The Red Bull duo were comfortably the fastest cars around the Circuit de Catalunya in the second practice session on Saturday.
Sebastian Vettel was the only driver to set a sub-1m 20s lap and no-one got within half a second of him and team mate Mark Webber.
The session was halted early on after Nico Hulkenberg crashed his Williams. The rookie driver ran onto the artificial grass at the exit of Campsa, lost control of the FW32 and spun into the barriers on the right-hand side of the track.
It was a sizeable crash which tore the front wing off the car before it spun to a halt. Hulkenberg was unhurt, but the session was stopped while the barrier was repaired. Williams reported the damage to the car wasn’t too extensive.
Mark Webber headed the times before the interruptions and he extended his advantage even further when he switched to the soft tyres afterwards. His first effort on the green-ringed rubber was a 1’20.175, over a second quicker than anyone else at that point.
Michael Schumacher moved up into second when he tried the soft tyres but was almost six tenths of a second off Webber’s time.
Webber remained top until his team mate produced a quicker lap on the soft tyres, becoming the first driver this weekend to lap the circuit in less than 80 seconds. Vettel recorded a 1’19.965.
Session one leaders McLaren were much further down the order, Hamilton fifth on a 1’21.191 and Button, who was unhappy with his balance, two tenths of a second slower.
Adrian Sutil and Karun Chandhok returned to their cars after loaning them to other drivers in the first session. Chandhok seemed to be struggling with braking for the tight La Caixa corner at the end of the lap, repeatedly going straight on at the curve.
Toro Rosso’s Jaime Alguersuari came to a halt a few minutes before the end of the session. There was a minor drama in the paddock afterwards when the truck which recovered his car struck a bridge on its way back to the pits, though there was no obvious damage caused to the car.
| Pos. | Car | Driver | Car | Best lap | Laps | |
| 1 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1’19.965 | 24 | |
| 2 | 6 | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1’20.175 | 0.21 | 35 |
| 3 | 3 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 1’20.757 | 0.792 | 28 |
| 4 | 8 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1’20.819 | 0.854 | 30 |
| 5 | 2 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’21.191 | 1.226 | 23 |
| 6 | 11 | Robert Kubica | Renault | 1’21.202 | 1.237 | 36 |
| 7 | 4 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1’21.271 | 1.306 | 27 |
| 8 | 7 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1’21.302 | 1.337 | 25 |
| 9 | 1 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’21.364 | 1.399 | 26 |
| 10 | 14 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1’21.518 | 1.553 | 32 |
| 11 | 22 | Pedro de la Rosa | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’21.672 | 1.707 | 37 |
| 12 | 15 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Force India-Mercedes | 1’21.904 | 1.939 | 32 |
| 13 | 23 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’21.931 | 1.966 | 29 |
| 14 | 16 | Sebastien Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’22.184 | 2.219 | 37 |
| 15 | 9 | Rubens Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth | 1’22.192 | 2.227 | 33 |
| 16 | 12 | Vitaly Petrov | Renault | 1’22.435 | 2.47 | 35 |
| 17 | 17 | Jaime Alguersuari | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’22.449 | 2.484 | 34 |
| 18 | 10 | Nico Hulkenberg | Williams-Cosworth | 1’23.765 | 3.8 | 7 |
| 19 | 18 | Jarno Trulli | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’24.209 | 4.244 | 26 |
| 20 | 19 | Heikki Kovalainen | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’24.894 | 4.929 | 22 |
| 21 | 25 | Lucas di Grassi | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’25.066 | 5.101 | 30 |
| 22 | 20 | Karun Chandhok | HRT-Cosworth | 1’25.972 | 6.007 | 23 |
| 23 | 21 | Bruno Senna | HRT-Cosworth | 1’26.152 | 6.187 | 25 |
| 24 | 24 | Timo Glock | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’26.596 | 6.631 | 21 |
2010 Spanish Grand Prix
Image (C) Red Bull/Getty images
Walfrid
7th May 2010, 14:49
The Red Bull duo were comfortably the fastest cars around the Circuit de Catalunya in the second practice session on Saturday.
