Oliver WhiteAfter an extended break, Formula One returns this weekend for the German Grand Prix, held around the Nurburgring circuit. Leading up to the race it was said by many that some circuits remaining on the calendar would suit the Brawns, while others would suit the nearest title challengers Red Bull Racing. Looking at the first practice times, the competitiveness of each car still seems relatively vague, which will hopefully result in a close race.
Mark Webber ended the morning at the top of the timing sheets, setting the fastest time and going 0.4s faster than Jenson Button in the Brawn. Webber’s team mate Sebastian Vettel could only manage P8 and 0.8s off the pace, but it was Rubens Barrichello who surprised more by only getting as high as P12, some 1.1s off the Australian’s time. Vettel did suffer a mechanical issue which resulted in less track-time for the German.
Another surprise was Giancarlo Fisichella, who broke for lunch in P5 and just 0.001s ahead of Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferrari. Fisichella’s team mate Adrian Sutil was P20, resulting from a mechanical issue that brought his Force India to a halt after just six laps. Felipe Massa managed to get himself into P3.
The weather was quite cold in Germany this morning, which may give reason to Webber’s pace, the RB5 known to be able to get heat into the tyres quite quickly, especially in comparison to the Brawn BGP 001.
Germany 2009
|
Lap Time
|
Laps Set
|
1. |  Mark Webber Red Bull Racing |
1m33.082s | 19 Laps |
| 2. |  Jenson Button Brawn |
1m33.463s | 18 Laps |
| 3. |  Felipe Massa Ferrari |
1m33.745s | 21 Laps |
| 4. |  Jarno Trulli Toyota |
1m33.795s | 23 Laps |
| 5. | Giancarlo Fisichella Force India |
1m33.839s | 26 Laps |
| 6. |  Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari |
1m33.840s | 23 Laps |
| 7. |  Nico Rosberg Williams |
1m33.902s | 26 Laps |
| 8. | Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing |
1m33.909s | 13 Laps |
| 9. |  Kazuki Nakajima Williams |
1m33.952s | 25 Laps |
| 10. |  Fernando Alonso Renault |
1m34.148s | 16 Laps |
| 11. | Nick Heidfeld BMW |
1m34.221s | 25 Laps |
| 12. | Rubens Barrichello Brawn |
1m34.227s | 17 Laps |
| 13. | Lewis Hamilton McLaren |
1m34.483s | 14 Laps |
| 14. |  Robert Kubica BMW |
1m34.694s | 23 Laps |
| 15. | Nelson Piquet Jr. Renault |
1m34.738s | 24 Laps |
| 16. |  Sebastien Bourdais Scuderia Toro Rosso |
1m34.827s | 27 Laps |
| 17. |  Sebastien Buemi Scuderia Toro Rosso |
1m34.878s | 28 Laps |
| 18. | Heikki Kovalainen McLaren |
1m34.893s | 26 Laps |
| 19. | Timo Glock Toyota |
1m34.911s | 23 Laps |
| 20. | Adrian Sutil Force India |
1m35.092s | 6 Laps |
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