Subscribe

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe

McLaren duo on top at Barcelona

McLaren once again outpaced main rivals Ferrari on the second day of this week's official test at Barcelona in Spain on Tuesday, with Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen topping the timesheets on a completely dry day

With the duo evaluating the latest developments to their MP4-23, the fact that Hamilton was able to lap almost half a second faster than third quickest Kimi Raikkonen will have provided a big confidence boost to the team - irrespective of the influence of fuel loads.

McLaren concentrated on pitstop practice and qualifying simulation in the morning, working on longer runs in the afternoon. Both drivers stopped on track with fuel coupling issues, but the team said the problems were quickly resolved.

Nico Rosberg showed once again that Williams could be one of the big surprises of the year as he set the fourth fastest time, ahead of Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Giancarlo Fisichella in the Force India.

Sebastian Vettel showed a good dose of speed in his first run in the Red Bull Racing RB4, as he filled in for the injured David Coulthard, to set the seventh fastest time.

The team will make a decision tomorrow morning on whether Vettel continues or Coulthard can return to action without the risk of aggravating his neck injury.

Robert Kubica was eighth quickest, while Jenson Button finally delivered some improved performance from the Honda Racing RA108 to end up 10th overall.

Former world champion Fernando Alonso ended up a disappointing 13th fastest, with Timo Glock at the bottom of the timesheets for Toyota.

"After all the disruptions due to the weather it was good to get a full day of running at last," said Glock. "But it was a difficult day for me.

"We spent the day looking at set-up but with all the changes we struggled to make the most of the improved track conditions and the extra grip. So we will have to analyse why that is overnight and aim to make a step forward tomorrow."

Today's times:

Pos  Driver        Team                      Time     Laps
 1.  Hamilton      McLaren-Mercedes     (B)  1:21.234   81
 2.  Kovalainen    McLaren-Mercedes     (B)  1:21.434   68
 3.  Raikkonen     Ferrari              (B)  1:21.722   72
 4.  Rosberg       Williams-Toyota      (B)  1:22.309   75
 5.  Massa         Ferrari              (B)  1:22.513  102
 6.  Fisichella    Force India-Ferrari  (B)  1:22.516  102
 7.  Vettel        Red Bull-Renault     (B)  1:22.558  109
 8.  Kubica        BMW-Sauber           (B)  1:22.625   94
 9.  Button        Honda                (B)  1:22.659   67
10.  Liuzzi        Force India-Ferrari  (B)  1:22.942   89
11.  Nakajima      Williams-Toyota      (B)  1:22.977  100
12.  Trulli        Toyota               (B)  1:23.023   98
13.  Alonso        Renault              (B)  1:23.112   77
14.  Barrichello   Honda                (B)  1:23.169   74
15.  Heidfeld      BMW-Sauber           (B)  1:23.284   77
16.  Bourdais      Toro Rosso-Ferrari   (B)  1:23.323   98
17.  Webber        Red Bull-Renault     (B)  1:23.458   58
18.  Piquet        Renault              (B)  1:23.467   45
19.  Glock         Toyota               (B)  1:23.561   80

All Timing Unofficial

Be part of the Autosport community

Join the conversation
Previous article Schumacher: Ferrari stronger this year
Next article Alonso: no regrets over Renault move

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

Sign up for free

  • Get quick access to your favorite articles

  • Manage alerts on breaking news and favorite drivers

  • Make your voice heard with article commenting.

Autosport Plus

Discover premium content
Subscribe