Saturday? i think its a typo.
rikadyn
7th May 2010, 14:50
That or he got a time machine…
Sam
7th May 2010, 19:10
maybe some sort of hot tub time machine ?
I think i’m right in saying Lewis set his best time in p1 on hard tyres, and didn’t get any faster in p2 even with the soft, so the Mclarens definatly heavy on fuel.
I’m hoping Nico can stay ahead of Schumacher in quali :D
Todfod
7th May 2010, 14:53
Looks like a vettel pole.. webber second and fernando\lewis third in quali tomorrow. Brave effort by Schumi.. if they gave points for practice sessions .. he would have been a little higher than 10th position
US_Peter
7th May 2010, 18:36
Looks like MSC could be right in there fighting w/ HAM and ALO tomorrow too. The championship fight is only going to heat up from here on in.
Bigbadderboom
7th May 2010, 14:57
Keith, correction, Button was 2 tenths slower!
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
7th May 2010, 16:53
He was – fixed.
rikadyn
7th May 2010, 22:12
He was fixed? Poor man…
MacLeod
7th May 2010, 14:58
I would like a highspeed on the straight comparing so we can see how much wing everyone is using. Maybe the ducts are really working )
wasiF1
7th May 2010, 15:05
I hope this link help you
http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2010/828/6725/speed_trap.html
wasiF1
7th May 2010, 15:29
http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2010/828/6726/speed_trap.html
wasiF1
7th May 2010, 15:03
Are the pace from Mercedes & Schumacher real or are they just low fuel load runs? I think they have got some pace back not as much as the Red Bulls but certainly they will do good on qualifying & if possible in the race.
OEL
7th May 2010, 17:25
I don’t think Rosberg was any heavier, at least not that much heavier. So well done to Schumacher. And poor Glock, the new Virgin is 1,5 seconds off the old one’s pace! Not good.
Hairs
7th May 2010, 17:56
Shocking though it is, Legard appears to have spotted something other people haven’t:
(from BBC live text)
BBC F1 commentator Jonathan Legard: “One part of the Mercedes upgrades is causing a bit of a stir. Mercedes have mounted their on-board television camera low down on the front wing pillar, where it could influence the airflow and give them an aerodynamic advantage. At least one of the other teams applied to do this earlier in the season and were told by governing body the FIA that it was not allowed.”
Hmmmmmmmm.
MouseNightshirt
7th May 2010, 18:59
I spotted this yesterday and mentioned it. Maybe Legard reads F1Fanatic!
Icthyes
7th May 2010, 19:56
I think Ferrari did last year too. Can’t remember if it stayed that way though.
LeRoy
7th May 2010, 21:28
Get me the onboard video for that camera! Bet it’s pretty sweet.
BasCB
8th May 2010, 7:06
I think McLaren have theirs almost in the same place.
Todfod
7th May 2010, 15:04
Any idea if Ferrari were using their new rear wing in FP2? It looked like they were struggling with it in FP1, with Alonso and Massa getting on the dirt after the long straights.
wasiF1
7th May 2010, 15:14
The Ferrari’s were the fastest cars on the straight in FP1, I think they were carrying heavy fuel in FP1 that’s why their pace were low.But I was surprise not to see Massa half second down over his teammate.
BasCB
8th May 2010, 7:08
From the speed trap info in the second training it looks like they were not using it, with only 306 km/h.
graigchq
7th May 2010, 15:19
Schumacher is BACK!!
If these results are anything to go by, i think we may see him being FAR more competitive this weekend
I for one am rooting for Jenson, but if Schumacher is up there racing with Hamilton and the like’s, we’re in for a good weekend of F1!!
Kevin
7th May 2010, 15:24
Here Here, Schumacher’s getting back in his stride now. His critics will be eating their words soon
wasiF1
7th May 2010, 15:27
I am loving that Schumi is do good in the new car on Friday, but I wonder what will be pace on Saturday & most importantly on Sunday.This is a very tough track to overtake so it’s very important that Schumi do a great lap on qualifying.
