Young German driver Sebastian Vettel of team Red Bull set the fastest time of the second free practice session of Friday at the Grand Prix of Singapore.
His teammate Mark Webber was first when he spun at Turn 23 and damaged his Red Bull against the concrete wall, which brought up the red flag.
Fernando Alonso, fastest of all in Sector 1 (with Lewis Hamilton) drove his Renault R29 to second place.
Heikki Kovalainen was a surprise third in his McLaren-Mercedes, beating Nick Heidfeld (BMW-Sauber) and Jenson Button (Brawn-Mercedes) who suddenly slowed down in Sector 3 after having set his personal best in Sectors 1 and 2.
Kovalainen’s teammate, reigning World Champion Lewis Hamiton ranked 9th, one place ahead of Button’s teammate Rubens Barrichello. Hamilton was as fast as Alonso in Sector 1 but lost a great deal of time in Sector 3 compared to Vettel.
The two F1 rookies, Romain Grosjean (Renault) and Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) were slowest of the group, respectively 2.3 and 2.7 seconds down Vettel on this difficult street circuit.
Friday afternoon free practice session
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'48"650 - 31 laps
2 - Fernando Alonso (Renault R29) - 1'48"924 - 27
3 - Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren MP4/24-Mercedes) - 1'48"952 - 30
4 - Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber F1.09) - 1'49"098 - 31
5 - Jenson Button (Brawn BGP001-Mercedes) - 1'49"311 - 34
6 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'49"317 - 14
7 - Nico Rosberg (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'49"333 - 33
8 - Timo Glock (Toyota TF109) - 1'49"342 - 30
9 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/24-Mercedes) - 1'49"358 - 28
10 - Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber F1.09) - 1'49"609 - 24
11 - Rubens Barrichello (Brawn BGP001-Mercedes) - 1'49"616 - 30
12 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'49"710 - 31
13 - Jarno Trulli (Toyota TF109) - 1'49"795 - 29
14 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F60) - 1'49"941 - 29
15 - Kazuki Nakajima (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'50"023 - 34
16 - Giancarlo Fisichella (Ferrari F60) - 1'50"253 - 31
17 - Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'50"527 - 29
18 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'50"605 - 28
19 - Romain Grosjean (Renault R29) - 1'50"972 - 17
20 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'51"423 - 31
photo:Red Bull - Getty Images
His teammate Mark Webber was first when he spun at Turn 23 and damaged his Red Bull against the concrete wall, which brought up the red flag.
Fernando Alonso, fastest of all in Sector 1 (with Lewis Hamilton) drove his Renault R29 to second place.
Heikki Kovalainen was a surprise third in his McLaren-Mercedes, beating Nick Heidfeld (BMW-Sauber) and Jenson Button (Brawn-Mercedes) who suddenly slowed down in Sector 3 after having set his personal best in Sectors 1 and 2.
Kovalainen’s teammate, reigning World Champion Lewis Hamiton ranked 9th, one place ahead of Button’s teammate Rubens Barrichello. Hamilton was as fast as Alonso in Sector 1 but lost a great deal of time in Sector 3 compared to Vettel.
The two F1 rookies, Romain Grosjean (Renault) and Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso) were slowest of the group, respectively 2.3 and 2.7 seconds down Vettel on this difficult street circuit.
Friday afternoon free practice session
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'48"650 - 31 laps
2 - Fernando Alonso (Renault R29) - 1'48"924 - 27
3 - Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren MP4/24-Mercedes) - 1'48"952 - 30
4 - Nick Heidfeld (BMW Sauber F1.09) - 1'49"098 - 31
5 - Jenson Button (Brawn BGP001-Mercedes) - 1'49"311 - 34
6 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB5-Renault) - 1'49"317 - 14
7 - Nico Rosberg (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'49"333 - 33
8 - Timo Glock (Toyota TF109) - 1'49"342 - 30
9 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren MP4/24-Mercedes) - 1'49"358 - 28
10 - Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber F1.09) - 1'49"609 - 24
11 - Rubens Barrichello (Brawn BGP001-Mercedes) - 1'49"616 - 30
12 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'49"710 - 31
13 - Jarno Trulli (Toyota TF109) - 1'49"795 - 29
14 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari F60) - 1'49"941 - 29
15 - Kazuki Nakajima (Williams FW31-Toyota) - 1'50"023 - 34
16 - Giancarlo Fisichella (Ferrari F60) - 1'50"253 - 31
17 - Sebastien Buemi (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'50"527 - 29
18 - Vitantonio Liuzzi (Force India VJM02-Mercedes) - 1'50"605 - 28
19 - Romain Grosjean (Renault R29) - 1'50"972 - 17
20 - Jaime Alguersuari (Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari) - 1'51"423 - 31
photo:Red Bull - Getty Images