German driver Sebastian Vettel of the Red Bull Racing team has dominated the two free practice sessions held on the Hungaroring in preparation for the Grand Prix of Hungary.
In the morning session, Sebastian Vettel and his teammate Mark Webber were a second clear of the next best runner, Robert Kubica's Renault.
But the controversy about flexible front wings looked set to continue.
Slow-motion replays captured by the sport's broadcaster Formula One Management highlighted the extent to which the extremities of the RB6's front wing bend towards the track.
The highest-placed Ferrari this morning was Hockenheim winner Fernando Alonso, 1.8 seconds off the pace.
In the afternoon, Vettel resumed his domination, setting a fast lap time that was half a second quicker than Alonso.
However, the Scuderia Ferrari is undecided on whether to use its latest specification, “flexi” front wing for this weekend, the team being worried that the controversial wing may be protested.
Webber was third, ahead of Alonso’s teammate, Felipe Massa, Vitaly Petrov of Renault (an brilliant run for the Russian who may be under pressure to keep his Renault seat), Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, Robert Kubica of Renault and Nico Hülkenberg, driving a Williams-Cosworth.
The Renault engine may not be the most powerful engine in F1, but it has excellent torque, which is crucial on the twisty, high-downforce Hungaroring. Renault-powered car set the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th times.
Team McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button struggled with 6th and 9th places after the lunch break.
There was also disappointment at Mercedes GP, as Michael Schumacher is only 10th, and Nico Rosberg had to be content with 13th…
Adrian Sutil (Force India) and Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus) both endured technical problems.
Grand Prix of Hungary*, Friday morning free practice session:
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'20"976 - 29 laps
2 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'21"106 - 27
3 - Robert Kubica (Renault R30) - 1'22"072 - 21
4 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'22"444 - 17
5 - Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'22"601 - 25
6 - Pedro De La Rosa (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'22"764 - 24
7 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F10) - 1'22"772 - 25
8 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'22"777 - 25
9 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'22"792 - 26
10 - Nico Hulkenberg (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'22"966 - 25
11 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'23"003 - 19
12 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F10) - 1'23"007 - 26
13 - Vitaly Petrov (Renault R30) - 1'23"249 - 24
14 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'23"327 - 23
15 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'23"520 - 19
16 - Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'23"780 - 22
17 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'23"868 - 28
18 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'24"075 - 15
19 - Jarno Trulli (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'25"032 - 22
20 - Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'25"210 - 23
21 - Timo Glock (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'25"990 - 21
22 - Lucas Di Grassi (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'26"686 - 17
23 - Bruno Senna (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'26"990 - 34
24 - Sakon Yamamoto (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'28"157 – 24
Grand Prix of Hungary*, Friday afternoon free practice session:
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'20"087 - 33 laps
2 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F10) - 1'20"584 - 34
3 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'20"597 - 36
4 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F10) - 1'20"986 - 33
5 - Vitaly Petrov (Renault R30) - 1'21"195 - 33
6 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'21"308 - 30
7 - Robert Kubica (Renault R30) - 1'21"375 - 37
8 - Nico Hulkenberg (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'21"623 - 41
9 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'21"730 - 33
10 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'21"773 - 31
11 - Pedro De La Rosa (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'21"809 - 38
12 - Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'21"844 - 36
13 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'22"039 - 28
14 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'22"212 - 37
15 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'22"469 - 43
16 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'22"507 - 22
17 - Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'22"602 - 38
18 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'23"138 - 36
19 - Jarno Trulli (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'24"553 - 37
20 - Timo Glock (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'25"376 - 35
21 - Lucas Di Grassi (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'25"669 - 32
22 - Bruno Senna (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'26"745 - 33
23 - Sakon Yamamoto (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'26"798 - 32
24 - Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'27"705 – 5
* Unofficial timing
 |
| Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull (Photo: WRI2) |
In the morning session, Sebastian Vettel and his teammate Mark Webber were a second clear of the next best runner, Robert Kubica's Renault.
But the controversy about flexible front wings looked set to continue.