Todfod
7th May 2010, 15:47
Make that statement after Sunday. I’m pretty sure he’ll keep the critics happy ;)
DaveW
7th May 2010, 17:46
If you can take the slower driver and give him 4 tenths with tailored car modifications, imagine if the team had done the same for the driver who was already 4 tenths up. If MSC is faster Sunday there will be one critic with every right to maintain his position, and he will be the one driving the other car.
David BR
7th May 2010, 18:08
That’s what I’ve been thinking too. But could Mercedes have improved the car for Nico or was it a relative design dead-end and they needed to go in the Schumacher direction (presuming that means away from Rosberg’s direction)?
Icthyes
7th May 2010, 20:03
Apparently Rosberg dislikes understeer too, so any change in Schumacher’s direction will also benefit him – just not by as much.
sato113
7th May 2010, 18:36
don’t count your chickens! wait till after the weekend.
Glenn
7th May 2010, 15:22
I think these will be the fastest times of the weekend. Looking at the rain chance for tomorrow, a 70% chance of rain does not bode well for any faster times. Im glad that Mercedes and Schumi are back in the thick of things.
Looks like the changes to the car we made by Brawn to suit his star driver and how he likes his set ups. 0.5 up on his team-mate is a big swing from 3 weeks ago.
graigchq
7th May 2010, 15:28
how much do you think Rosberg is biting his lip at this? I mean a general improvement in speed for the team as a whole is a good thing, but i’m pretty sure he would have preferred to stay behind the big guys as long as he was ahead of Schumacher! – I for one would have seen it that way if i were the young rookie up against the 7 times world champion!!
J
7th May 2010, 15:35
That redbull is fast as lightning. Damn! I wanted Lewis on pole y’all
sato113
7th May 2010, 18:37
what’s your avatar btw?
sumedh
7th May 2010, 15:38
Michael seems genuinely quicker than Nico atleast at Catalunya.
Will be good to see him answer his critics back. I would even say, he might be in with a chance of a win if it rains.
OEL
7th May 2010, 17:28
I think he’ll be more competetive it it’ll be dry actually. He wasn’t quick in China when it rained, but he was ok in Bahrain where it was dry.
BasCB
8th May 2010, 7:15
Rosberg warned us about this! I suppose it is logical, taking that Michael was really suffering a lot more from the car before.
Now he has the car more to his liking and he is on a track he knows like his living room so exptect him to get as much from it as he can.
Rosberg did not suffer that bad, so has less to gain. Still i expect him to be closer to the pace in Qualifying.
Walfrid
7th May 2010, 15:39
Hamilton fifth on a 1′21.191 and Button, who was unhappy with his balance, two tenths of a second faster.
Shouldn’t it be two tenths of a second slower?
Ned Flanders
7th May 2010, 15:44
This is what Eddie Jordan said about Hulkenberg’s crash:
“I can’t understand what Hulkenberg is thinking with that off, why can’t he lift off and ease up? Does he not realise he has the whole team and the sponsors to look after – it’s just stupid. I get quite angry about this – he might have the hump because he doesn’t have all the upgrades in that Williams but he still needs to keep his head. I built Nico Hulkenberg up so much at the start of the season, I really expected big things from him – he has let me down.”
Whoah, calm down Eddie. I think we can forgive a rookie for crashing in a pretty difficult corner. It’s only a practice session anyway. There’s no point crying over spilt milk!
Damon
7th May 2010, 15:45
Hmm, Petrov 1.2sec behind Kubica. I don’t really see a valid reason to praise him. Rookie or not rookie, 1.2sec is a huuuuge gap. We often see rookies come to F1 an immediately be quicker than their teammates.
Kubica sure is one of the fastest, but 1.2sec is was too much.
