UpdateF1 >> Formula 1 News > Alonso springs surprise

Last gasp effort for Renault

Second practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix threw up an interesting conundrum, one that will have the conspiracy theorists chattering wildly on internet forums across the world, for while the fastest car – consistently if not ultimately– during the 90 minute session was one sponsored by Red Bull, it was neither that of Sebastian Vettel or Mark Webber, but rather the Toro Rosso of young Swiss Sebastien Buemi.

The question is as to whether STR has been asked, nicely, to try and get their two cars into the qualifying mix in order to get in the way of the Brawns. Nothing naughty, you understand, just a helping hand for the parent team.
In the end, however, Buemi was ultimately eclipsed for top spot in the final seconds but he had looked assured and fast throughout the session.

Tactical considerations aside, what was remarkable about the session – another featuring a couple of light rain showers – was the spread across the field which from ultimate fastest man Fernando Alonso, the Renault coming from absolutely nowhere to set a best time of 1:12.314, to the final man Giancarlo Fisichella was less than a second. Indeed, the true figure may be around seven tenths for the Italian stalled his car when trying a practice start and was forced to sit out the last half hour.

Buemi was beaten by only four one-hundredths, and behind the front two the championship battle looks interesting indeed. Third place went to local boy Rubens Barrichello in the Brawn after a quiet but measured session, fourth to Red Bull ‘supporting role’ man Mark Webber, and fifth to champion elect Jenson Button, the second of the Brawn runners. Sebastian Vettel, in the second Red Bull, set the seventh fastest time, albeit less than three tenths away from the best time.

Jarno Trulli looked good all session for Toyota and took the sixth slot, while his team mate Kamui Kobayashi impressed with a very good effort for 13th, a respectable quarter of a second behind Trulli.

Nico Rosberg for Williams, Adrian Sutil in the Force India and Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren made up the top ten.

As for Ferrari, 18th position for Raikkonen and last for Fisichella simply highlights just how close things are, and what happens tomorrow – with possible rain forecast for qualifying – is anyone’s guess.

Written: Fri, 16 Oct 2009 18:40:27