UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Webber dominates P1

Red Bull looking good

The weather played its part in making the first practice session in Brazil an interesting 90minutes, for repeated short rain showers interrupted the session on a regular basis. However, despite this and a red flag caused by Romain Grosjeans Renault destroying a marker board, the final times make interesting reading ahead of this crucial race.

Fast from the off, and presumably making a very valid point, was Mark Webber in the Red Bull, and the Australian had the circuit completely sorted and the car playing his tune as he stormed to a series of fastest laps, the best of which lasted just 1:12.463. Rubens Barrichello in the Brawn was nearest at the end of the session, albeit some four tenths adrift.

To make things more interesting Sebastian Vettel ran third in the second Red Bull, knowing full well he needs a victory here to keep his title hopes alive, and that he may need the help of his team mate to achieve it.

The only other driver under the one minute 13 second mark was Heikki Kovalainen, the Finn heading McLaren team leader Lewis Hamilton by a mere fraction in time, and next came Kazuki Nakajima, the Williams driver perhaps mindful of the need to impress if he is to be on the grid next season.

Championship leader Jenson Button set the seventh fastest time, just shy of Nakajima, with the second Williams of Nico Rosberg – widely believed to be the Briton’s team mate next year – just behind, and the final top ten runners were Adrian Sutil for Force India and Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari.

For the record, Giancarlo Fisichella took the second Ferrari to 15th position, a respectable three tenths down on Raikkonen, while debutante Kamui Kobayashi set the 18th fastest time in the Toyota.

Written: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 14:41:38