Heikki Kovalainen of team McLaren and Adrian Sutil of team Force India emerged quickest in the two free practice sessions held Friday in preparation for the Grand Prix of Japan at Suzuka.
This morning, Kovalainen beat local hero Kazuki Nakajima of Williams and Sutil. It was a surprise to see Giancarlo Fisichella setting the 4th fastest time in the Ferrari, finally scoring a good result.
In the afternoon, Sutil set the fastest time in a largely pointless soaking wet second free practice session.
The heavy rain and a limited supply of tyres with which to tackle it contributed to an almost total washout of the second session.
Sutil managed to complete only 5 laps, and set the fastest time despite running wide at the infamous 130R corner.
World championship leader Jenson Button had a difficult day. He set the 18th quickest time this morning and did not venture out of the garage in the afternoon…
Friday morning first free practice session:
1 - Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren MP4/24-Mercedes) - 1'40"356 – 24 laps
2 - Kazuki Nakajima (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'40"648 - 18
3 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'40"806 - 14
4 - Giancarlo Fisichella (Ferrari F60) - 1'40"985 - 27
5 - Sébastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'41"421 - 26
6 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/24-Mercedes) - 1'41"443 – 15
7 - Fernando Alonso (Renault R29) - 1'41"532 - 22
8 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F60) - 1'41"577 - 25
9 - Rubens Barrichello (Brawn BGP001-Mercedes) - 1'41"821 – 19
10 - Nico Rosberg (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'42"188 – 20
11 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'42"332 - 10
12 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'42"475 - 15
13 - Jarno Trulli (Toyota TF109) - 1'42"657 - 13
14 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'42"833 - 27
15 - Robert Kubica (BMW F1.09) - 1'42"833 - 17
16 - Nick Heidfeld (BMW F1.09) - 1'42"977 - 14
17 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'43"218 - 11
18 - Jenson Button (Brawn BGP001-Mercedes) - 1'43"318 - 17
19 – Kamui Kobayashi (Toyota TF109) - 1'43"407 - 16
20 - Romain Grosjean (Renault R29) - 1'43"572 - 22
Friday afternoon second free practice session:
1 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'47"261 - 5 laps
2 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'47"923 - 6
3 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'47"931 - 5
4 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/24-Mercedes) - 1'47"983 - 5
5 - Kazuki Nakajima (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'48"058 - 8
6 - Sébastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'48"691 - 9
7 - Fernando Alonso (Renault R29) - 1'48"693 - 5
8 - Jarno Trulli (Toyota TF109) - 1'48"737 - 7
9 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'48"802 - 11
10 - Robert Kubica (BMW F1.09) - 1'48"861 - 6
11 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F60) - 1'48"886 - 5
12 - Kamui Kobayashi (Toyota TF109) - 1'49"054 - 7
13 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'49"382 - 7
14 - Romain Grosjean (Renault R29) - 1'49"405 - 6
15 - Giancarlo Fisichella (Ferrari F60) - 1'49"553 - 5
16 - Nico Rosberg (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'49"872 - 8
17 - Nick Heidfeld (BMW F1.09) - 1'50"178 – 10
*Unofficial timing
photo:WRI2
This morning, Kovalainen beat local hero Kazuki Nakajima of Williams and Sutil. It was a surprise to see Giancarlo Fisichella setting the 4th fastest time in the Ferrari, finally scoring a good result.
In the afternoon, Sutil set the fastest time in a largely pointless soaking wet second free practice session.
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| Jenson Button, Brawn GP |
The heavy rain and a limited supply of tyres with which to tackle it contributed to an almost total washout of the second session.
Sutil managed to complete only 5 laps, and set the fastest time despite running wide at the infamous 130R corner.
World championship leader Jenson Button had a difficult day. He set the 18th quickest time this morning and did not venture out of the garage in the afternoon…
Friday morning first free practice session:
1 - Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren MP4/24-Mercedes) - 1'40"356 – 24 laps
2 - Kazuki Nakajima (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'40"648 - 18
3 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'40"806 - 14
4 - Giancarlo Fisichella (Ferrari F60) - 1'40"985 - 27
5 - Sébastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'41"421 - 26
6 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/24-Mercedes) - 1'41"443 – 15
7 - Fernando Alonso (Renault R29) - 1'41"532 - 22
8 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F60) - 1'41"577 - 25
9 - Rubens Barrichello (Brawn BGP001-Mercedes) - 1'41"821 – 19
10 - Nico Rosberg (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'42"188 – 20
11 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'42"332 - 10
12 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'42"475 - 15
13 - Jarno Trulli (Toyota TF109) - 1'42"657 - 13
14 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'42"833 - 27
15 - Robert Kubica (BMW F1.09) - 1'42"833 - 17
16 - Nick Heidfeld (BMW F1.09) - 1'42"977 - 14
17 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'43"218 - 11
18 - Jenson Button (Brawn BGP001-Mercedes) - 1'43"318 - 17
19 – Kamui Kobayashi (Toyota TF109) - 1'43"407 - 16
20 - Romain Grosjean (Renault R29) - 1'43"572 - 22
Friday afternoon second free practice session:
1 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'47"261 - 5 laps
2 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'47"923 - 6
3 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'47"931 - 5
4 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/24-Mercedes) - 1'47"983 - 5
5 - Kazuki Nakajima (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'48"058 - 8
6 - Sébastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'48"691 - 9
7 - Fernando Alonso (Renault R29) - 1'48"693 - 5
8 - Jarno Trulli (Toyota TF109) - 1'48"737 - 7
9 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'48"802 - 11
10 - Robert Kubica (BMW F1.09) - 1'48"861 - 6
11 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F60) - 1'48"886 - 5
12 - Kamui Kobayashi (Toyota TF109) - 1'49"054 - 7
13 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'49"382 - 7
14 - Romain Grosjean (Renault R29) - 1'49"405 - 6
15 - Giancarlo Fisichella (Ferrari F60) - 1'49"553 - 5
16 - Nico Rosberg (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'49"872 - 8
17 - Nick Heidfeld (BMW F1.09) - 1'50"178 – 10
*Unofficial timing
photo:WRI2