user icon
icon
link-icon
<< Return to the news list
FP1: Hamilton leads the way on dusty Korea International Circuit

FP1: Hamilton leads the way on dusty Korea International Circuit

  • Published on 12 Oct 2012 06:39
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton set the two fastest laps in Friday’s opening practice session for the Korean round. First he recorded 1m 39.280s to depose long-time pacesetter Fernando Alonso, then he improved that right at the end with 1m 39.148s to go 0.302s clear of the Spaniard’s 1m 39.450s best for Ferrari.

Behind them, Mark Webber lapped his Red Bull in 1m 39.575s to head Ferrari’s Felipe Massa on 1m 39.854s, which left Sebastian Vettel only fifth in the second Red Bull on 1m 40.088s.

It was a slightly odd session as drivers struggled towards the end to approach the times they’d done early on, though Hamilton’s improvement implied that track conditions hadn’t really deteriorated.

Michael Schumacher was Mercedes’ faster runner with 1m 40.221s, but Nico Rosberg was on his tail with 1m 40.396s. Behind them, Romain Grosjean posted a late improvement to jump up to eighth with 1m 40.422s for Lotus ahead of Paul di Resta who took his Force India round in 1m 40.440s. The top 10 was completed by Jenson Button on 1m 40.480s for McLaren.

Lotus’s Kimi Raikkonen did long runs for a while but improved to 1m 40.929s for 11th, as Pastor Maldonado lapped his Williams in 1m 41.048s to head Jules Bianchi as the Frenchman stood in for Nico Hulkenberg at Force India; he recorded 1m 41.140s which left him ahead of the Saubers of Kamui Kobayashi and Sergio Perez. The Suzuka hero lapped in 1m 41.220s, while his team mate had a spin and an off-course excursion on his way to 1m 41.514s.

Daniel Ricciardo again narrowly had the upper hand over Toro Rosso partner Jean-Eric Vergne, with 1m 41.596s to 1m 42.021s.

Valtteri Bottas had another run for Williams, which yielded 1m 42.027s for 18th, as Heikki Kovalainen registered improvement for Caterham with 1m 42.104s for 19th ahead of the likewise enhanced Marussias of Timo Glock on 1m 42.175s and Charles Pic on 1m 42.706s. Giedo van der Garde also did a good job standing in for Vitaly Petrov at Caterham, with 1m 42.820s.

At HRT, Pedro de la Rosa lapped in 1m 44.517s from Friday morning team mate Dani Clos on 1m 45.735s. (Formula1.com)
F1 News Fernando Alonso Jenson Button Valtteri Bottas Felipe Massa Romain Grosjean Pastor Maldonado Daniel Ricciardo Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg Sebastian Vettel Sergio Perez Mercedes Lotus F1 Williams McLaren Ferrari Force India HRT

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 

World Championship standings 2024

Pos
Team
Points
1
McLaren
666
2
Ferrari
652
3
Red Bull Racing
589
4
Mercedes
468
5
Aston Martin
94
6
Alpine F1
65
7
Haas F1
58
8
Visa Cash App RB
46
9
Williams
17
10
Sauber
4
Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia
Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China
Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco
Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria
Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom
Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary
Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy
Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil
Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2024

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
29 - Mar 2
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
7 - Mar 9
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
22 - Mar 24
Australia Albert Park
5 - Apr 7
Japan Circuit Suzuka
19 - Apr 21
China Shanghai International Circuit
3 - May 5
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
17 - May 19
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
24 - May 26
Monaco Monte Carlo
7 - Jun 9
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
21 - Jun 23
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
28 - Jun 30
Austria Red Bull Ring
5 - Jul 7
United Kingdom Silverstone
19 - Jul 21
Hungary Hungaroring
26 - Jul 28
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
23 - Aug 25
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
30 - Sep 1
Italy Monza
13 - Sep 15
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
20 - Sep 22
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
18 - Oct 20
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
25 - Oct 27
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
1 - Nov 3
Brazil Interlagos
22 - Nov 24
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
29 - Dec 1
Qatar Losail International Circuit
6 - Dec 8
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
-
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

ES Fernando Alonso 14
  • Team Aston Martin
  • Points 572
  • Podiums 9
  • Grand Prix 168
  • Country ES
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (43)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Mercedes
Mercedes
Show full profile
show sidebar