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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

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Team
Points
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Red Bull Racing
860
2
Mercedes
409
3
Ferrari
406
4
McLaren
302
5
Aston Martin
280
6
Alpine F1
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7
Williams
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Alpha Tauri
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Haas F1
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
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Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia
Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
26 - May 28
Monaco
Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
16 - Jun 18
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
30 - Jul 2
Austria
Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy
Monza
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
22 - Sep 24
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
6 - Oct 8
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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Spain
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Italy
-
Italy
-
Italy
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
16 - Jun 18
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
22 - Sep 24
Japan Circuit Suzuka
6 - Oct 8
Qatar Losail International Circuit
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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Spain Circuit de Catalunya
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
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United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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Italy Adria International Raceway
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Italy Adria International Raceway
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Italy Adria International Raceway
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ES Fernando Alonso 14
  • Country Spain
  • Date of b. Jul 29 1981 (42)
  • Place of b. Oviedo, Spain
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.71 m
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