Rosberg on top as Hamilton struggles

Eurosport - Tue, 31 Mar 15:06:00 2009

Williams' Nico Rosberg dominated the first day of practice at the Australian Grand Prix while McLaren's world champion Lewis Hamilton languished near the bottom of the timesheets.

FORMULA 1 2009 - Nico Rosberg of Williams during first practice at the Australian GP, which he topped - 0

Germany's Rosberg, son of Finland's 1982 champion Keke, lapped quickest in both of the afternoon sessions at a sunny Albert Park while Hamilton was 18th of the 20 drivers in the second.

Only Renault's Brazilian Nelson Piquet and 20-year-old Swiss rookie Sebastien Buemi in the Toro Rosso were slower.

The three teams using controversial rear diffusers - Brawn GP, Toyota and Williams - showed why their rivals were so concerned by filling six of the top seven places in a second session held late in the afternoon.

The trio had been subjected to protests by other teams, who argued that their cars broke the rules, on Thursday before stewards cleared them for Sunday's race with an appeal now pending.

Rosberg, who finished third in the Melbourne season-opener last year, led Japanese team-mate Kazuki Nakajima in a Williams one-two in first practice.

His best time of one minute and 26.053 in the second was 0.104 quicker than Brazilian Rubens Barrichello in the Brawn and well inside the 2008 pole of 1:26.714 set by last year's race winner Hamilton.

Hamilton, who has already warned that it would be tough to score a point this weekend in an uncompetitive car struggling for pace, showed that McLaren's problems were far from imaginary.

His Finnish team-mate Heikki Kovalainen reinforced that impression by finishing just one place ahead of the 24-year-old at the end of the day.

Hamilton was also the slowest of those with Mercedes engines, with Force India's Adrian Sutil a strong ninth in both sessions.

Jenson Button, an early favourite after Mercedes-powered Brawn set the pace in testing after emerging from the remains of departed Honda, was sixth and fifth respectively.

Germany's Sebastian Vettel, preparing for his Red Bull debut after moving up from sister team Toro Rosso, completed just four laps in the first session and then spun off and stalled in the second.

His Australian team-mate Mark Webber did only seven laps in first practice but turned in the fourth fastest time in the later session.

Champions Ferrari had a largely anonymous day.

Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 champion, was 11th in the final session while Brazilian team-mate Felipe Massa was one place ahead.

The regulations have changed dramatically this year, with cars running on slick tyres and with new-look aerodynamics.

Some teams are also using the new KERS energy recovery systems that give drivers an extra boost at the push of a button.

Sunday's race is also starting later than usual to cater for European television audiences, with the finish expected in the evening twilight.

Join Eurosport-Yahoo for LIVE text commentary and timing of the Australian GP this weekend, starting with qualifying at 06:00 UK time on Saturday morning!!

Play Fantasy F1 - join up now by clicking on the link under the picture; then form a mini-league with friends, family or colleagues and watch your progress in your national league. You may just find yourself at the top of the grid!

Reuters

Comment 85 - 104 of 104

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. rosbergs always fastest in testing, its wen he races­ does it all fall apart

    From Pablo from Bolivia, on Tue 31 Mar 4:39PM

  2. McLaren should get last year's car out of­ mothballs,as most of the lesser teams have had to­ do,and use it at the start of the season until they­ have ironed out the problems with the new one.Their­ wealth had proved to be a disadvantage this time!

    From Perry Neeham, on Sat 28 Mar 8:59AM

  3. I had a clockwork toy just like you.
    Wind it up and­ watch it­ go
    :-))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))­ )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

    From MGA, on Sat 28 Mar 8:56AM

  4. m g a. so why are you here go @#$% shovelling.

    From touronroute, on Sat 28 Mar 8:47AM

  5. Well that was good wasn't it.
    Just spent a lovely­ morning on the F1 Fanatics site had a great time bit­ like a party really:-))
    Loads of nice people there in­ fact there was nothing missing.

    Just a min thought of­ something that was missing.

    You owen gayer you @#$%­ wit.
    That's why it was a good morning:-)))))))

    From MGA, on Sat 28 Mar 8:13AM

  6. I hear some have jumped ship. MIKE Q i do love you!Bill­ Mac your full of kak! m e jenner bit pricey at a­ tenner! clispyduck or donald goose, you left hammy what­ the excuse!What did you all say honda is dead. or did­ you mean hammy as a swollen head. aormk18200 will­ i'm sure follow all alone, with no love, just his­ mums opinion whats yours!!

    From touronroute, on Sat 28 Mar 8:03AM

  7. I thought that some of these posters have sort of­ formed their own back scratcher’s site where it is safe­ to be silly and stupid with a gin and tonic in hand but­ they still grace these pages with their 1000w­ brightness

    From stivsf1, on Sat 28 Mar 7:43AM

  8. agree Burns but ferrari wil come goud not brawn.

