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F1 Belgium: Schumacher and Webber trade first place

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Khatir Soltani
Michael Schumacher and Mark Webber both set the fastest time in the two free practice sessions of the Grand Prix of Belgium at Spa-Francorchamps Friday.

Michael Schumacher (Photo: WRI2)

Schumacher, who made his Grand Prix debut here with Jordan Grand Prix 20 years ago set the best during the opening practice session as action resumed after the summer break. However, rain began just 10 minutes after the start of the session, and the conditions never improved. The German was one of few drivers to put a lap on dry pavement.

His teammate at Mercedes GP, Nico Rosberg also managed to set a quick lap before the rain came.

The afternoon session was also disrupted by rain. But this time it was Red Bull' Mark Webber who made the most out of the first few minutes on dry pavement. Rain arrived and conditions slowly improved. Some drivers went out on intermediates while other preferred to venture on slicks.

Sebastien Vettel (Photo: WRI2)

Webber who was on top on a 1min50.321s when the clouds opened once more with just under 40 minutes left, and although most drivers did eventually come back out to get some wet practice, there was no way anyone was going to improve their pace on what was soon a sodden circuit.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso ended up second, ahead of McLaren duo of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, and the second Ferrari of Felipe Massa.

Behind Nico Rosberg (Mercedes GP) and Sergio Perez (Sauber), Nico Hulkenberg was eighth in a rare Friday afternoon appearance for a reserve driver.

Lotus Renault's new driver Bruno Senna was 23rd this morning and 17th this afternoon.

Felipe Massa (Photo: WRI2)

Grand Prix of Belgium, Friday, first free practice session*:
1 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W02) – 1’54”335 – 13 laps
2 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W02) – 1’54”829 – 15
3 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) – 2’02”740 – 8
4 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 2’03”752 - 10
5 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) – 2’04”301 - 7
6 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) – 2’04”663 - 18
7 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari 150) – 2’04”728 - 10
8 - Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW33-Cosworth) – 2’05”391 - 12.
9 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR6-Ferrari) - 2’06”583 - 16
10 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 2’06”577 - 15
11 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari 150) – 2’07”055 - 12
12 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C30-Ferrari) – 2'07"481 - 15
13 - Jarno Trulli (Lotus T128-Renault) – 2’08”233 - 14
14 – Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR6-Ferrari) – 2’08”239 - 14
15 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW33-Cosworth) – 2’08”918 - 10.
16 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB7-Renault) 2’09”792 - 8
17 - Timo Glock (Virgin VR02-Cosworth) - 2’12”278 - 13
18 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (Hispania F111-Cosworth) - 2’12”389 – 10
19 - Jerome D'Ambrosio (Virgin VR02-Cosworth) - 2’12”772 - 13
20 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) – 2’13”058 - 8
21 - Karun Chandhok (Lotus T128-Renault)- 2’13”090 - 11.
22 - Vitaly Petrov (Renault R31) - 2’13”601 - 10
23 - Bruno Senna (Renault R31) – 2’14”340 - 7
24 – Daniel Ricciardo (Hispania F111-Cosworth) - 2’14”933 – 11

Grand Prix of Belgium, Friday, second free practice session*:
1 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'50"321 - 22 laps
2 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari 150) - 1'50"461 - 18
3 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'50"770 - 9
4 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/26-Mercedes) - 1'50"838 - 9
5 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari 150) - 1'51"218 - 14
6 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'51"242 - 22
7 - Sergio Perez (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'51"655 - 20.
8 - Nico Hulkenberg (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) - 1'51"725 - 17
9 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM04-Mercedes) - 1'51"751 - 8
10 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB7-Renault) - 1'51"790 - 13
11 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W02) - 1'51"922 - 23
12 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'52"750 - 20
13 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C30-Ferrari) - 1'52"780 - 26
14 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR6-Ferrari) - 1'52"911 - 25.
15 - Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR6-Ferrari) - 1'53"009 - 25
16 - Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW33-Cosworth) - 1'53"156 - 17
17 - Bruno Senna (Renault R31) - 1'53"835 - 21
18 - Jarno Trulli (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'55"051 - 20
19 - Timo Glock (Virgin VR02-Cosworth) - 1'55"494 - 23
20 - Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T128-Renault) - 1'56"202 - 15
21 - Jerome D'Ambrosio (Virgin VR02-Cosworth) - 1'56"816 - 21.
22 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (Hispania F111-Cosworth) - 1'57"450 - 19
23 - Daniel Ricciardo (Hispania F111-Cosworth) - 1'57"612 - 24
24 - Vitaly Petrov (Renault R31) - 2'02"234 – 12

*Unofficial timing
F1

Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
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