Alonso on top after European GP practice
Ferrari driver clocks best time of one minute 37.968 seconds.
VALENCIA:
Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso gave his home fans something to cheer when he topped the times in the second free practice ahead of tomorrow’s European Grand Prix.
The 29-year-old and two-time champion clocked a best time of one minute 37.968 seconds round the Mediterranean street circuit, a lap that was good enough to lift him two-tenths of a second clear of nearest rival Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.
“A reasonable start,” said Ferrari. “Let’s see if we can build on this.”
Hamilton, the 26-year-old 2008 champion, showed plenty of aggression as he pushed hard to erase any lingering bad memories of his experiences at the last two grands prix in Monaco and Montreal.
Defending champion and runaway leader this year Sebastian Vettel was third fastest in his Red Bull, just a shade off Hamilton’s pace, but fast enough to keep him ahead of compatriot and seven-times champion Michael Schumacher, 42, in his Mercedes.
Brazilian Felipe Massa was fifth quickest in the second Ferrari ahead of Briton Jenson Button, the 2009 champion who won the Canadian Grand Prix two weeks ago for McLaren. Mark Webber was seventh in the second Red Bull - the Australian had been quickest in the morning session.
The session was run in dry and hot conditions under a blue sky and, after the spectacular carnage in Canada, produced few major incidents and accidents.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2011.
Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso gave his home fans something to cheer when he topped the times in the second free practice ahead of tomorrow’s European Grand Prix.
The 29-year-old and two-time champion clocked a best time of one minute 37.968 seconds round the Mediterranean street circuit, a lap that was good enough to lift him two-tenths of a second clear of nearest rival Lewis Hamilton of McLaren.
“A reasonable start,” said Ferrari. “Let’s see if we can build on this.”
Hamilton, the 26-year-old 2008 champion, showed plenty of aggression as he pushed hard to erase any lingering bad memories of his experiences at the last two grands prix in Monaco and Montreal.
Defending champion and runaway leader this year Sebastian Vettel was third fastest in his Red Bull, just a shade off Hamilton’s pace, but fast enough to keep him ahead of compatriot and seven-times champion Michael Schumacher, 42, in his Mercedes.
Brazilian Felipe Massa was fifth quickest in the second Ferrari ahead of Briton Jenson Button, the 2009 champion who won the Canadian Grand Prix two weeks ago for McLaren. Mark Webber was seventh in the second Red Bull - the Australian had been quickest in the morning session.
The session was run in dry and hot conditions under a blue sky and, after the spectacular carnage in Canada, produced few major incidents and accidents.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 25th, 2011.