Vettel sets the pace

Young German on top as Valencia takes its bow

Last updated: 22nd August 2008

Vettel sets the pace

Vettel: Pacesetter

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Valencia's new street circuit has seen a new name rise to the top of Formula One's timesheets after Sebastian Vettel went quickest in the opening free practice session for Sunday's European Grand Prix.

The 21-year-old Toro Rosso driver lapped the 3.380-mile track, which snakes its way around the Spanish's city port and marina, in a time of one minute 40.496 seconds late in the 90 minute-long session.

That time is some 3.5 seconds slower than teams were predicting, although the benchmark should fall considerably as grip increases during the course of the weekend.

Vettel's team-mate Sebastien Bourdais ended the session fourth quickest overall, suggesting that Toro Rosso were running their cars light on fuel.

Until Vettel's late burst of speed, Felipe Massa held top spot, the Ferrari driver eventually settling for second place ahead of Championship leader Lewis Hamilton.

The McLaren Mercedes driver spun late on and ended the session 0.326s slower then Vettel. Behind Bourdais in fifth came Hamilton's team-mate, Heikki Kovalainen, with BMW Sauber's Robert Kubica sixth.

Reigning world champion Kimi Raikkonen was seventh for Ferrari, while the top 10 was completed by Williams duo Kazuki Nakajima and Nico Rosberg who sandwiched the ninth-placed Fernando Alonso in his Renault.

Alonso's team-mate Nelson Piquet completed the most laps with 32, but was still down in 15th, whilst it was a difficult morning for Jenson Button and David Coulthard.

The two Britons struggled to get to grips with the track and were down in 17th and 19th respectively for Honda and Red Bull, 1.964 and 2.816s off of Vettel's pace.

Coulthard's team-mate Mark Webber brought up the rear, just over three seconds down on Vettel, whom he will partner at Red Bull next season.

Differences

Temperatures were already hitting 29 degrees centigrade when the drivers took to the track at 10am local time, with Valencia immediately revealing differences between itself and the Mediterranean's other street circuit in Monaco.

While the Principality uses ordinary public roads that are closed off for the few days Formula One is in town, Valencia's circuit is predominantly purpose built.

Wide run-off areas have been built to catch mistakes - and there were many on Friday morning as the drivers acclimatised themselves.

Arguably the track's most eye-catching feature is a swing bridge across the harbour, which in every day use opens and closes to allow yachts and ships to enter and exit.

European Grand Prix, Friday practice, session one:

1. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:40.496
2. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 1:40.654
3. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren 1:40.822
4. Sebastien Bourdais (France) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:41.099
5. Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) McLaren 1:41.163
6. Robert Kubica (Poland) BMW Sauber 1:41.281
7. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 1:41.317
8. Kazuki Nakajima (Japan) Williams - Toyota 1:41.329
9. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 1:41.385
10. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Williams - Toyota 1:41.706
11. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Honda 1:41.830
12. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Toyota 1:41.930
13. Adrian Sutil (Germany) Force India - Ferrari 1:41.951
14. Timo Glock (Germany) Toyota 1:42.036
15. Nelson Piquet (Brazil) Renault 1:42.107
16. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) BMW Sauber 1:42.453
17. Jenson Button (Britain) Honda 1:42.460
18. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Force India - Ferrari 1:43.075
19. David Coulthard (Britain) RedBull - Renault 1:43.312
20. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull - Renault 1:43.524