Free Practice 1 – Toro Rosso Blood and Fire in the Spanish Arena

It’s the return of Formula 1 action in Valencia for Free Practice 1, where Sebastian Vettel in the STR03 set the fastest time. In great shape, Toro Rosso also takes the fourth position in these tests with Sébastien Bourdais. Massa (Ferrari) and Hamilton (McLaren) are interspersed between the two Toro Rosso cars.

Valencia is certainly the Grand Prix of Europe, but above all, it’s a new circuit and a new track. It is very slippery, and in this first free practice session, many have pushed their wheels to the limit.

In the first quarter-hour, all the drivers had completed their installation lap. It was Sébastien Bourdais who set the first time of the session. The Toro Rosso wants to make an impression and shows up until the end of the hour and a half of testing.

The Ferraris started running seriously at 10:30. Räikkönen and Massa then took the lead in the standings with a time of 1:43.948 for the reigning world champion. After several pit stops, the McLarens appeared more threatening later in the session.

The Toyota of Glock briefly took the lead in the test session before being overtaken by Kovalainen. The McLaren drivers set the fastest lap time on the track in each lap, and it was ultimately Hamilton, before returning to the pit, who posted a very good time of 1:40.822.

Vettel is then in the top 3 of the standings but is on his final lap. The German driver executes a perfect third sector and improves his time by five-tenths. He takes the lead and puts four-tenths on the McLaren. Last on track, Massa salvages Ferrari’s honor with the second-fastest time, two-tenths ahead of Hamilton.

Kovalainen ultimately takes 5th place, ahead of Robert Kubica for BMW. His teammate is still uncomfortable in the first session and only sets the 16th fastest time.

Räikkönen in the second Ferrari takes the 7th fastest time just ahead of Kazuki Nakajima in the Williams FW30. His teammate is 10th.

Between the two Williams cars is sandwiched Fernando Alonso’s Renault R28. Piquet is 15th.

The Toyotas are far from the best times. Trulli and Glock are in 12th and 14th positions respectively. Other disappointments at Red Bull. The two RB4 are last with the 19th and 20th times. As for Honda, the team applied the same strategy as Renault a few weeks ago by running at a slow pace for the first half-hour. Excuse: the tires.

The Force India team has their new Seamless gearbox and shows slight progress. Sutil is 13th, Fisichella 18th.

Regarding session interruptions; several red flags need to be noted, mainly caused by the low grip currently offered by the track. Jarno Trulli spun, as did Massa. Alonso, for his part, forgot to brake at turn 12, stopping a few meters before the barriers. The only one to have made contact is David Coulthard. The Red Bull Renault can be repaired for this afternoon.

The Ferraris will be eager to be on top in the second practice session. Jean Todt is indeed present in the paddocks. The show is expected with the improvement of the track’s grip. The results of the second free practice will, of course, be available tonight on MotorsInside.

Free Practice 1 Results – European GP – August 22, 2008