An intriguing final practice session at Istanbul Park hints at the possibility of surprises come qualifying, especially if the weather plays a part.
The session began – again – on a damp track, but soon dried out. With Ferrari playing a conspicuously quiet game – Felipe Massa and Kimi Raikkonen finished the session in fifth and 11th places – and McLaren likewise (Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen seventh and 12th) it was left to some notable interlopers to top the times.
The presence of Fernando Alonso in the Renault in second position was not so much a surprise following the apparent resurgence in Spain (Nelson Piquet came home tenth) but Red Bull’s first and third was something of an eye-opener.
Mark Webber put yesterday’s accident behind him to secure top spot by over a tenth from Alonso, and David Coulthard shaded the Spaniard by mere thousandths. This was genuine pace from Red Bull, and they must come into the equation come qualifying this afternoon.
Nico Rosberg confirmed Williams’ hints at form with fourth fastest - Kazuki Nakajima not so good in 17th in the second FW30 – while both Toyotas made it into the top ten too, Jarno Trulli sixth and Timo Glock eighth.
Jenson Button was the final top ten man – in ninth – in the improving Honda RA108.
Perhaps the most significant factor is that the first sixteen runners were covered by less than a second, giving us hope of some fresh names in the final top ten run-off this afternoon.
Written: Sat, 10 May 2008 09:24:39
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- (May 10, 2008)View all headlines from this date
- (Grand Prix: Round 5: Day 1)View event information
