Webber heads second practice in Korea

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Mark Webber lapped quickest in the second practice session at Korea. The Red Bull drivers was the only person to set a sub-98 second lap time.

Four different cars occupied the top four places with Fernando Alonso second fastest in front of Lewis Hamilton and Robert Kubica.

The second session came to an early halt after Sakon Yamamoto lost control of his HRT at turn 16. He spun, breaking his front wing against the barrier.

Although he was able to turn his car the right way around he wasn’t able to get moving again and the session was stopped while the marshals recovered his car.

Hamilton led the running early on but Webber always seemed to have an answer for the McLaren driver’s pace. Alonso took over the top of the times halfway through the session before being demoted by Webber with a quarter of an hour to go.

Sebastian Vettel seemed to have a much less successful session in his Red Bull, unable to match Webber’s pace on hard tyres even when using softs.

He ended the session seventh fastest behind Felipe Massa, who complaiend on the radio that his Ferrari was “undrivable” in the final sector of the lap.

The slippery track continued to catch drivers out and many spun off during the session. Webber pirouetted at turn 12 shortly before setting his fastest time.

Korean Grand Prix practice
pictures

Vitantonio Liuzzi pulled up shortly before the chequered flag came out. Meanwhile Bruno Senna only appeared in the final minutes of the session after his mechanics had repaired the broken suspension that ended his participation in the first session. He only had enough time to do a single timed lap.

Jenson Button also experienced car trouble, his mechanics squirting fire extinguisher foam on his car after a problem with his exhaust. He returned to the track late on in the session.

Pos. Car Driver Car Best lap Gap Laps
1 6 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1’37.942 23
2 8 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1’38.132 0.190 30
3 2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1’38.279 0.337 29
4 11 Robert Kubica Renault 1’38.718 0.776 29
5 1 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1’38.726 0.784 19
6 7 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1’38.820 0.878 32
7 5 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1’39.204 1.262 22
8 12 Vitaly Petrov Renault 1’39.267 1.325 28
9 4 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1’39.268 1.326 29
10 23 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1’39.564 1.622 26
11 22 Nick Heidfeld Sauber-Ferrari 1’39.588 1.646 25
12 3 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1’39.598 1.656 26
13 9 Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1’39.812 1.870 35
14 15 Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1’39.881 1.939 27
15 14 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1’39.971 2.029 22
16 10 Nico Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1’40.478 2.536 30
17 17 Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1’40.578 2.636 29
18 16 Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1’40.896 2.954 32
19 19 Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1’42.773 4.831 29
20 18 Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1’42.801 4.859 19
21 24 Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1’43.115 5.173 26
22 25 Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1’44.039 6.097 29
23 20 Sakon Yamamoto HRT-Cosworth 1’45.166 7.224 19
24 21 Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth 1’46.649 8.707 3

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    Keith Collantine
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    44 comments on “Webber heads second practice in Korea”

    1. Robbie
      22nd October 2010, 7:37

      Definitely haven’t seen the best of Vettel yet, plus I don’t think qualifying will mean much in the race, what with that massive deficit in the first sector for the high powered cars like McLaren and Mercedes.

      1. Hare
        22nd October 2010, 7:48

        Agreed, hopefully the Macca’s can ratchet their way up the order, overtaking on those straights, and hanging tight on the corners.

      2. Profile Photo

        US_Peter (@us_peter)
        22nd October 2010, 7:49

        Yeah. If Red Bull doesn’t take pole here they’ve got no chance. McLaren on the other hand has a shot at taking the lead by turn 4 on the first lap from the 2nd or 3rd row. Kubica as well.

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        Icthyes (@icthyes)
        22nd October 2010, 8:23

        Very interesting pointers from the data but I will add my support to the sentiments expressed here. I only wonder what effect the “dirty” side of the track will have on the starting positions, since the “clean” side isn’t that rubbered in either.

        1. Gill
          22nd October 2010, 9:34

          Good point.
          Is the pole position on dirty side or P2 ?