    From Simon, on Sat 28 Mar 12:20AM

  9. I seriously do not believe there has been ant­ 'sandbagging' in practice - Looking good for­ Brawn et al!

    From Mr Burns, on Sat 28 Mar 12:12AM
  10. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    AND THEN THERES THE 2007 SEASON STEALIN SECRETS AND­­ MCLAREN TEAM GETTING BANNED FROM THE COMPETITION­­ ALTOGETHER. HOW ON EARTH CAN A DRIVER WIN A­­ CHAMPIONSHIP WHEN THE TEAM HE DRIVES FOR ARE BANNED­­ FROM THE COMPETITION ALTOGETHER IT JUST DOESNT ADD UP­­ ,, DOES IT ,, SOMETHING MR HAMILTON SON FANS ALWAYS­­ SEEM TO FAIL TO MENTION ,, SO THATS THAT CLEARED UP­­ THEN 2007 SEASON VOID CONCERNING MR HAMILTON SON­ FANS!!­ THEN WE COME TO THE 2008 SEASON OFF THE BACK­ END OF­ INHERITING THE FERRARI SECRETS WITH MR HAMILTON­ SON­ BASHIN AND BARGIN OTHER DRIVERS ie PIT LANE KIMI ­­ TOTAL UNGENTLEMEN LIKE DRIVING IN MANYS WAYS ,, TO­ THEN­ GLOK DELIVERING THE TITLE ON A PLATE FOR MR­ HAMILTON­ SON ,, BAD TASTE HOPE WE HAVE CLEAN AND­ PROPER RACES­ WITH A WORTHY CHAMP IN 2009
    1ST NITE IN­ AGES MR HAMILTON SON FANS CAN SLEEP ON THE TRUTH ,,,THE­ WAY IT WAS...sounds like a film western maybe ..nite­ nite little ones

    From , on Sat 28 Mar 12:11AM

  11. Hello Jeanette, haven't heard from you for a while.­ Hows the Brownies doing?

    From owen gayer, on Sat 28 Mar 12:01AM

  12. Will be interesting to see who has been sand bagging in­ the practice. Will make an interesting season­ otherwise.

    From richard.corden, on Fri 27 Mar 11:54PM

  13. Is there a full moon tonight? - Lots of nutters­ crawling out of the undergrowth!

    From Mr Burns, on Fri 27 Mar 11:37PM

  14. POTTER,
    It is simple, if you have FACTS go to the­ FIA.
    If not GO AWAY!!!

    From Stephen, on Fri 27 Mar 11:34PM

  15. aormk 18200 mcharem cought cheetin oficial,just my­ opinian what yours.

    From Simon, on Fri 27 Mar 11:30PM

  16. POTTER,
    Go away!!!
    Far far away...
    Ferrari are slow­ too, so I guess Ferrari will have to copy the Brawn!
    Of­ course Ferrari never copied anyone, they just hired ex­ McLaren & Williams people over the years.

    From Stephen, on Fri 27 Mar 10:48PM
  17. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    AND THEN THERES THE 2007 SEASON STEALIN SECRETS AND­ MCLAREN TEAM GETTING BANNED FROM THE COMPETITION­ ALTOGETHER. HOW ON EARTH CAN A DRIVER WIN A­ CHAMPIONSHIP WHEN THE TEAM HE DRIVES FOR ARE BANNED­ FROM THE COMPETITION ALTOGETHER IT JUST DOESNT ADD UP­ ,, DOES IT ,, SOMETHING MR HAMILTON SON FANS ALWAYS­ SEEM TO FAIL TO MENTION ,, SO THATS THAT CLEARED UP­ THEN 2007 SEASON VOID CONCERNING MR HAMILTON SON FANS!!­ THEN WE COME TO THE 2008 SEASON OFF THE BACK END OF­ INHERITING THE FERRARI SECRETS WITH MR HAMILTON SON­ BASHIN AND BARGIN OTHER DRIVERS ie PIT LANE KIMI ­ TOTAL UNGENTLEMEN LIKE DRIVING IN MANYS WAYS ,, TO THEN­ GLOK DELIVERING THE TITLE ON A PLATE FOR MR HAMILTON­ SON ,, BAD TASTE HOPE WE HAVE CLEAN AND PROPER RACES­ WITH A WORTHY CHAMP IN 2009

    From , on Fri 27 Mar 10:10PM
  18. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    AND THEN THERES THE 2007 SEASON STEALIN SECRETS AND­ MCLAREN TEAM GETTING BANNED FROM THE COMPETITION­ ALTOGETHER. HOW ON EARTH CAN A DRIVER WIN A­ CHAMPIONSHIP WHEN THE TEAM HE DRIVES FOR ARE BANNED­ FROM THE COMPETITION ALTOGETHER IT JUST DOESNT ADD UP­ ,, DOES IT ,, SOMETHING MR HAMILTON SON FANS ALWAYS­ SEEM TO FAIL TO MENTION ,, SO THATS THAT CLEARED UP­ THEN 2007 SEASON VOID CONCERNING MR HAMILTON SON FANS!!­ THEN WE COME TO THE 2008 SEASON OFF THE BACK END OF­ INHERITING THE FERRARI SECRETS WITH MR HAMILTON SON­ BASHIN AND BARGIN OTHER DRIVERS ie PIT LANE KIMI ­ TOTAL UNGENTLEMEN LIKE DRIVING IN MANYS WAYS ,, TO THEN­ GLOK DELIVERING THE TITLE ON A PLATE FOR MR HAMILTON­ SON ,, BAD TASTE HOPE WE HAVE CLEAN AND PROPER RACES­ WITH A WORTHY CHAMP IN 2009

    From , on Fri 27 Mar 10:10PM
  19. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    The truth:: isa, mclarena isa cheetaa,nottaa gotta ­ halfaa ferrari carrr,now it wontaa gooeer.They stoleerr­ ferrarii plans, only to findaaa outeerrr thataa the­ mclaren mennn copiedd the plans upside downerr. The car­ issa going backward sted of forwarderr.Timo glockaa has­ been asked, now he dating a @#$% cat dolla if he coulda­ stay in the pitter for three lapper to letta DADDYBOYER­ catchuppa.

    From touronroute, on Fri 27 Mar 10:09PM

  20. NO MARION = SENSIBLE CONVERSATION, SIMPLE AS.
    No Glock,­ pah. Shut up brainless one.

    From Jon, on Fri 27 Mar 9:53PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account