Friday and Saturday free practice thread, Korea

**Ste** · 22nd October 2010, 07:21

Originally Posted by NJB13

Spot on, I was just thinking that, might be a track to qualify on primes.... The options at the end of the race would be very handy. But, then you've got variable of rain?? If race is dry, I'd be seriously looking at Q on primes...

Nobody will qualify on Primes imo. They're about 7 tenths slower than the options.

**Sempre_Ferrari** · 22nd October 2010, 07:23

Originally Posted by Ste

Nobody will qualify on Primes imo. They're about 7 tenths slower than the options.

Agreed...definitely won't be worth it.

**Ste** · 22nd October 2010, 07:30

Massa: "The car is really un-driveable. The last sector, it's just sideways"
Smedley: "Yea...ok"

**Sempre_Ferrari** · 22nd October 2010, 07:31

06:30 Massa labels his Ferrari as "undrivable" through the final sector.

I hope he's up there with Alonso tomorrow ...he still needs to find at least another 5tenths

**NJB13** · 22nd October 2010, 07:34

Felipe just saying car was really hard to handle in last sector .... yikes
Not sure on the 7 tenths difference between the primes and options.... I'm stubbornly (stupidly?) sticking to thinking it still might be worth thinking about...

**Sempre_Ferrari** · 22nd October 2010, 07:37

InsideFerrari Scuderia Ferrari: All in all not a bad session. Now there is a lot to work to do in the afternoon for the engineers and drivers to prepare the cars

InsideFerrari Scuderia Ferrari: They will have to do a lot of guessing about the track conditions as they will change a lot

And that's a wrap folks...looking good so far and tomorrow is gonna be really interesting and exciting, hoping Massa gets his setup right and Kubica manages to get ahead of Webbo but behind us

**Stormsearcher** · 22nd October 2010, 07:39

Unless the bulls are hiding something, we are pretty close to them on this track. Nando can squeeze out a win.

But am a lil worried about hammy. He is as fast as the bulls and Nando and he starts a lot quicker than anyone else (except kubica) too.

**NJB13** · 22nd October 2010, 07:43

Originally Posted by Stormsearcher

Unless the bulls are hiding something, we are pretty close to them on this track. Nando can squeeze out a win.

But am a lil worried about hammy. He is as fast as the bulls and Nando and he starts a lot quicker than anyone else (except kubica) too.

Fernando has to win - that's a given. Personally I want to see the Macca's fast. They are out of it, and we need more cars between Fernando winning and the first RB6.....

**Stormsearcher** · 22nd October 2010, 07:45

Originally Posted by NJB13

Fernando has to win - that's a given. Personally I want to see the Macca's fast. They are out of it, and we need more cars between Fernando winning and the first RB6.....

i would be more than happy if that happens. I just dont want hammy in front of Nando. The margin between first and second is huge... thereafter not so much. We need that win. And we need webber to not finish higher than 5th.

... wishful thinking, yes.. but it can happen.

**Lithium** · 22nd October 2010, 07:49

Originally Posted by Stormsearcher

Unless the bulls are hiding something, we are pretty close to them on this track. Nando can squeeze out a win.

But am a lil worried about hammy. He is as fast as the bulls and Nando and he starts a lot quicker than anyone else (except kubica) too.

A win certainly looks possible, and I have a feeling Alonso might take it this weekend..

But even if he doesn't, as long as he finishes (way) ahead of Webber, I'll be satisfied

About our starts, I read that Ferrari are introducing some (electronic?) tweaks to improve their starts, so we'll likely be better from now on.

**zeus2** · 22nd October 2010, 07:51

we've been doing a heck of a lot of practice starts today , hopefully the fix works so we won't have to worry about the starts. Webber is looking mighty fast on the long runs, of course we don't know the fuel loads so can't really tell actual race pace, Alonso was pretty consistent though.

**NJB13** · 22nd October 2010, 07:53

Originally Posted by Stormsearcher

i would be more than happy if that happens. I just dont want hammy in front of Nando. The margin between first and second is huge... thereafter not so much. We need that win. And we need webber to not finish higher than 5th.

... wishful thinking, yes.. but it can happen.

100% right, and there's no harm wishing for it. We only need this to happen:-
1) Fernando wins - definitely a realistic chance based on what we've seen today
2) 3 of the following cars to fill the next 3 places - Felipe, Vettel, Button, Hamilton, Kubica - all possible also

We get those 2 things and we leave Korea leading the WDC!

**Alessandra** · 22nd October 2010, 08:09

I thought I read that we're using a new fuel mix at Korea? Would that make a difference? Perhaps it has........perhaps I'm wrong?

**LAROSA SpA** · 22nd October 2010, 08:18

Originally Posted by Alessandra

I thought I read that we're using a new fuel mix at Korea? Would that make a difference? Perhaps it has........perhaps I'm wrong?

I heard that Shell was working on a new blend that was easier on the engine (due to our engine situation), but I can't confirm it.

