Formula 1 News

Silverstone tests, Day 1: Felipe Massa fastest 

French Grand Prix winner Felipe Massa has clocked the fastest lap time in the first day of testing at Silverstone in preparation for the British Grand Prix. The Brazilian’s best time was of 1:20.188, almost three tenths faster than McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen (1:20.477). Massa, however, had a mechanical failure 30 minutes before the end of the session that prevented the completion of the Scuderia’s programme.

BMW’s Robert Kubica, who tested today a new front wing, finished third (1:20.995). The Pole was followed by Toyota’s test driver Kamui Kobayashi despite an engine failure which caused a red flag.

Nico Rosberg finished fifth (1:21.410), Mark Webber sixth (1:21.656), Nelson Piquet jr seventh (1:21.797), Jenson Button eighth (1:22.081), Vitantonio Liuzzi ninth (1:22.250) and Sebastian Vettel tenth (1:23.853). The young German was able to complete only 10 laps following a fuel problem on his Toro Rosso STR3.

(Pos – Driver – Team – Lap Time – Laps)

1.  Massa       Ferrari             1:20.188   71
2.  Kovalainen  McLaren-Mercedes    1:20.477   90
3.  Kubica      BMW Sauber          1:20.995   82
4.  Kobayashi   Toyota              1:21.335   82
5.  Rosberg     Williams-Toyota     1:21.410   88
6.  Webber      Red Bull-Renault    1:21.656   94
7.  Piquet      Renault             1:21.797   68
8.  Button      Honda               1:22.081   90
9.  Liuzzi      Force India         1:22.250  108
10.  Vettel     Toro Rosso-Ferrari  1:23.853   10