Massa quickest at Silverstone

Championship leader on top again

Last updated: 25th June 2008

felipe massa ferrari 22/6/2008

Massa: quickest

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Ferrari's Felipe Massa topped the timesheet on the first day of this week's three-day test at Silverstone.

The Brazilian arrived at the Northamptonshire circuit fresh from his victory in Sunday's French Grand Prix, one which handed him the lead in the Drivers' Championship for the first time in his career.

And the early indications are that Massa and Ferrari will be the combination to beat in next weekend's British Grand Prix after he set a best time of one minute 20.188 seconds in 71 laps of the 3.194-mile circuit.

Massa ended the day 0.289 seconds quicker than McLaren Mercedes driver Heikki Kovalainen, with BMW Sauber's title challenger Robert Kubica third and over 0.8 seconds adrift.

With all 10 teams present at the test, only two employed their test drivers, with one of those, Kamui Kobayashi for Toyota, a fine fourth in 1:21.335.

"It was the first time I've driven at Silverstone, although I went around on a scooter yesterday to check the track!" remarked the Japanese driver.

"I spent the early laps getting used to the circuit. It's fun to drive and I especially liked the sweeping, high-speed corners at Becketts.

"The last sector is tricky, especially the double hairpin at Luffield where it is difficult to find the perfect line.

"We tested set-ups and different aerodynamic configurations. We made it through our programme, so it was a good day."

Nico Rosberg was fifth for Williams, followed by the Red Bull of Mark Webber and Renault's Nelson Piquet, who finally scored his first points of his rookie season at Magny-Cours.

Jenson Button, desperately looking for any kind of tonic ahead of his home race, was seventh for Honda, nearly two seconds down on Massa.

Force India tester Vitantonio Liuzzi was eighth, the Italian completing 108 laps, the most of any of the 10 drivers.

Sebastian Vettel's day was cut short by a technical issue with his Toro Rosso which allowed the German to complete only 10 laps, with his best a 1:23.853s, and he brought up the rear.

The team are hoping to resolve the problem to allow Vettel a full day in the car on Wednesday, with team-mate Sebastien Bourdais taking over on Thursday.

Times:
1 F. Massa Ferrari 01:20.188 71 laps
2 H. Kovalainen McLaren 01:20.477 90 laps
3 R. Kubica BMW 01:20.995 82 laps
4 K. Kobayashi Toyota 01:21.335 82 laps
5 N. Rosberg Williams 01:21.410 88 laps
6 M. Webber Red Bull 01:21.565 94 laps
7 N. Piquet Jr. Renault 01:21.797 68 laps
8 J. Button Honda 01:22.081 90 laps
9 V. Liuzzi Force India F1 01:22.250 108 laps
10 S. Vettel Scuderia Toro Rosso 01:23.853 10 laps