Webber heads second practice in Korea
Mark Webber lapped quickest in the second practice session at Korea. The Red Bull drivers was the only person to set a sub-98 second lap time.
Four different cars occupied the top four places with Fernando Alonso second fastest in front of Lewis Hamilton and Robert Kubica.
The second session came to an early halt after Sakon Yamamoto lost control of his HRT at turn 16. He spun, breaking his front wing against the barrier.
Although he was able to turn his car the right way around he wasn’t able to get moving again and the session was stopped while the marshals recovered his car.
Hamilton led the running early on but Webber always seemed to have an answer for the McLaren driver’s pace. Alonso took over the top of the times halfway through the session before being demoted by Webber with a quarter of an hour to go.
Sebastian Vettel seemed to have a much less successful session in his Red Bull, unable to match Webber’s pace on hard tyres even when using softs.
He ended the session seventh fastest behind Felipe Massa, who complaiend on the radio that his Ferrari was “undrivable” in the final sector of the lap.
The slippery track continued to catch drivers out and many spun off during the session. Webber pirouetted at turn 12 shortly before setting his fastest time.
Vitantonio Liuzzi pulled up shortly before the chequered flag came out. Meanwhile Bruno Senna only appeared in the final minutes of the session after his mechanics had repaired the broken suspension that ended his participation in the first session. He only had enough time to do a single timed lap.
Jenson Button also experienced car trouble, his mechanics squirting fire extinguisher foam on his car after a problem with his exhaust. He returned to the track late on in the session.
| Pos. | Car | Driver | Car | Best lap | Gap | Laps |
| 1 | 6 | Mark Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1’37.942 | 23 | |
| 2 | 8 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1’38.132 | 0.190 | 30 |
| 3 | 2 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’38.279 | 0.337 | 29 |
| 4 | 11 | Robert Kubica | Renault | 1’38.718 | 0.776 | 29 |
| 5 | 1 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1’38.726 | 0.784 | 19 |
| 6 | 7 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1’38.820 | 0.878 | 32 |
| 7 | 5 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1’39.204 | 1.262 | 22 |
| 8 | 12 | Vitaly Petrov | Renault | 1’39.267 | 1.325 | 28 |
| 9 | 4 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1’39.268 | 1.326 | 29 |
| 10 | 23 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’39.564 | 1.622 | 26 |
| 11 | 22 | Nick Heidfeld | Sauber-Ferrari | 1’39.588 | 1.646 | 25 |
| 12 | 3 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 1’39.598 | 1.656 | 26 |
| 13 | 9 | Rubens Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth | 1’39.812 | 1.870 | 35 |
| 14 | 15 | Vitantonio Liuzzi | Force India-Mercedes | 1’39.881 | 1.939 | 27 |
| 15 | 14 | Adrian Sutil | Force India-Mercedes | 1’39.971 | 2.029 | 22 |
| 16 | 10 | Nico Hülkenberg | Williams-Cosworth | 1’40.478 | 2.536 | 30 |
| 17 | 17 | Jaime Alguersuari | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’40.578 | 2.636 | 29 |
| 18 | 16 | Sebastien Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1’40.896 | 2.954 | 32 |
| 19 | 19 | Heikki Kovalainen | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’42.773 | 4.831 | 29 |
| 20 | 18 | Jarno Trulli | Lotus-Cosworth | 1’42.801 | 4.859 | 19 |
| 21 | 24 | Timo Glock | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’43.115 | 5.173 | 26 |
| 22 | 25 | Lucas di Grassi | Virgin-Cosworth | 1’44.039 | 6.097 | 29 |
| 23 | 20 | Sakon Yamamoto | HRT-Cosworth | 1’45.166 | 7.224 | 19 |
| 24 | 21 | Bruno Senna | HRT-Cosworth | 1’46.649 | 8.707 | 3 |
2010 Korean Grand Prix
- Mercedes deny Massa held up Schumacher for Alonso
- Korea say 168,000 attended first F1 race
- Alonso not considering Brazil title win
- Hamilton: Alonso would have passed me
- Button: “I will fight until it’s impossible”
- Horner hits back over Webber criticism
- Korean International Circuit: your verdict
- Montezemolo: “We haven’t won yet”
- 2010 Korean Grand Prix: the complete F1 Fanatic race weekend review
- Who was the best driver of the Korean Grand Prix weekend? (Poll)
Image © Red Bull/Getty images
Robbie said on 22nd October 2010, 7:37
Definitely haven’t seen the best of Vettel yet, plus I don’t think qualifying will mean much in the race, what with that massive deficit in the first sector for the high powered cars like McLaren and Mercedes.
Hare said on 22nd October 2010, 7:48
Agreed, hopefully the Macca’s can ratchet their way up the order, overtaking on those straights, and hanging tight on the corners.
US_Peter (@us_peter) said on 22nd October 2010, 7:49
Yeah. If Red Bull doesn’t take pole here they’ve got no chance. McLaren on the other hand has a shot at taking the lead by turn 4 on the first lap from the 2nd or 3rd row. Kubica as well.