          1. Profile Photo

            Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
            22nd October 2010, 9:37

            Pole position is on the right-hand side. You can see it here:

            https://www.racefans.net/2010/10/22/korean-grand-prix-practice-in-pictures/alon_ferr_kore_2010-2/

            1. Gill
              22nd October 2010, 9:41

              Means, nobody would want to qualify in the even positions. Thats gonna be very scary for those guys and they may lose many positions

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              Icthyes (@icthyes)
              22nd October 2010, 10:24

              Like many here you probably remember the old days Keith, when drivers who qualified on the other side of the road used to run down it in Sunday morning practice to clean it up a bit!

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              Enigma (@enigma)
              22nd October 2010, 12:57

              @Icthyes that’s similar to what Renaults and McLarens should be doing: braking on the inside of T3 and T4, to get it grippy, so they can overtake at the start.

    2. Wobblebottom
      22nd October 2010, 7:39

      I really is still anybody’s game!!

      Still think it’s pretty much gonna be a Red Bull v McLaren race. Or to be more specific: Webber v Vettel v Hamilton. Alonso might throw a surprise but I’m not hugely confident of Ferrari’s pace. Button will probably trail the pack unscathed…..and Massa……well wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t make the top 6!!!

    3. Anagh
      22nd October 2010, 7:39

      was webber on option tyres?

      1. Stretch
        22nd October 2010, 7:43

        Yes, when he topped it

    4. Owen
      22nd October 2010, 7:46

      Most of the top guys were running options in the last 10-15 minutes.

      Good on Webber, but I think qualifying times will easily be another half a second less, potentially even high 1.36s.

    5. Profile Photo

      Todfod (@todfod)
      22nd October 2010, 7:54

      This saturday, I think we are going to have our best quali session yet. Three different teams occupying the top 3 spots.

    6. d-d
      22nd October 2010, 8:03

      huge number of drivers went off the track, this may prove more fateful than faster lap times.
      Seems it’s part of this track, I start to like it, generally.

    7. Profile Photo

      Melchior (@)
      22nd October 2010, 8:05

      Looking like Vettel will be getting Webber’s set up data again;)

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        Todfod (@todfod)
        22nd October 2010, 8:25

        Thats what teammates are for.

        1. Ozzy
          22nd October 2010, 9:31

          With team mates like vettel, who needs enemies!

    8. wasiF1
      22nd October 2010, 8:12

      The track looked good but I have a great concern about the pit-lane entry as anyone coming in will be driving at a reducing pace & the guy who will be lapping faster will be blinded in the last corner, could be a very interesting qualifying & race this weekend.

      1. Eric
        22nd October 2010, 8:29

        nah i dont believe there will be any problems with cars coming into that pit lane i watch them scream in there no problems.

        i still think we are going to have an excellent race, and im even more happy about this track now that ive seen the cars go around it,
        it has something for everyone.

    9. flatbeat
      22nd October 2010, 8:16

      COMMON WEBBER!!!!! GO SON!!!!

    10. Gill
      22nd October 2010, 8:24

      Felipe Massa is the best driver out there..
      He is driving an UNDRIVABLE car and that too sixth fastest. What a man….:)

      1. JohnBt
        22nd October 2010, 8:31

        Alonso is faster. Do you understand? LOL.

        1. Anagh
          22nd October 2010, 9:37

          dont make it sound like ur giving team orders! :P

    11. JohnBt
      22nd October 2010, 8:26

      Most important is all is well at the Korean track. All negative speculations can be thrashed.

      LET”S GO RACING!

    12. Darren
      22nd October 2010, 8:29

      I read Kubica thinks the title will between Webber and Alonso, going by times so far he might be on the money. Webber has shown maturity of late while Alonso is always dangerous, especially at starting. Can’t wait for Sunday!

      1. Robbie
        22nd October 2010, 8:34

        So dangerous he leaves before the lights are out ;)

    13. Profile Photo

      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      22nd October 2010, 8:42

      Seems Vettel had a puncture early in second practice which is why he swapped his hard tyres for softs quite early.

    14. McLarenFanJamm
      22nd October 2010, 8:46

      “Hamilton led the running early on but Webber always seemed to have an answer for the McLaren driver’s pace.”

      Not sure this is completely true. Webber was completing his laps 2 or 3 laps later than Hamilton and the track was improving rapidly throughout the entire session. Webbers fastest time was set after Hamilton had already pitted to switch to heavier fuel runs.

