Red Bull’s Mark Webber topped the timings in opening practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix, raising hopes he can bounce back quickly after the season’s opening race.
The 34-year-old Red Bull driver, looking to make a statement after finishing fifth in Melbourne two weeks ago, on Friday clocked one minute 37.651 seconds, way ahead of team-mate and reigning champion Sebastien Vettel who wound up 17th.
Webber was also more than a second ahead of McLaren’s 2008 champion Lewis Hamilton, the next quickest driver. AFP
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F1 Standings Ahead of Malaysian Grand Prix
Formula 1: Mark Webber Fastest in First Practice at Sepang Circuit
Mercedes’ Michael Schumacher was third quickest, but 2.1secs adrift, followed by compatriot Nico Hulkenberg for Force India.
As in Melbourne, reserve driver Hulkenberg again took over the seat from Scotland’s Paul di Resta, but was still 2.7secs down along with Williams’ Pastor Maldonado who was fifth.
Ferrari’s Felipe Massa completed 14 installation laps as the team reviewed various components on the car before finally posting a lap time. Eventually the Brazilian moved up to sixth on the timesheet ahead of Nick Heidfeld, with Williams’ Rubens Barrichello, Fernando Alonso in his Ferrari and Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg completing the top 10.
It proved to be a wretched morning for Renault in particular as first Heidfeld and then Vitaly Petrov suffered what appeared to be brake issues. The Press Association
Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired 1 2 Mark Webber RBR-Renault 01:37.7 2 3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 01:39.3 3 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 01:39.8 4 15 Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 01:40.4 5 12 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 01:40.4 6 6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 01:40.5 7 9 Nick Heidfeld Renault 01:40.5 8 11 Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 01:40.6 9 5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 01:40.6 10 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 01:40.6 11 14 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 01:40.7 12 18 Daniel Ricciardo STR-Ferrari 01:40.7 13 19 Jaime Alguersuari STR-Ferrari 01:40.8 14 16 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 01:40.9 15 4 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 01:40.9 16 21 Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 01:41.6 17 1 Sebastian Vettel RBR-Renault 01:41.6 18 17 Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 01:41.6 19 24 Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 01:42.2 20 25 Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 01:42.5 21 20 Davide Valsecchi Lotus-Renault 01:44.1 22 23 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 01:45.2 23 22 Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 01:46.3 24 10 Vitaly Petrov Renault 01:47.9
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