Icthyes (@icthyes) said on 22nd October 2010, 8:23
Very interesting pointers from the data but I will add my support to the sentiments expressed here. I only wonder what effect the “dirty” side of the track will have on the starting positions, since the “clean” side isn’t that rubbered in either.
Gill said on 22nd October 2010, 9:34
Good point.
Is the pole position on dirty side or P2 ?
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 22nd October 2010, 9:37
Pole position is on the right-hand side. You can see it here:
http://www.f1fanatic.co.uk/2010/10/22/korean-grand-prix-practice-in-pictures/alon_ferr_kore_2010-2/
Gill said on 22nd October 2010, 9:41
Means, nobody would want to qualify in the even positions. Thats gonna be very scary for those guys and they may lose many positions
Icthyes (@icthyes) said on 22nd October 2010, 10:24
Like many here you probably remember the old days Keith, when drivers who qualified on the other side of the road used to run down it in Sunday morning practice to clean it up a bit!
Enigma (@enigma) said on 22nd October 2010, 12:57
@Icthyes that’s similar to what Renaults and McLarens should be doing: braking on the inside of T3 and T4, to get it grippy, so they can overtake at the start.
Wobblebottom said on 22nd October 2010, 7:39
I really is still anybody’s game!!
Still think it’s pretty much gonna be a Red Bull v McLaren race. Or to be more specific: Webber v Vettel v Hamilton. Alonso might throw a surprise but I’m not hugely confident of Ferrari’s pace. Button will probably trail the pack unscathed…..and Massa……well wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t make the top 6!!!
Anagh said on 22nd October 2010, 7:39
was webber on option tyres?
Stretch said on 22nd October 2010, 7:43
Yes, when he topped it
Owen said on 22nd October 2010, 7:46
Most of the top guys were running options in the last 10-15 minutes.
Good on Webber, but I think qualifying times will easily be another half a second less, potentially even high 1.36s.
Todfod (@todfod) said on 22nd October 2010, 7:54
This saturday, I think we are going to have our best quali session yet. Three different teams occupying the top 3 spots.
d-d said on 22nd October 2010, 8:03
huge number of drivers went off the track, this may prove more fateful than faster lap times.
Seems it’s part of this track, I start to like it, generally.
Melchior (@melchior) said on 22nd October 2010, 8:05
Looking like Vettel will be getting Webber’s set up data again;)
Todfod (@todfod) said on 22nd October 2010, 8:25
Thats what teammates are for.
Ozzy said on 22nd October 2010, 9:31
With team mates like vettel, who needs enemies!
wasiF1 said on 22nd October 2010, 8:12
The track looked good but I have a great concern about the pit-lane entry as anyone coming in will be driving at a reducing pace & the guy who will be lapping faster will be blinded in the last corner, could be a very interesting qualifying & race this weekend.
Eric said on 22nd October 2010, 8:29
nah i dont believe there will be any problems with cars coming into that pit lane i watch them scream in there no problems.
i still think we are going to have an excellent race, and im even more happy about this track now that ive seen the cars go around it,
it has something for everyone.
flatbeat said on 22nd October 2010, 8:16
COMMON WEBBER!!!!! GO SON!!!!
Gill said on 22nd October 2010, 8:24
Felipe Massa is the best driver out there..
He is driving an UNDRIVABLE car and that too sixth fastest. What a man….:)
JohnBt said on 22nd October 2010, 8:31
Alonso is faster. Do you understand? LOL.
Anagh said on 22nd October 2010, 9:37
dont make it sound like ur giving team orders! :P
JohnBt said on 22nd October 2010, 8:26
Most important is all is well at the Korean track. All negative speculations can be thrashed.
LET”S GO RACING!
Darren said on 22nd October 2010, 8:29
I read Kubica thinks the title will between Webber and Alonso, going by times so far he might be on the money. Webber has shown maturity of late while Alonso is always dangerous, especially at starting. Can’t wait for Sunday!
Robbie said on 22nd October 2010, 8:34
So dangerous he leaves before the lights are out ;)
Keith Collantine (@keithcollantine) said on 22nd October 2010, 8:42
Seems Vettel had a puncture early in second practice which is why he swapped his hard tyres for softs quite early.
McLarenFanJamm said on 22nd October 2010, 8:46
“Hamilton led the running early on but Webber always seemed to have an answer for the McLaren driver’s pace.”
Not sure this is completely true. Webber was completing his laps 2 or 3 laps later than Hamilton and the track was improving rapidly throughout the entire session. Webbers fastest time was set after Hamilton had already pitted to switch to heavier fuel runs.
mario said on 22nd October 2010, 9:06
Renault looks really strong. Especialy on the straights. Kubica had chance for a faster( 0,5 sec) lap but troubles on the last corner did not let him improve the time. The wall was so close. Think that rally experiences( last weekend- 3rd place in Rallye d’Azur) helped him exit safly from this dangerous situation.
d-d said on 22nd October 2010, 16:55
not only the pit netry is dangerous but that wall in open concrete, this is scary.