Slow-motion replays captured by the sport's broadcaster Formula One Management highlighted the extent to which the extremities of the RB6's front wing bend towards the track.
The highest-placed Ferrari this morning was Hockenheim winner Fernando Alonso, 1.8 seconds off the pace.
In the afternoon, Vettel resumed his domination, setting a fast lap time that was half a second quicker than Alonso.
However, the Scuderia Ferrari is undecided on whether to use its latest specification, “flexi” front wing for this weekend, the team being worried that the controversial wing may be protested.
Webber was third, ahead of Alonso’s teammate, Felipe Massa, Vitaly Petrov of Renault (an brilliant run for the Russian who may be under pressure to keep his Renault seat), Lewis Hamilton of McLaren, Robert Kubica of Renault and Nico Hülkenberg, driving a Williams-Cosworth.
The Renault engine may not be the most powerful engine in F1, but it has excellent torque, which is crucial on the twisty, high-downforce Hungaroring. Renault-powered car set the 1st, 3rd, 5th and 7th times.
Team McLaren drivers Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button struggled with 6th and 9th places after the lunch break.
There was also disappointment at Mercedes GP, as Michael Schumacher is only 10th, and Nico Rosberg had to be content with 13th…
Adrian Sutil (Force India) and Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus) both endured technical problems.
 |
| Fernando Alonso, Ferrari (Photo: WRI2) |
Grand Prix of Hungary*, Friday morning free practice session:
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'20"976 - 29 laps
2 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'21"106 - 27
3 - Robert Kubica (Renault R30) - 1'22"072 - 21
4 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'22"444 - 17
5 - Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'22"601 - 25
6 - Pedro De La Rosa (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'22"764 - 24
7 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F10) - 1'22"772 - 25
8 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'22"777 - 25
9 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'22"792 - 26
10 - Nico Hulkenberg (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'22"966 - 25
11 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'23"003 - 19
12 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F10) - 1'23"007 - 26
13 - Vitaly Petrov (Renault R30) - 1'23"249 - 24
14 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'23"327 - 23
15 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'23"520 - 19
16 - Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'23"780 - 22
17 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'23"868 - 28
18 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'24"075 - 15
19 - Jarno Trulli (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'25"032 - 22
20 - Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'25"210 - 23
21 - Timo Glock (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'25"990 - 21
22 - Lucas Di Grassi (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'26"686 - 17
23 - Bruno Senna (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'26"990 - 34
24 - Sakon Yamamoto (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'28"157 – 24
Grand Prix of Hungary*, Friday afternoon free practice session:
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'20"087 - 33 laps
2 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F10) - 1'20"584 - 34
3 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB6-Renault) - 1'20"597 - 36
4 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F10) - 1'20"986 - 33
5 - Vitaly Petrov (Renault R30) - 1'21"195 - 33
6 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'21"308 - 30
7 - Robert Kubica (Renault R30) - 1'21"375 - 37
8 - Nico Hulkenberg (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'21"623 - 41
9 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/25-Mercedes) - 1'21"730 - 33
10 - Michael Schumacher (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'21"773 - 31
11 - Pedro De La Rosa (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'21"809 - 38
12 - Rubens Barrichello (Williams FW32-Cosworth) - 1'21"844 - 36
13 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes MGP W01) - 1'22"039 - 28
14 - Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber C29-Ferrari) - 1'22"212 - 37
15 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'22"469 - 43
16 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'22"507 - 22
17 - Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR5-Ferrari) - 1'22"602 - 38
18 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM03-Mercedes) - 1'23"138 - 36
19 - Jarno Trulli (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'24"553 - 37
20 - Timo Glock (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'25"376 - 35
21 - Lucas Di Grassi (Virgin VR01-Cosworth) - 1'25"669 - 32
22 - Bruno Senna (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'26"745 - 33
23 - Sakon Yamamoto (Hispania F110-Cosworth) - 1'26"798 - 32
24 - Heikki Kovalainen (Lotus T127-Cosworth) - 1'27"705 – 5
* Unofficial timing