Fernando Alonso topped the timesheets at the end of a wet opening practice session ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix.
The Ferrari driver clocked a best lap of two minutes 00.727 seconds in the closing stages of the 90-minute run.
That time was 0.770secs ahead of Lewis Hamilton in his McLaren, though it was the weather that had dominated proceedings at Spa.
Click Here to Read More
Formula 1: Belgian Grand Prix - First Practice Results
F1 Standings Ahead of Belgian Grand Prix
The gloomy forecast for a sodden day proving correct as the rain ruined Formula One’s return from a summer break. It eventually relented in the closing stages, allowing Alonso to come out and better his previous time. SkySports
Renault’s Robert Kubica put in a solid run towards the end to finish with the third best time of 2:02.081.
Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel was fourth, followed by Force India’s Adrian Sutil and reigning champion Jenson Button in his McLaren.
Red Bull’s Webber, Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi, Williams’ Rubens Barrichello and Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher completed the top 10.
The drivers were back in action for the first time since the race in Hungary on August 1 following Formula 1’s summer break, which included an enforced two-week factory shutdown when car development was prohibited. Daily News & Analysis
Felipe Massa, one of the more regular visitors to the slippery Spa kerbs and beyond, was fully 2.8secs adrift of Ferrari team-mate Alonso, but claimed eleventh ahead of Nico Hulkenberg (Williams), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Pedro de la Rosa (Sauber) and Tonio Liuzzi (Force India), with Toro Rosso duo Jaime Alguersuari and Sebastian Buemi sandwiching the second Renault of Vitaly Petrov before the newcomer teams again filled the final six positions.
With the FIA poised to reveal which applicant will be next to join the ranks of F1 rookies, Virgin Racing stole a march on season-long rivals Lotus by putting both Timo Glock and Lucas di Grassi ahead of Jarno Trulli. Bruno Senna also gave HRT a fillip, beating Lotus’ Heikki Kovalainen, with Sakon Yamamoto bringing up the rear. Yahoo! Eurosport
| 
|