Kubica leads BMW 1-2
By Wippz on Mar 14, 2008 in Uncategorized | comments(0)
BMW Sauber revealed the true pace of its F1.08 car at Albert Park on Saturday morning as it took a surprise 1-2 in final practice session – with the big names forced into a back seat.
Nick Heidfeld had predicted following the first day of running in the new season that last year’s third fastest team had more speed than its lowly Friday positions suggested – and he was proved right in practice three.
Heidfeld and team-mate Robert Kubica completed the first laps of the weekend under the 1m26s barrier in the closing minute of the hour, with Kubica’s best of 1m25.613s three tenths faster than Heidfeld’s.
However the expected response from the Ferrari and McLaren quartet didn’t materialise, as they all either got stuck in traffic or had to slow down for incidents on their own final soft tyre runs.
It meant the likely contenders for the qualifying session that follows all had the unusual experience of finishing outside the top 10.
Fernando Alonso showed Renault may have more pace over one lap for qualifying than he initially feared by going third fastest, with Williams’ Nico Rosberg fourth.
Red Bull Racing continued its fine form from the opening day, with David Coulthard and Mark Webber closed matched in fifth and sixth.
Jenson Button was 0.9s away from the BMWs in seventh, but his final timed run included the fastest time in the middle sector.
Toro Rosso’s Sebastian Vettel and the consistently impressive Force India of Giancarlo Fisichella completed an unusual looking top 10.
Indeed these two both had spells higher up the order as numerous drivers headed the field during the session as the times tumbled across the hour.
Afterhot temperatures and gusty wind, combined with the usual ‘green’ track surface, contributed to numerous spins and offs on Friday, conditions were far cooler on Saturday with the circuit beginning to pick up more grip.
However neither Ferrari nor McLaren’s drivers got a chance to fully exploit this with a fast lap on soft tyres.
Felipe Massa was 1.4s off Kubica’s pace in 11th, with Lewis Hamilton a slot behind in 12th.
World champion Kimi Raikkonen 14th with the second McLaren of Heikki Kovalainen just ahead of the Super Aguris in 20th.
Renault rookie Nelson Piquet Jr endured another difficult session, with his hour including a trip through the gravel trap at turn 3 en-route to the 15th fastest time.
Australian GP free practice session 3 times
1.
2. HEIDFELD BMW 1m25.950s
3.
4. ROSBERG Williams 1m26.171s
5. COULTHARD Red Bull 1m26.385s
6. WEBBER Red Bull 1m26.470s
7. BUTTON Honda 1m26.502s
8. VETTEL Toro Rosso 1m26.663s
9. FISICHELLA Force
10. TRULLI
11. MASSA Ferrari 1m27.020s
12. HAMILTON McLaren 1m27.084s
13. GLOCK Toyota 1m27.162s
14. RAIKKONEN Ferrari 1m27.163s
15. PIQUET Renault 1m27.284s
16. BARRICHELLO Honda 1m27.333s
17. SUTIL Force
18. BOURDAIS Toro Rosso 1m27.578s
19. NAKAJIMA Williams 1m27.601s
20. KOVALAINEN McLaren 1m27.992s
21. SATO Super Aguri 1m28.363s
22. DAVIDSON Super Aguri 1m28.912s
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