Practice 1: Schumacher fastest in the rain
14 October, 2011
Michael Schumacher topped the timing sheets at the end of first practice in Korea
Oct.14 (Reuters) Michael Schumacher lived up to his fame as a master of wet conditions with the fastest time in Friday’s first free practice for the Korean Formula One Grand Prix.
Paul di Resta was third fastest on his first visit to Yeongam
Mercedes’ 42-year-old ‘Regenmeister’ (Rainmaster) lapped the Yeongam circuit with a best time of two minutes 02.784 seconds.
Red Bull’s newly crowned double world champion Sebastian Vettel was second fastest, with a lap 0.056 slower than his illustrious compatriot, on a morning when the times meant nothing.
Six drivers, including Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa and McLaren’s Japanese Grand Prix winner Jenson Button did not set timed laps as the rain fell steadily and made track conditions treacherous.
Even Schumacher’s sure touch failed him momentarily when he skidded off onto the grass at the pit lane entry.
Rookie Paul di Resta was third fastest, denying German drivers a 1-2-3 at the top of the timesheets with team mate Adrian Sutil fourth.
Jean-Eric Vergne on friday duty for Toro Rosso
Next up were Sebastien Buemi, in the Toro Rosso, did 13 laps in the wet and ended up fifth fastest, ahead of fellow Ferrari powered Sauber driver Kamui Kobayashi who ended sixth on the timing sheets.
With the grandstand largely empty and conditions resembling those on race day a year ago when the start had to be delayed, fans venturing to the track some 320km to the south of Seoul saw little action.
Young French test driver Jean-Eric Vergne took part in practice with Toro Rosso while Indians Narain Karthikeyan and Karun Chandhok, both hoping to race in their home grand prix later this month, turned out for HRT and Team Lotus respectively.
Vergne will also take part in practice for the team in Abu Dhabi and the season-ender in Brazil.
Mercedes GP driver Michael Schumacher topped the timing screens at the end of the, rain drenched, first free practice session of the Korean Grand Prix weekend at Yeongam.
Friday, 14 October – Practice 1
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Time | Gap | Laps |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 2:02.784 | 10 | |
| 2 | 1 | Sebastian Vettel | RBR-Renault | 2:02.840 | 0.056 | 8 |
| 3 | 15 | Paul di Resta | Force India-Mercedes | 2:02.912 | 0.128 | 12 |
| 4 | 14 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 2:03.141 | 0.357 | 12 |
| 5 | 18 | Sebastien Buemi | STR-Ferrari | 2:03.182 | 0.398 | 9 |
| 6 | 16 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 2:03.292 | 0.508 | 13 |
| 7 | 3 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 2:03.391 | 0.607 | 6 |
| 8 | 8 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 2:04.311 | 1.527 | 12 |
| 9 | 17 | Sergio Perez | Sauber-Ferrari | 2:04.797 | 2.013 | 8 |
| 10 | 2 | Mark Webber | RBR-Renault | 2:05.183 | 2.399 | 5 |
| 11 | 21 | Karun Chandhok | Lotus-Renault | 2:06.350 | 3.566 | 11 |
| 12 | 12 | Pastor Maldonado | Williams-Cosworth | 2:06.852 | 4.068 | 11 |
| 13 | 19 | Jean-Eric Vergne | STR-Ferrari | 2:07.541 | 4.757 | 9 |
| 14 | 11 | Rubens Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth | 2:08.218 | 5.434 | 5 |
| 15 | 23 | Narain Karthikeyan | HRT-Cosworth | 2:08.832 | 6.048 | 14 |
| 16 | 22 | Daniel Ricciardo | HRT-Cosworth | 2:09.232 | 6.448 | 14 |
| 17 | 25 | Jerome d’Ambrosio | Virgin-Cosworth | 2:12.658 | 9.874 | 7 |
| 18 | 24 | Timo Glock | Virgin-Cosworth | 2:14.508 | 11.724 | 4 |
| 19 | 6 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | No time | 1 | |
| 20 | 5 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | No time | 5 | |
| 21 | 9 | Bruno Senna | Renault | No time | 1 | |
| 22 | 10 | Vitaly Petrov | Renault | No time | 1 | |
| 23 | 20 | Heikki Kovalainen | Lotus-Renault | No time | 1 | |
| 24 | 4 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | No time | 1 |
Related posts:
- Practice 1: Button fastest as Vettel crashes
- Practice 1: Hamilton fastest as Vettel chases
- Practice 3: Vettel fastest as Red Bulls hog top
- Practice 1: Hamilton tops as McLaren pair fly
- Practice 1: Rain spoils play as rookies crash