If Renault had a driver like Heidfeld, who would’ve been no more than 0.1sec behind Robert (as it usually were), then Renault would have been a serious competitor in the constructors’ championship.
Todfod
7th May 2010, 15:52
Damon, dont read way to much into practice timings. I see Schumi over 6 tenths quicker than his teammate in practice, but I guarantee you that he’ll be six tenths slower in qualifying.
Sandman
7th May 2010, 15:55
You can hardly judge drivers performance based on training session. For instance, you have no idea about the fuel loads.
Besides, no one expects Petrov to perform like Heidfeld would. That was never the point. Renault made it abundantly clear at the start of the season, that they won’t try to fight for WDC, but instead focus on development.
Bearing that in mind, an unexperienced driver with lots of potential is the best bet. He’ll have this season to train and let him deliver in the next one.
maciek
7th May 2010, 17:26
Unfounded criticism, man. Sure some rookies are simply exceptional, but in most cases you need to give a new driver half a season to get into a groove. Besides, Kubica seems to really be at home ever since he moved to Renault, which if you read between the lines of some of his comments was not the case at BMW, so it’s kind of hard to tell how someone else would stack up against him in that car. Way too early to pass judgment on Petrov.
BasCB
8th May 2010, 7:12
It was clear Petrov was struggling with oversteer here. So he was not getting the best out of the car and is working on it.
Lets see what FP3 looks like and give him a chance in Qualifying. Up to now he has positively suprised me, as i did not expect too much of him.
macahan
7th May 2010, 15:47
Keith it would be really cool to see a best lap comparison on all drivers compared to their best lap from testing. Just to see how much the different teams manage to improve since the testing.
madhu
7th May 2010, 16:42
keith
where is the prediction link i am not able to find it
help me anyone…..
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
7th May 2010, 16:55
It’s on the front of the home page – it always is on a Friday. Can’t miss it.
John M
7th May 2010, 18:08
Interesting that McLaren didn’t gain any time in the second session. Nearly everyone else gained a second or more. Did they go the wrong way with setup between sessions? Or, are they working on something else? Hmmm.
John M
7th May 2010, 18:11
i.e., maybe wet setup?
sumedh
7th May 2010, 18:47
perhaps they went for race pace in the 2nd session
Adam
7th May 2010, 18:13
Keith – some insight this weekend on the Mercedes car changes and what it means for both Schumi and Rosberg would be great – fascinated by what is happening there at the moment.
DaveW
7th May 2010, 20:08
It will assuredly rain in qualifying and the race. I would expect that many teams are working on wet or changing-conditions. This makes the times even less representative than usual. I’m surprise we don’t see cars going out on inters to test their degradation in the dry, a crucial scenario in a wet/dry race.
MigueLP
7th May 2010, 20:50
i loved todays commentators even eddie jordan i think he was very bitter but he was right he seemed disappointed with f1 he should know how it works better than everyone but nice double experts today
Patrickl
7th May 2010, 21:30
Apparently Charlie Whiting had more to say about the pitlane incident in China:
http://www.autoweek.com/article/20100507/F1/100509887
“sources said that Whiting made it clear in Friday night’s drivers’ meeting in Spain that he was not happy with what Vettel did, and he indicated that a repeat will earn a more serious punishment.”
“The FIA has no problem with the principle of side-by-side drag-racing out of the pits–if the track layout allows it and the drivers give each other space.”
Exactly!
I guess no changes for qualifying in Monaco either. Makes sense though. The drivers will just have to deal with it.
polishboy808
7th May 2010, 21:37
The Loti just 1.2 seconds behind the next guys (not counting the Hulk), has an improvement been made?
shrayyef
7th May 2010, 22:48
it’s for sure red bulls are on pole tomorrow but will see a great battle between ferrari , mclaren and mercedes
http://shrayyefformula1.blogspot.com/2010/05/spanish-grand-prix-friday-analysis.html
theRoswellite
8th May 2010, 3:53
If Schumacher keeps this up I’ll take my crow grilled with a side bowl of humility dipping sauce.