Practice 2: It’s Red Bull versus Ferrari again
30 July, 2010
Sebastian Vettel was fastest in both Friday practice sessions in Budapest
Jul.30 (YallaF1.com) In almost an exact replay of last weekend, Red Bull Racing and ferrari have emerged as the main protagonsists for this weekend’s Hungarian Grand Prix at Hockenheim after the second free practice session in Budapest.
Sebastian Vettel in the cockpit of the Red Bull Racing RB6
Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel topped the timing sheets at the end of the afternoon 90 minute free practice session.
Only fractionally slower than the German was Hockenheim winner Fernando Alonso who was second fastest in the Ferrari F10, splitting the Red Bull’s with Mark Webber third fastest.
The Australian in turn splitting the Ferrari’s with Felipe Massa fourth quickest. Less than a second seperating the top four drivers at the end of the session.
Championship leaders McLaren were more than a second off the pace during Friday practice at the twisty Hungaroring.
Lewis Hamilton off the leader pace
“We’re losing quite a bit of time in the middle sector, and a couple of tenths in the first and third sectors, too,” admitted Lewis Hamilton.
Red Bull were untouchable in the morning, and easily fastest again in the afternoon, but Sebastian Vettel said he expects a strong challenge from Ferrari.
“On the long runs, the times were quite similar,” said the German.
Hockenheim winner Fernando Alonso, second fastest in the afternoon but with a half-second deficit to Vettel, agreed.
“We are confident the difference is not as big as it seems, but obviously they (Red Bull) seem stronger than Hockenheim in a way,” said the Ferrari driver.
And Mark Webber is not ruling out the McLarens.
“We shouldn’t forget them; they have proven many times this year that they can make a step forward from Friday to Saturday,” said the Australian.
Free Practice 2 – 30 Jul 2010
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Time | Gap |
| 1 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | RBR-Renault | 1:20.087 | |
| 2 | 8 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1:20.584 | 0.497 |
| 3 | 6 | Mark Webber | RBR-Renault | 1:20.597 | 0.510 |
| 4 | 7 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1:20.986 | 0.899 |
| 5 | 12 | Vitaly Petrov | Renault | 1:21.195 | 1.108 |
| 6 | 2 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:21.308 | 1.221 |
| 7 | 11 | Robert Kubica | Renault | 1:21.375 | 1.288 |
| 8 | 10 | Nico Hulkenberg | Williams-Cosworth | 1:21.623 | 1.536 |
| 9 | 1 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:21.730 | 1.643 |
| 10 | 3 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes GP | 1:21.773 | 1.686 |
| 11 | 22 | Pedro de la Rosa | BMW Sauber-Ferrari | 1:21.809 | 1.722 |
| 12 | 9 | Rubens Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth | 1:21.844 | 1.757 |
| 13 | 4 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes GP | 1:22.039 | 1.952 |
| 14 | 23 | Kamui Kobayashi | BMW Sauber-Ferrari | 1:22.212 | 2.125 |
| 15 | 17 | Jaime Alguersuari | STR-Ferrari | 1:22.469 | 2.382 |
| 16 | 14 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1:22.507 | 2.420 |
| 17 | 16 | Sebastien Buemi | STR-Ferrari | 1:22.602 | 2.515 |
| 18 | 15 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Force India-Mercedes | 1:23.138 | 3.051 |
| 19 | 18 | Jarno Trulli | Lotus-Cosworth | 1:24.553 | 4.466 |
| 20 | 24 | Timo Glock | Virgin-Cosworth | 1:25.376 | 5.289 |
| 21 | 25 | Lucas di Grassi | Virgin-Cosworth | 1:25.669 | 5.582 |
| 22 | 21 | Bruno Senna | HRT-Cosworth | 1:26.745 | 6.658 |
| 23 | 20 | Sakon Yamamoto | HRT-Cosworth | 1:26.798 | 6.711 |
| 24 | 19 | Heikki Kovalainen | Lotus-Cosworth | 1:27.705 | 7.618 |
After the dark blue cars were a full second per lap clear of the field in the morning session, Sebastian Vettel maintained his lead in the afternoon but the gap was reduced by five tenths to Hockenheim winner Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari.
“It’s a track on which you need maximum downforce,” Austrian Klien, who attends races as one of HRT’s four contracted drivers, told German Sky television.
“The Red Bull has a lot of downforce and also very good traction, which are the things you need here,” he added.
Klien, 27, is seeking a return to the F1 grid, and is likely to get a race or two at the wheel of the Hispania car this season.
Beyond that, he is eyeing the best possible vacancy for 2011.
“The best place is certainly Renault’s, absolutely,” he said, “also Sauber. There will be some movement as well with the new teams, but there are not too many places.”
Russian pay-driver Vitaly Petrov is under pressure to keep his Renault seat alongside Robert Kubica, but he put in a noteworthy effort on Friday by outpacing his teammate for fifth fastest.
“If we see Vitaly doing well every race and if we do believe he is catching up quickly enough in terms of learning, he will be with us next year,” team boss Eric Boullier said in Hungary.
“We have a lot of drivers chasing us but we will see. I want to give Vitaly the support he needs to deliver, so we will wait as long as possible.
“If he doesn’t deliver now, then maybe we will make the decision earlier,” added Boullier.
Related posts:
- 12 Hungarian GP results from all sessions
- Practice 1: Red Bull fire early warning in Budapest
- The Slipstream: Bridging the gap
- Ferrari versus Red Bull moves to Hungary
- Hungarian GP: Mercedes GP preview