**NJB13** · 22nd October 2010, 08:18

Originally Posted by Alessandra

I thought I read that we're using a new fuel mix at Korea? Would that make a difference? Perhaps it has........perhaps I'm wrong?

The way they announced it, it was more to do with the fact that it had two "bio" components making it "greener" rather than it having any performance advantage.

**Greig** · 22nd October 2010, 09:06

Looks not bad so far

**Fiondella** · 22nd October 2010, 09:24

Originally Posted by Greig

Looks not bad so far

Agree. Would be great if Felipe found afew tenths

**m schumy** · 22nd October 2010, 09:57

Free Practice 2 Results

**m schumy** · 22nd October 2010, 09:58

Mark Webber fastest in Korean Grand Prix practice

Mark Webber set the fastest time as championship leaders Red Bull responded to challenges from McLaren and Ferrari in practice for the Korean Grand Prix.

The Australian's best effort of one minute 37.942 seconds left him just ahead of rivals Fernando Alonso of Ferrari and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton.

Renault's Robert Kubica was fourth from Jenson Button, who lost time while McLaren fixed overheating on his car.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel was seventh quickest after suffering a puncture.

There was general praise for the new Yeongam circuit, which looks set to stage a fascinating race.

After two practice sessions, it seems clear that the layout of the track, with long straights in the first sector, flowing corners in the second and a tighter 'street circuit' design in the third, is equalising the performance of the top teams.

Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren look evenly matched, with Renault also looking strong in Kubica's hands.

The only concern, voiced by several drivers, is that the pit entry is very close to the blind final corner, leading to the possibility that cars staying out will come up behind cars slowing to enter the pit lane.

Hamilton was confident that McLaren have improved their cars sufficiently to be able to match the Red Bulls for pace.

"I feel quite happy with the car and it feels quite strong today," he said. "We had some ride issues and some bits with the balance in P2 but we'll fix it.

"There might be another second in the track but I think we're pretty much there."

Webber said it had been a 'positive' first day for the Milton Keynes-based team.

"We're optimistic with today's performance," said the Australian. "It's enjoyable to drive here, there are a couple of unique sections. The pit entry and exit is a little bit marginal to get on and off the track, but apart from that they've done a remarkable job."

Having spent first practice quietly accumulating data, Alonso immediately went to the top of the timing charts in the early stages of the afternoon session with a lap fully three seconds faster than his quickest effort of the morning session.

Hamilton, fastest in first practice despite minimal running, also improved to leapfrog the Ferrari before Sakon Yamamoto spun and stalled his Hispania exiting Turn 16, causing the session to be temporarily red-flagged.

When it resumed, Michael Schumacher emphasised his steady improvement in recent races by briefly going top before Button edged him.

There was less good news when the Englishman returned to the pit lane, overheating at the rear of the car requiring the attention of mechanics with extinguishers.

Vettel, on softer option tyres, was the first to break one minute 40 seconds, Hamilton - also on softs - one minute 39 seconds.

Alonso then set a mark of 1:38.1 before Webber, having spun exiting Turn 12, then took the times below 98 seconds before the teams settled into longer runs on higher fuel loads.

Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/moto...ne/9116654.stm

**Alessandra** · 22nd October 2010, 10:42

Yes that's true..........but (see below)

**Alessandra** · 22nd October 2010, 10:43

Originally Posted by NJB13

The way they announced it, it was more to do with the fact that it had two "bio" components making it "greener" rather than it having any performance advantage.

Sorry - getting in a mess here. Try again
Yes, that's true ..but...see below

**Alessandra** · 22nd October 2010, 10:44

Originally Posted by LAROSA SpA

I heard that Shell was working on a new blend that was easier on the engine (due to our engine situation), but I can't confirm it.

This is an interesting thought too.....

**goferrarigo** · 22nd October 2010, 10:46

How is Webber quicker than fernando in the first sector and the same pace as hammy?

**Sempre_Ferrari** · 22nd October 2010, 10:51

Originally Posted by goferrarigo

How is Webber quicker than fernando in the first sector and the same pace as hammy?

Those sector times are for their last lap and not their fastest lap

**sv_godspeed** · 22nd October 2010, 10:53

really close at call on the top but i'm going for Kubica as the real wild-card in this bunch - win for Fernando , with Robert and Mark 2nd and 3rd and Leswer crashes into something at the end of the first straight

surprised to see Vettel 4/10ths down on Felipe (good for us, tho')!

**goferrarigo** · 22nd October 2010, 10:55

Originally Posted by Sempre_Ferrari

Those sector times are for their last lap and not their fastest lap

Oh ok thats a lot more relieving.

**scuderiafan** · 22nd October 2010, 11:11

Morning.

Not bad, i stil feel that Ferrari may be hiding some pace, but good to see felipe back amongst the top.

**Ferrari Man** · 22nd October 2010, 11:38

Alonso need s to finish ahead of webber no matter what happens this weekend... the win will be perfect as it gives the biggest point difference to the next place.. I think..