Massa sets the pace

Force India's Fisichella hits the wall

Last updated: 10th July 2008

felipe massa ferrari 5/7/2008

Massa: quickest

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Ferrari's Felipe Massa set the fastest time on Thursday's final day of testing at Hockenheim.

The Brazilian, who currently shares the lead of the Drivers' Championship with team-mate Kimi Raikkonen and McLaren's Lewis Hamilton, was the only driver to lap inside one minute 15 seconds with a best time of 1:14.989s.

Hamilton was quickest on the opening two days of testing at the 4.574 km track, which plays host to the German Grand Prix next weekend.

"It was a good day's work," said Massa in a team statement. "We did a lot of kilometres and I have to say the car felt well balanced.

"This can only mean we should also be competitive at this track, which is also the case for our main rivals."

Massa, three times a winner this season, had led the Championship outright heading into last weekend's British Grand Prix at Silverstone.

However, in race which saw winner Hamilton finish more than a minute ahead of the field, Massa spun five times in the wet and finished 13th and last.

Britain's Jenson Button was second fastest for Honda in 1:15.081 on a bright and warm day with McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen, taking over driving duties from Hamilton, third quickest in 1:15.289.

The session was halted when Giancarlo Fisichella, who also crashed heavily in the previous group test at Silverstone last month, hit the wall in his Force India.

"The rear of the car went away and I just lost control through the stadium complex," the Italian said.

"The car went across the road and there's not much run off area there so I went into the wall. I'm fine, but the car was quite badly damaged. The guys did a good job to get it out again for the last 30 minutes."

Toyota, fourth in the Constructors' Championship after Silverstone, experimented with a new 'shark fin' engine cover before reverting to a standard one.

Times:

1 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:14.989 109 laps
2 Jenson Button Honda 1:15.081 121
3 Heikki Kovalainen McLaren 1:15.289 123
4 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing 1:15.378 118
5 Sebastian Vettel Toro Rosso 1:15.556 106
6 Fernando Alonso Renault 1:15.593 115
7 Kazuki Nakajima Williams 1:15.759 119
8 Robert Kubica BMW Sauber 1:15.869 107
9 Jarno Trulli Toyota 1:16.065 129
10 Giancarlo Fisichella Force India 1:16.113 74

All times unofficial.