    15. mario
      22nd October 2010, 9:06

      Renault looks really strong. Especialy on the straights. Kubica had chance for a faster( 0,5 sec) lap but troubles on the last corner did not let him improve the time. The wall was so close. Think that rally experiences( last weekend- 3rd place in Rallye d’Azur) helped him exit safly from this dangerous situation.

      1. d-d
        22nd October 2010, 16:55

        not only the pit netry is dangerous but that wall in open concrete, this is scary.

    16. Gill
      22nd October 2010, 9:18

      Can we have fastest sector times and which driver post that ?

    17. Ozzy
      22nd October 2010, 9:28

      I’ve just read what horner said that Red Bull will be building the team around vettel. What a time to drop a sentence like this at this time of the championship!; he should have decency and respect Mark Webber and not try to undermine him at this time with that sort of comments. It’s more than clear that Red Bull is pushing hard behind vettel. I just hope Mark wins the championship this year. That would serve marko/horner/vettel very well. Go Webber!!!

      1. RioF
        22nd October 2010, 10:08

        Although, Vettel is the future and that RBR do not want to lose him, thats really bad timing!

        The more, I want Webber to win the #1 car…

        If what Ferrari did in Germany was team orders, this may be just as bad… although it may not be on the track, it’s a snub on Webber…

        No shame…

        1. W154
          22nd October 2010, 12:11

          RBR are desperate to get #1 on a Red Bull next year.Comments like this from The Nude Model just make it so much harder for them. If (when) Webber gets WDC he will tell RBR to shove it and take #1 elsewhere, probably Williams. He has hit for 6 every thing RBR have bowled(underarm) at him this year. He didn’t have the physical toughness in 2009 but this year he has both physical and mental toughness.Go Marky!!

      2. RioF
        22nd October 2010, 10:10

        Anyway, if webber wins the WDC, I can hear it now… Webber at the Chequer flag saying…

        “Winning the Driver’s Championship is not bad for a Number 2 Driver right mate?…”

      3. Profile Photo

        Icthyes (@icthyes)
        22nd October 2010, 10:24

        Bad timing but it has nothing to do with the current championship, Webber would be the first to say this is his last best chance.

        1. RioF
          22nd October 2010, 10:51

          well, explicitly, it does not have anything to do with the current championship but… it does have implicit meaning and does givesome implications to Webber…

          my question is what is the underlying reason behind such comments… What is the goal and objective of saying this at the tail end of the season where both Vettel and Webber are fighting for it?

          We won’t know unless we got insider info… so I won’t even try to guess… but as I said… why? what is the purpose and do they know what the impact is?

          1. Profile Photo

            Icthyes (@icthyes)
            22nd October 2010, 12:35

            Well the interview was given to a German newspaper, so I think that’s the motivation. They would be idiots to do anything to destabilise Webber at this point in time, though their sanity has been questionable at points during the season.

            In a way, it could be an encouragement for Webber: win it for us while you can. Not the best strategy though.

        2. Profile Photo

          Steph (@)
          22nd October 2010, 17:13

          “Bad timing but it has nothing to do with the current championship, Webber would be the first to say this is his last best chance.”

          Webber did say that to a magazine last season. In F1 you just never know but he is near the end of career so should grab the trophy with both hands.

    18. SoerenKaae
      22nd October 2010, 10:01

      A 99 second lap gives an average speed of 204.4 kph (127.75 mph)

    19. Profile Photo

      Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
      22nd October 2010, 10:15

      Comment from Toro moved here

    20. DaveW
      22nd October 2010, 15:19

      Curious that Webber still lags in top speed but is very close to Hamilton in S1 now. S1 is high speed but braking and traction are may still be very important in those two slow corners there.

    21. Marcello
      22nd October 2010, 16:35

      i just read some1 saying that christian horner has made comments about building the team around vettel…any1…is that true? i hope not, how awful is that?
      what does webber have to do to get impartiality within heis team, other than actually taking the drivers championship!!!
      i support alonso so would obviously love to see him win it (although i dont think he will), but if he cant then i really want webber to win it cause he is the driver that has deserved it most

    Comments are closed.