Nuerburg, 10 July 2009

Felipe Massa in twelfth place and Kimi Raikkonen in sixteenth is how the first three hours of practice ended for the two Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro drivers at the Nurburgring. After the first ninety minute session, the Brazilian ended up third and the Finn sixth.

It was hardly a shock, given the reputation this mountainous part of Germany has for springing meteorological surprises, that the day’s track action was affected by very cool weather, the occasional shower and strong head and tail winds that made judging braking distances, getting tyres up to temperature and getting the cars balanced a difficult engineering task. However, a total of over a hundred laps between the two F60s means there is plenty of data for the analysts to pour over tonight. Felipe had a generally trouble free day, but Kimi lost a bit of time with a gearbox oil leak.



The reigning world champion, Lewis Hamilton, is one of may top drivers who is having a difficult 2009 season, but today at least, the McLaren driver managed to top the time sheet, at what is the home race for his engine supplier, Mercedes. In second place, was the Red Bull Renault of Sebastian Vettel, followed by championship leader, Jenson Button in the Brawn. Fourth was the second Red Bull of Mark Webber, ahead of the Toyota of Jarno Trulli. Proving just how difficult it can be to understand what Friday’s time sheets mean, German Adrian Sutil managed to post the sixth fastest time, at this his home race, in the Force India Mercedes.

At the moment, the forecast for the weekend suggests that tomorrow’s qualifying could be dry, while there is a chance of showers during Sunday afternoon’s race.