Mark Webber topped the times for Red Bull at the end of Friday’s two opening practice sessions for this weekend’s German Grand Prix. The 34-year-old Australian, who won the last race on the circuit in 2009, clocked a fastest time of one minute and 31.770 seconds to outpace Fernando Alonso of Ferrari by one-tenth of a second.
The Sapnish two-times champion Spaniard, who won last year’s German race held at Hockenheim, was himself two-tenths of a second clear of Webber’s team-mate and German defending champion Sebastian Vettel. For Vettel, who is seeking his first win on home soil, it was an inauspicious start to a weekend in which he is hoping to further extend his runaway lead in this year’s title race.
Alonso’s Ferrari team-mate Felipe Massa was fourth ahead of the two Mercedes drivers Michael Schumacher, 42, the seven-times champion, and Nico Rosberg, 26. Briton Lewis Hamilton was seventh for McLaren ahead of Nick Heidfeld and his Renault team-mate Vitaly Petrov. Adrian Sutil made it five Germans in the top ten in his Force India.
Hamilton’s McLaren team-mate and fellow-Briton Jenson button was down in 11th after suffering exhaust problems that required him to sit out the final 20 minutes of the session.
Alonso provided much of the incident with one excursion through a gravel trap and another ‘moment’ when he managed to fly sideways through a hairpin.
Both Australian rookie Daniel Ricciardo of Hispania and Toro Rosso’s Sebastien Buemi missed most of the session, the first after pulling up with his car billowing smoke and the latter after engine problems produced a misfire.
In a session that saw plenty of light visits through the run-off areas, the only other incidents of note were a gravel trip by Finn Heikki Kovalainen’ in his Lotus and a spin over damp grass for Virgin driver Timo Glock.
Earlier, Alonso had set the fastest time during the opening morning free practice session, a performance that proved Ferrari had picked up where they had left off after the Spaniard’s victory at the British Grand Prix two weeks ago.
Webber puts down Nurburgring marker
