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Red Bull’s Mark Webber signalled his intent to avenge a poor showing at the 2011 Australian GP by lapping Sepang nearly two seconds faster than anyone else during opening practice.
Webber’s fastest lap was 1min39.316, a substantial 1.665 faster than second-placed Lewis Hamilton.
Mercedes' Michael Schumacher was third quickest on 1min39.791. Germany’s young upstart Nico Hulkenberg showed his ability once again by taking a Paul di Resta Force India car around the Malaysian circuit in 1min40.377 to finish fourth quickest.
Where did F1’s most dominant current driver finish? Well, Sebastian Vettel was obviously sandbagging and cruised around in 1min41.627 (to end the session 16th), possibly conducting some live practice testing work on his Red Bull’s kers system.
The first official practice was not without incident. Renault’s Nick Heidfeld set the early pace with a 1m40.525 before his R31’s right front wheel seized (possible brake problem reported) and he limped back an entire lap to the pits from which he did not re-emerge.
RENAULT WHEEL ISSUES
Later Vitaly Petrov’s attempt to improe on a rather poor 1min47.932 was frustrated when his car was pitched off the road in Turn 9 by what at first appeared to be the failure of its front left Pirelli. The Russian, however, suggested that there had perhaps been a brake disc problem that shattered the wheel and precipitated the tyre explosion.
Heidfeld ended the session seventh, Petrov 24th.
HRT appeared to be in much better shape than at Melbourne but things soon went wrong and Narain Karthikeyan’s progress was stopped early by an engine problem on his third lap. Tonio Liuzzi spent much of the session in his garage after his opening run. Subsequently, however, the Italian worked down to 1min45.228 - and 22nd.
There was also drama at the end for D’Ambrosio, whose Virgin lost its right front wheel under braking for Turn 15, pitching the Belgian into the gravel.
Stay with Wheels24 for the F1 weekend.
Webber’s fastest lap was 1min39.316, a substantial 1.665 faster than second-placed Lewis Hamilton.
Mercedes' Michael Schumacher was third quickest on 1min39.791. Germany’s young upstart Nico Hulkenberg showed his ability once again by taking a Paul di Resta Force India car around the Malaysian circuit in 1min40.377 to finish fourth quickest.
Where did F1’s most dominant current driver finish? Well, Sebastian Vettel was obviously sandbagging and cruised around in 1min41.627 (to end the session 16th), possibly conducting some live practice testing work on his Red Bull’s kers system.
The first official practice was not without incident. Renault’s Nick Heidfeld set the early pace with a 1m40.525 before his R31’s right front wheel seized (possible brake problem reported) and he limped back an entire lap to the pits from which he did not re-emerge.
RENAULT WHEEL ISSUES
Later Vitaly Petrov’s attempt to improe on a rather poor 1min47.932 was frustrated when his car was pitched off the road in Turn 9 by what at first appeared to be the failure of its front left Pirelli. The Russian, however, suggested that there had perhaps been a brake disc problem that shattered the wheel and precipitated the tyre explosion.
Heidfeld ended the session seventh, Petrov 24th.
HRT appeared to be in much better shape than at Melbourne but things soon went wrong and Narain Karthikeyan’s progress was stopped early by an engine problem on his third lap. Tonio Liuzzi spent much of the session in his garage after his opening run. Subsequently, however, the Italian worked down to 1min45.228 - and 22nd.
There was also drama at the end for D’Ambrosio, whose Virgin lost its right front wheel under braking for Turn 15, pitching the Belgian into the gravel.
Stay with Wheels24 for the F1 weekend.