European GP: Rosberg tops opening practice in Valencia
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| Nico Rosberg |
The first practice session of the 2010 European grand prix took place under sunny skies on Friday morning.
In Valencia, expected to remain fine for the whole weekend, Nico Rosberg ended the 90 minute session with the fastest time as Mercedes experimented with its new Red Bull-like exhaust layout and driver-adjustable F-duct.
He was faster than the McLarens, but Renault, Ferrari and Red Bull were all also within a second or so of the leading pace.
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel clocked the sixth fastest time, amid breaking news his Montreal-spec gearbox has been repaired, meaning he will not move back five places on Sunday's grid.
Mark Webber was seventh in the second Red Bull, ahead of Michael Schumacher eighth, Fernando Alonso ninth and Rubens Barrichello rounding out the top ten.
Results
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Pos |
Driver | Team | Time | Behind | Laps |
| 1. | Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:41.175 | +0.000 | 16 |
| 2. | Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:41.339 | +0.164 | 19 |
| 3. | Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:41.383 | +0.208 | 21 |
| 4. | Kubica | Renault | 1:41.715 | +0.540 | 20 |
| 5. | Massa | Ferrari | 1:42.182 | +1.007 | 21 |
| 6. | Vettel | Red Bull-Renault | 1:42.216 | +1.041 | 24 |
| 7. | Webber | Red Bull-Renault | 1:42.275 | +1.100 | 17 |
| 8. | Schumacher | Mercedes | 1:42.312 | +1.137 | 18 |
| 9. | Alonso | Ferrari | 1:42.421 | +1.246 | 22 |
| 10. | Barrichello | Williams-Cosworth | 1:42.463 | +1.288 | 21 |
| 11. | Hulkenberg | Williams-Cosworth | 1:42.707 | +1.532 | 23 |
| 12. | Petrov | Renault | 1:42.962 | +1.787 | 17 |
| 13. | Buemi | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1:43.310 | +2.135 | 23 |
| 14. | Liuzzi | Force India-Mercedes | 1:43.380 | +2.205 | 19 |
| 15. | de la Rosa | Sauber-Ferrari | 1:43.397 | +2.222 | 21 |
| 16. | di Resta | Force India-Mercedes | 1:43.437 | +2.262 | 18 |
| 17. | Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1:43.729 | +2.554 | 21 |
| 18. | Alguersuari | Toro Rosso-Ferrari | 1:44.183 | +3.008 | 21 |
| 19. | Kovalainen | Lotus-Cosworth | 1:44.491 | +3.316 | 21 |
| 20. | Glock | Virgin-Cosworth | 1:45.653 | +4.478 | 23 |
| 21. | Senna | HRT-Cosworth | 1:47.123 | +5.948 | 17 |
| 22. | Trulli | Lotus-Cosworth | 1:47.285 | +6.110 | 18 |
| 23. | Chandhok | HRT-Cosworth | 1:47.343 | +6.168 | 14 |
| 24. | di Grassi | Virgin-Cosworth | 1:47.356 | +6.181 | 24 |