The Ferraris fight back

Ferrari returns to the forefront by occupying the first two positions in the second free practice session at the Sepang circuit. The overcast sky caused the temperature to drop, so the drivers significantly increased the pace this afternoon. Kimi Räikkönen leads the way ahead of Felipe Massa and Sebastian Vettel. Nico Rosberg and Mark Webber complete the top 5.

Published on 03/04/2009 à 09:57

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These tests begin with good news for Heikki Kovalainen. The problems encountered during the first part of the day seem to have been resolved. The Finn takes to the track from the start.

The hierarchy constantly evolves during the first half hour. In 1:36:686, Mark Webber is the first driver to get closer to the times achieved during the first free practice session, while the rain seems more and more threatening. A few drops would even be reported around the Sepang circuit.

Kazuki Nakajima then Jenson Button takes over from Mark Webber in the lead. Timo Glock climbs to third place while Fernando Alonso goes straight ahead. The teams scan the sky carefully. This did not prevent Kazuki Nakajima, a few minutes later, from taking control of the session, with a lap completed in 1:36:334.

Midway through the session, while the track temperature had dropped by almost 6°C, Nakajima led the proceedings ahead of Kimi Räikkönen, Jenson Button, Timo Glock, Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber.

The reply will first come from Rubens Barrichello. The Brazilian did better than Nico Rosberg during the first session, with a lap completed in 1:36??191. He is now the fastest man of the weekend. However, the Ferrari fight back, first of all with Felipe Massa. 1:36??000 then 1:35??832, the Brazilian increases the pace. His teammate does the same and climbs to second place. The two Ferraris take the lead ahead of Mark Webber, third.

The session was then marked by Giancarlo Fisichella's exit from the track. The Italian's Force India was damaged and the drivers were forced to slow down. When the circuit is cleared, hostilities resume with a vengeance. Kimi Räikkönen takes matters into his own hands. The 2007 World Champion is at the top of the timesheet in 1:35:707, ahead of his teammate. Massa seems satisfied with the work done today and returns to the pits.

Most of the drivers are on track during the last five minutes of the day, difficult in these conditions to find a clear lap and Nico Rosberg is one of the only ones to gain a place at the end of the session, he is fourth.

For the first time this season, the Ferraris take center stage. THE Red Bull are also in the mix, as are the Williams and the Brawn GP, which is no longer a surprise. With fifteen single-seaters in the same second, qualifying promises to be fiercely contested?