Webber quickest in Spanish GP practice
Rivals question Alonso’s long-term Ferrari deal.
BARCELONA:
Mark Webber topped the times for Red Bull during the afternoon’s second practice for tomorrow’s Spanish Grand Prix.
The 34-year-old Australian, winner of last year’s race at the Circuit de Catalunya, set a fastest time of one minute 22.470 seconds midway through the session. Briton Lewis Hamilton, sixth fastest in the morning session, benefited from improvements to his car and finished the session second quickest, 0.04 seconds slower than Webber.
Championship leader Sebastian Vettel of Germany in the second Red Bull was third quickest ahead of Briton Jenson Button in the second McLaren. Double champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso finished the day fifth fastest.
Hamilton, Vettel puzzled by Alonso deal
Meanwhile, Ferrari’s decision to sign Alonso on a long-term deal that keeps him tied to the team until the end of 2016 left many close observers puzzled.
The decision has, in effect, closed the doors at Ferrari on any possible future moves to sign top drivers and that meant it had reduced the options for men like Vettel if they were considering a switch to the Italian team.
Hamilton, whose name has been linked with a move to Ferrari in the future, said, “I don’t have a drama being alongside him. But, I assume he wouldn’t allow it to be the other way around. I don’t really care. I’ll beat him in another car.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2011.
Mark Webber topped the times for Red Bull during the afternoon’s second practice for tomorrow’s Spanish Grand Prix.
The 34-year-old Australian, winner of last year’s race at the Circuit de Catalunya, set a fastest time of one minute 22.470 seconds midway through the session. Briton Lewis Hamilton, sixth fastest in the morning session, benefited from improvements to his car and finished the session second quickest, 0.04 seconds slower than Webber.
Championship leader Sebastian Vettel of Germany in the second Red Bull was third quickest ahead of Briton Jenson Button in the second McLaren. Double champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso finished the day fifth fastest.
Hamilton, Vettel puzzled by Alonso deal
Meanwhile, Ferrari’s decision to sign Alonso on a long-term deal that keeps him tied to the team until the end of 2016 left many close observers puzzled.
The decision has, in effect, closed the doors at Ferrari on any possible future moves to sign top drivers and that meant it had reduced the options for men like Vettel if they were considering a switch to the Italian team.
Hamilton, whose name has been linked with a move to Ferrari in the future, said, “I don’t have a drama being alongside him. But, I assume he wouldn’t allow it to be the other way around. I don’t really care. I’ll beat him in another car.”
Published in The Express Tribune, May 21st, 2011.