Rookie F1

Free Practice 1

• Ferrari: Both cars showed excellent pace, confirming that the Ferrari’s prefer the softer compounds. Massa spent a decent amount of time ahead of his team mate, but it was soon back to normal. The team have brought new front and rear wings and an updated blown diffuser, all with the intention of getting their first win of the season.
• Force India: First time around the track for di Resta and he’s struggling with lock up and the subsequent flatspotting.
• Hispania: The team is trying out a new exhaust layout to make the decisions to whether or not to use it for the race.
• Lotus: First lap drama courtesy of Trulli when he collides with a bird, he quickly retires to the garage, but they both managed to get ahead of Kobayashi.
• McLaren: Button had a quiet session and put in some useful times, but has his DRS ‘dismantled’. Hamilton was the one with the problems today. Once his car was up on the jacks all focus was on his steering column, it blanked out on track and the team don’t know why. He was sent out without a display, and we discover that the drivers are told when to change gear via a variety of tones through their earpiece.
• Mercedes: Before practice got underway Rosberg was lamenting the cars ability to ‘destroy’ the tyres, however he finished with a red fast despite going quickest with an overheating issue in the car and in his helmet. Schumacher rounded out the top 3 giving an indication to qualifying speed, but race pace according to Rosberg is something that needs to improve. Rosberg ended his session with a red face, and a sore rear end.
• Red Bull:Webber had a somewhat underwhelming start but soon wound up the pace. However big news was Vettel’s lack of time on the track, an installation lap uncovered a brake problem, but once that was fixed he lamped the car into the Wall of Champions. Taking it all a bit too literally. “I hit the kerb, slid off the track and hit the wall. I’m fine.” Webber fans need not worry there is a spare front wing to hand, and no it’s not on Webber’s car.
  

  Image Credit: BBC/FOM

• Renault: Heidfeld finds the last chicane a little tricky, but managed to stay away from the destructive force of the Wall of Champions. Petrov had throttle and radio issues which kept him in the garage.
• Sauber: With Perez cleared by FIA medical staff he hits the Montreal track after an early week treat in a go-kart.
• Toro-Rosso: Ricciardo is in for Buemi and puts in a respectable performance that fuels the fire that he’ll have a seat by the end of the year.
• Williams: They’ve brought a radical new wing to cope with the low downforce track.
• Virgin: They manage to keep themselves off the bottom spot, as they bookend Liuzzi.
  

Top FP1 times:

Read: Full FP1 Results

Free Practice 2:

• Ferrari: Another handy session for both drivers as they close in on Vettel and stay close to McLaren. Massa exhibited some drifting moves that take him seat-of-the-pants close to a range of walls, but good times
• Force India: Sutil ended his session early with a collision on the exit from 7, and stopped just before the bridge. Going wide he ‘damaged his front left’. Di Resta shows off the impressive straight line speed they have compared to Williams, and impresses with a P6 ahead of Webber.
• Hispania: Managed to get ahead of the one Virgin (after d’Ambrosio crashed out), but generally had a uneventful session.
• Lotus: Both improve in the second session but about a second and nip ahead of a Sauber and both Mercedes.
• McLaren: Hamilton still having issues, steering wheel is fine but the nosecone was off during the session and a rear. However both drivers are doing well pace wise and keeping themselves near the front.
• Mercedes: Not a spectacular session from the drivers which may suggest they are doing some heavy fuel loads to test out tyre wear, but the team are pleased with their pace. No exact details on what caused Rosberg’s quick exit from his car, but according to the paddock his rear end is a little singed.
• Red Bull: No damage to Vettel’s monocoque so repairs were superficial, and he joined the session and took up the familiar position of P1. Considering this track is categorised as a RBR weakness, early pace suggests they’ve made a vast improvement on last year.
• Renault: Both drivers were out early. Petrov put an almighty flatspot on a front right and both continue to have grip issues. However things picked up as they crept up the
• Sauber: Pedro de la Rosa will be stepping in for Sergio Perez who is not feeling 100% after the first practice session. Word from Sauber was that he wasn’t feeling totally confident and from a safety standpoint he decided against racing this weekend. An unfortunate hangover from Monaco perhaps, but a showing of great maturity from the rookie by taking this decision. De la Rosa will reportedly be wearing his McLaren racesuit. Kobayashi hits the walls after taking too much kerb after turn 4.
• Toro-Rosso: Alguersuari has a few hairy moments across the session as he got to grips with the slippery track.
• Williams: Solid session from the drivers as they slot comfortably into the midfield.
• Virgin: D’Ambrosio collides with the same wall Kobayashi did and brings out the second red flag of the day. Virgin reveal that they adapt the strategy in response to Glock’s early impressive race pace.
  

Top FP2 times:

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