Felipe Massa topped the times for Ferrari during yesterday afternoon’s rain-soaked second practice for tomorrow’s British Grand Prix.
Heavy rain drenched the Silverstone circuit during the early part of the session and prevented drivers from setting times.
However, the 30 year-old Brazilian, fifth fastest in the morning, clocked a time of 1 minute, 49.967 seconds on his final lap of the session as the track began to dry.
Photo: Reuters
That meant he was almost a second quicker than nearest rival German Nico Rosberg of Mercedes.
Sauber driver Japanese Kamui Kobayashi was third quickest ahead of McLaren drivers and fellow Britons Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, who were fourth and fifth quickest respectively.
Force India drivers Adrian Sutil and Scot Paul Di Resta were sixth and seventh fastest followed by Rubens Barrichello of Williams.
Sauber driver Mexican Sergio Perez was ninth fastest ahead of Sebastien Buemi of Toro Rosso, who completed the top-10.
Seven-time champion Michael Schumacher was 12th quickest in the second Mercedes, while Ferrari driver Fernando Alonso was 15th quickest followed by Red Bull’s Mark Webber.
Title-race leader and defending drivers’ champion German Sebastian Vettel also of Red Bull was 18th fastest.
In the morning session, Australians were first and last in a wet first practice with Red Bull’s Mark Webber quickest and debutant Daniel Ricciardo slowest for stragglers HRT.
Webber, last year’s winner at Silverstone after angrily accusing Red Bull of favoring teammate Sebastian Vettel, lapped the revised layout with a best time of 1 minute, 46.603 seconds toward the end of the session as conditions improved.
The main drama of the first session was provided by Japan’s Kamui Kobayashi, who crashed his Sauber on the straight opposite the new pit and paddock complex with 15 minutes remaining.
The car was extensively damaged after it spun on the wet curbs, pitched high and almost rolled on the runoff, before smashing sideways into the tire wall.
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