Fernando Alonso was fastest in the second practice session at Valencia for the third year in a row.
Alonso was the first man to lap the 5.4km circuit in under 1’38s this weekend.
The Red Bull drivers were fastest in the first half the session, Sebastian Vettel keeping a few tenths in hand over Mark Webber.
The drivers switched to soft tyres in the second half of the session. The McLaren and Mercedes drivers rose rapidly up the order, Lewis Hamilton taking the fastest time.
But Alonso found two-tenths of a second to beat Hamilton’s effort despite a heavy lock-up in the final corner.
Michael Schumacher made it four different cars in the top four, lapping within four-tenths of a second of Alonso.
The two Renaults also got under the 1’40s mark, completing the top ten.
Paul di Resta only made it out of the pits with ten minutes remaining as his car was prepared following Nico H???lkenberg’s crash in first practice.
But that was more than Jaime Alguersuari managed – he spent the entire session in the pits with a technical problem.
2011 European Grand Prix
BasCB (@bascb)
24th June 2011, 14:38
Schumacher is also looking solid here again. But with the McLarens not using their DRS its shows how much there is still to get with the times.
If Alonso was not higher fuelled they will be 3rd fastest car/team again this weekend in qualifying. For the race? Hard to tell really.
Becken
24th June 2011, 14:44
Wow, is it that true? Sorry, I’m very late and didn’ watch FP2…
AdrianMorse
24th June 2011, 14:46
I saw Button using DRS, I can’t confirm Hamilton, but I assume he used it also.
Trix
24th June 2011, 14:45
If you ask me, I should not sleep in tomorrow because FP3 might be much more representative of everyone’s true form.
But then again, I might just be trying to convince myself that it is worth getting up, logging on here for the Live feed and watching the final practice session.
BasCB (@bascb)
24th June 2011, 14:51
I think it is worth getting up for that. And you will have a nice and long day in front of you :-D
Trix
24th June 2011, 15:01
BasCB: A nice long day spent trying to secretly manage things so no one notices I’m sneaking off for an hour in the morning and then again in the middle of the afternoon.
‘Tis one of those weekends again! ;)
Fixy (@)
24th June 2011, 17:05
There are four teams that look close, but then as you said McLaren did not use DRS and Lewis is 2nd anyway. I hope the result will be Massa, Alonso and Schumacher!
DVC
25th June 2011, 1:13
Schumacher’s form has been gradually (but not consistently) improving. Last race I’m sure was good for his confidence, and he and Rosberg are evenly matched this season now as a consequence. I’m hoping we’ll see a run of form as a result.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
24th June 2011, 14:39
Sorry to say but I think Ferrari will melt away again in qualifying like in Monaco.
Trix
24th June 2011, 14:43
Blub, blub, blub…
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
25th June 2011, 7:41
I don’t understand…
mw
24th June 2011, 14:43
look how strong Massa is – more like Canada I think.
Icthyes (@icthyes)
24th June 2011, 14:46
He’s not that much stronger than he was in Monaco: https://www.racefans.net/2011/05/26/alonso-fastest-ferrari-practice/
Zahir (@)
24th June 2011, 17:04
I agree with you Itchyes. I have a feeling that Alonso was doing a bit of a glory run with it being his home grand prix. The lock up into the final corner was substantial and to still be over two tenths faster either means ferrari have a significant chunck in hand over the rest or he was fuelled lightly.
My bet is that it was the latter
Todfod (@todfod)
24th June 2011, 23:07
I wouldn’t call it a melt away, but I do agree that they were doing glory runs for the Spanish fans. They have shown their cards, but Red Bull and Mclaren are still hiding theirs.
If I had to guess, I would still go with Vettel for the pole, and maybe Hamilton starting on P2.
Preekel
24th June 2011, 14:48
Keith, this was not Final practice, yes its final practice of today but the real final practice is tomorrow morning!
DVC
24th June 2011, 14:54
Unless you are Red Bull. Then Final Practice is Q1 or Q2 depending upon whether you are Webber or Vettel.
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine)
24th June 2011, 14:57
Sorry, headline should say second practice, as it does in the story. Will change it now.
Preekel
24th June 2011, 15:00
But he was not fastest in FP1 so why ” again” ?
mateuss (@mateuss)
24th June 2011, 15:05
Because he was fastest in Euro FP2 in 2009 and 2010 as well.
fullthrottle
24th June 2011, 14:59
Enlightening.
sato113
24th June 2011, 15:11
this could change the whole race!!!
Osvaldas31 (@osvaldas31)
24th June 2011, 14:49
Keith, what do you mean by saying “again” and “final practice”?
Preekel
24th June 2011, 14:52
Yea, a slight blunder, but i dont think he will be walking round town with a face like thunder!
DVC
24th June 2011, 14:52
It’s just part of Keith’s dedication to being the first to post a news story up every session. None of the other news sites will have their final practice story up until tomorrow, but you can read it here now!
Trix
24th June 2011, 14:58
You can’t blame Keith for being a little mixed up in the brain bucket… He’s typing all of this out at F1 speed. :)
Eric
24th June 2011, 18:15
Did you read the first sentence?
damonsmedley (@damonsmedley)
25th June 2011, 7:42
This is what he means:
Preekel
24th June 2011, 14:50
I really hope the engine mapping rule slows down the Red Bull’s in Qualy 3. Would be nice to see a fight for Pole even if my man cant get it….:)
Preekel
24th June 2011, 14:59
Did Kovy think this was the race, 39 laps! WOW!
