Alonso dominates Belgian practice sessions

SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, BELGIUM: Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso posted the fastest times for the first two practice sessions for tomorrow’s Belgian Grand Prix.

The 29-year-old Spaniard was the fastest on the rain-soaked Spa-Francorchamps track in the morning, clocking in a time of one minute and 00.797 seconds. He continued his domination, completing a lap in one minute 49.032 seconds as the pace quickened when the track began to dry in the afternoon.

The double-champion’s time was just 0.125 seconds faster than second-quickest German Adrian Sutil of Force India who had led for the majority of the session. Briton Lewis Hamilton of McLaren was third fastest ahead of Renault driver Pole Robert Kubica, who made the most of his new F-duct, and Brazilian Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari who were fourth and fifth fastest respectively.

Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel was sixth quickest followed by defending champion Briton Jenson Button in the second McLaren.

Spaniard Pedro De La Rosa of Sauber was eighth quickest ahead of Williams driver Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, while Japanese Kamui Kobayashi was tenth fastest in the second Sauber. Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher finished the session 12th fastest, while championship leader Australian Mark Webber was 18th in the second Red Bull.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 28^th, 2010.