Red Bull’s Formula One leader Sebastian Vettel crashed into the ‘Wall of Champions’ on Friday while Germany’s Nico Rosberg set the Canadian Grand Prix practice pace for Mercedes.
World champion Vettel, winner of five of the season’s first six races, provided the main drama with 34 minutes remaining when he drifted into the wall coming out of the chicane into the home straight.
While the 23-year-old German was unhurt, the right side of his Red Bull suffered heavy damage. The session was immediately red-flagged.
“I hit the curb and slid off the track and hit the wall,” he radioed back to the team. “I’m fine”
Vettel, whose car had earlier suffered brake problems, joined a list of illustrious names to have hit the notorious wall over the years.
After watching his car put on a hoist and towed away, Vettel was a spectator for the rest of a session led by his compatriot. London Free Press
Rosberg, meanwhile, enjoyed a trouble-free day to finish ahead of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and his own Mercedes team-mate Michael Schumacher.
Felipe Massa was fourth fastest, with Jenson Button completing the top five ahead of McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton. Yahoo! Eurosport UK
Behind the dominant top six, Rubens Barrichello gave Williams a fillip with seventh fastest time of 1m 16.990s, while Scottish rookie Paul di Resta raised hopes in the Force India camp with a strong run to eighth fastest time in 1m 17.294s. Later he flat-spotted a set of front tyres braking for the hairpin.
Nick Heidfeld was ninth for Renault after a spin, recording 1m 17.445s, as Nico Hulkenberg rounded out the top 10 for Force India with 1m 17.549s. Then came Sergio Perez, who passed his medical with ease despite his huge accident in Monaco. The Mexican lapped his Sauber in 1m 17.662s for 11th, ahead of Mark Webber on 1m 17.820s in the lead Red Bull. The Australian set that quite early on, and was clearly not looking for speed thereafter.
Jaime Alguersuari was Toro Rosso’s leader on 1m 18.458s in 12th, chased by Vitaly Petrov, the other driver who was recovered from Monaco travails. The Russian took his Renault round in 1m 18.506s, ahead of Daniel Ricciardo in the other Toro Rosso on 1m 18.648s, Vettel, and Pastor Maldonado on 1m 18.932s in the second Williams. Formula 1
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