Lewis Hamilton topped the first practice session at the Indian Grand Prix, as drivers went on a voyage into the unknown around the new Buddh International Circuit on Friday morning.
The McLaren’s time of 1:26.836 was 0.580s faster than Sebastian Vettel’s Red Bull in second, with Mark Webber just a fraction further off the pace in third.
A gap of nearly a second then extended back to Jenson Button in fourth, with the two Mercedes, led by Michael Schumacher, in fifth and sixth. Felipe Massa’s Ferrari was seventh while his team-mate Fernando Alonso had to stop on track due to a loss of power in the second sector of his fourth lap.
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Formula 1: Indian Grand Prix - First Practice Results
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Lap times were largely dictated by track conditions, with dust reducing grip at the start of the session but clearing towards the end. All the top drivers went out on soft tyres - safe in the knowledge that they have one extra set than usual this weekend - but will no doubt find more lap time in the afternoon. ESPN F1
Adrian Sutil was on good form for local hero team Force India, in eighth with 1m 28.705s, then came Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi on 1m 29.219s, Sauber’s Kamui Kobayashi on 1m 29.355s, Force India’s Paul di Resta on 1m 29.700s, and the Renaults of Vitaly Petrov and Bruno Senna on 1m 29.705s and 1m 29.799s.
Behind them, Sergio Perez survived an off in the chicane to lap the second Sauber in 1m 30.132s, chased by Williams’ Rubens Barrichello on 1m 30.367s, Alguersuari on 1m 30.566s, Williams’ Maldonado on 1m 30.669s and Jarno Trulli in the improving Lotus on 1m 30.818s.
Chandhok had a scare when a big dose of wheelspin as he went to exit the pits half spun him nearly into Maldonado’s path, after which he whittled down to 1m 32.487s in the second Lotus. Timo Glock got close to him on 1m 32.771s in the lead Virgin, while team mate Jerome D’Ambrosio was 23rd on 1m 35.796s. That left the HRTs between them, Ricciardo on 1m 33.928s and Karthikeyan respectably close on 1m 34.113s. Formula 1
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