David-A (@david-a)
24th June 2011, 15:01
He must have been surprised that a Red Bull didn’t fly over him.
David BR
24th June 2011, 15:11
He just wanted a head start.
Icemangrins
24th June 2011, 15:23
even if Narain starts the race today, he will be lapped by the front runners on race day….. 8 sec off the pace? WOW
hoshi
24th June 2011, 16:54
i think they have got a problem on his car..only logged 16 laps..he was .5 off tonio inf FP1..now he is 2 secs off..and virgin have gained a substantial advantage..
sato113
24th June 2011, 15:12
why does Mclaren usually have the habit of doing less laps than anyone else?
timi
24th June 2011, 15:17
Hamilton did the same number as vettel.. and button did only 1 lap less than webber..
But anyway, I think they do less than everyone else, because as a lot of people seem to think Mclaren have a near perfect simulator. Thus, they don’t need to evaluate each new part’s performance out on track, because their simulator is just so accurate..
mani
24th June 2011, 15:15
Fascinating, if RedBull can’t tweak their engine mapping for Quali, then it might well be this close in Quali :) For the first time this season, I’m excited to watch Qualifying… No offense, but for a change, it may not be blistering Vettel on his one-lap hyper-fast RB7 on pole again :)
I do accept that RedBull have better engineering department, and deserve this performance for that; but I also understand what people meant when they said, it was boring to see Micheal win all those times in that superior red car.
91jb12 (@91jb12)
24th June 2011, 15:21
Looks like the FIA might get what they want. A qualy battle between a few drivers rather than Vettel vs the stopwatch.
Eggry (@eggry)
24th June 2011, 16:09
Haha, I hope you are right. really. That’s also what I want but I still doubt.
Icemangrins
24th June 2011, 15:33
Raise your hand if you running out of patience to see a modified front wing in the MGP W02…. This is like 30 + races with the same profile since Brawn GP
Icemangrins
24th June 2011, 15:33
“on the” *grin*
JCost (@jcost)
24th June 2011, 15:51
1. How many of you want it to be sunday’s starting grid?
2. How many of you believe it will happen?
marc
24th June 2011, 16:08
I am Webber an Fernando fans last year,its funny because i love the redbull racing team,but hate Vettel,because I feel like he doesnt deserverd to won last year,he just lucky Ferrari had it wrong and Webber case…well redbullracing might had something to do with it. Vettel doesnt deserverd as champion because he just lucky to have adrian newey on Redbullracing,Vettel himself doesnt have testing skills or develoing skills like Alonso has…..ANyway…I like to see Alonso to win this weekend or Webber
Johnny86
24th June 2011, 16:25
Not really! For me vettel has been the best driver of the season by quite a margin from 2nd best from button/alonso(being a fan of FA,i think its him in 2nd). He has made just 1 major mistake this whole season. So dont belittle his achivement. He has been awesome this year and even managed to get under Ham’s skin.
Regarding fp2, vettel’s long run was fast and consistest,LH’s and FA’s were fast but inconsistent,probably due to traffic.
David-A (@david-a)
24th June 2011, 22:51
Vettel deserved to win 2010 since he scored the most points. Simples.
Oh yeah, and while Alonso had a great season, he made mistakes or lacked pace in Turkey, Belgium and Abu Dhabi. Don’t get me started on the mistakes or lack of pace shown by Webber.
guest
24th June 2011, 16:16
Funny order:
Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes, Red Bull-Renault, Mercedes
followed by
Ferrari, McLaren-Mercedes, Red Bull-Renault, Mercedes
:)
Eggry (@eggry)
24th June 2011, 16:46
Oh well…that’s why people call them No.2 lol
I’m joking. but I was suprised Schumacher is faster both practice.
Russell Gould
24th June 2011, 16:50
I noticed that, too, this morning. I was scrolling down to type this observation, and you beat me to it, Mr. or Ms. guest!
Mr. Guest
24th June 2011, 18:25
Mr:)
Nick
24th June 2011, 16:40
Can anyone confirm whether Lewis was using DRS when he set his fastest lap? Thanks
Sasank
24th June 2011, 16:58
Yes, there is no way he can do that lap without DRS especially with the two long straights.
McLaren didn’t use DRS in the first practice as they were testing a modified rear wing, they used it in FP2.
@HoHum (@hohum)
24th June 2011, 18:00
Hard to be sure but the last lap time I saw for Webber on primes was 2 thousandths of a second behind SVs fastest prime lap but I will have to look to the lap graphs to be sure. I reckoned that given his height and weight disadvantage it was actually a better driven lap than SVs. On the option his lap was badly baulked in the midsection, I was surprised he did not go for another lap,does this mean running on fumes or options only good for 1 lap? Please understand I only see what SpeedTV let me see.
AndrewTanner (@andrewtanner)
24th June 2011, 19:18
Why is Karthikeyan always so off the mark. I know it’s practise, but he’s miles behind Liuzzi! Well out of the 107% also.
@HoHum (@hohum)
24th June 2011, 19:46
Confirmed on Autosport, in first half on primes Webber only .002 sec slower than Seb who was fastest on primes.