UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Ferrari fight for first

Intense battle on

Few surprises in first practice at Monaco, as Kimi Raikkonen led home Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen in the McLaren’s, and his team mate Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari.

These four – covered by little over three tenths of a second – were the class of the field, the leading Finn particularly efficient in the middle sector of the circuit where he made up all of the advantage over his nearest rivals.

Next best came Nico Rosberg who has been looking forward to this race – one at which Williams traditionally excel – with three tenths to find on Massa in front of him, and just a little over Robert Kubica who trails him in sixth in the BMW.

Fernando Alonso came home next, the Renault a full six tenths and more off the pace of the BMW and Williams ahead, and just a shade faster than Rubens Barrichello and Mark Webber, in the Honda and Red Bull respectively, who followed him home.

Encouraging signs at Force India, too, where Giancarlo Fisichella finished the session tenth, within a shade of the three ahead.

Toyotas Timo Glock finished 11th and just shy of Fisichella, while Jarno Trulli – in the second Toyota – was one of three casualties who failed to complete the session, the Italian swiping the barriers approaching the tunnel.

The other non-finishers were David Coulthard – throttle failure in the Red Bull – and Nick Heidfeld, who appeared to suffer damage at the rear end of his BMW.

The session was red flagged for fifteen minutes when a loose drain cover was discovered, a potentially damaging situation in these tight confines.

Written: Thu, 22 May 2008 09:47:40