Schumacher on top

Michael Schumacher has popped in a late flyer to head the timesheets at the end of first practice for the San Marino Grand Prix. Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher showed that the hyperbole and pre-race weekend speculation over Ferrari’s speed was well-founded this morning as he set the quickest lap of the first practice session. The German’s time of 1:24.751 was set in the final seconds of a fairly sedate session, with Alex Wurz coming home second for Williams, 0.381 behind the leader.

Robert Kubica continued to shine for BMW with the third quickest time of the morning, albeit over a second adrift from Schumacher’s best, as Anthony Davidson ran home fourth for Honda.

The session saw the Formula One cars take to the track in moderation, as it was left mainly to the third drivers to make the leg work. Tyre compound testing was, as always, the order of the day, as was the negotiation of the newly-profiled Variante Alta chicane at the top of the track. Gone are the high curbs and run off areas seen in previous years, meaning that while the chicane itself is somewhat less of a challenge, it has also taken out the possibility for a good slingshot down to Rivazza. That said, the new layout did catch some drivers out, as did the final chicane, Variante Bassa, which saw many drivers cutting across the grass as they pushed harder and harder to brake as late as possible.

Only Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg (Williams) and Jenson Button (Honda) failed to leave their garages at all, making up three of ten drivers who did not set a timed lap at all. Included in that number were both Renault F1 drivers, with Fernando running three installation laps, and Giancarlo two.

Following the top four quickest drivers to set a time however, were Jarno Trulli for Toyota in fifth, Robert Doornbos for Red Bull in sixth, Schumacher’s team-mate Felipe Massa seventh, Red Bull’s David Coulthard in eighth, McLaren’s Kimi Raikkonen nonth and the Midland of Christjian Albers tenth.

http://www.f1technical.net/news/2613