.
- 17 Nov.
Homepage
Jerez