Hamilton sets the pace in practice

Red Bulls outshone by McLaren as the season-finale beckons.

ABU DABHI: Lewis Hamilton topped the times for McLaren in the second free practice session for Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. The 2008 world champion outpaced his three rivals in this weekend’s championship showdown by more than two-tenths of a second with a time of one minute and 40.888 seconds.

It was a bold statement of intent from the clear outsider among the four men in contention for the drivers’ title, but his McLaren teammate Jenson Button was unable to match him and was only eighth fastest.

Hamilton’s time lifted him clear of Sebastian Vettel who was second fastest for Red Bull ahead of current leader Fernando Alonso of Ferrari and Mark Webber was fourth.

Robert Kubica was fifth quickest for Renault, Felipe Massa sixth for Ferrari, after stopping out on track due to suspected fuel problems, and Russian rookie Vitaly Petrov seventh in the second Renault.

Vettel had been quickest in the earlier practice session following a morning rainstorm, but for the first time in this year’s practice session, Hamilton had the speed to succeed him as the day’s fastest man.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 13^th, 2010.