European GP: Kimi moves Ferrari to top

Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro ended the first day of practice for the European Grand Prix in first and third places with Kimi Raikkonen and Felipe Massa respectively. Summer still refuses to be a friend of Formula 1 this season and while the morning session was run in dry and cool conditions, heavy rain hit the track during the lunch break between the two ninety minute sessions, meaning the track was still slightly slippery for the start of the afternoon practice. But the more serious problem, which affected everyone was that the wind changed direction from the morning and made the cars harder to drive through the corners when gusts of wind affected the handling.

While the winner of the last two grands prix topped the final time sheet, it was championship leader Lewis Hamilton and his McLaren-Mercedes who was second ahead of the Scuderia's Brazilian driver. As we have seen so often this season it was a Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro – McLaren Mercedes lock-out for the top places, as reigning world champion, Fernando Alonso was fourth. Toyota completed the top six today, with Ralf Schumacher ahead of Jarno Trulli. One new name on the time sheets today, as Markus Winkelhock, son of the late F1 driver Manfred Winkelhock, took over the Spyker seat vacated by Christijan Albers. He was the slowest driver today. .

Pos Driver Team Time Behind Laps
1. Raikkonen Ferrari 1:33.339 28
2. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:33.478 + 0.139 28
3. Massa Ferrari 1:33.590 + 0.251 27
4. Alonso McLaren-Mercedes 1:33.637 + 0.298 30
5. R.Schumacher Toyota 1:33.668 + 0.329 18
6. Trulli Toyota 1:33.746 + 0.407 22
7. Rosberg Williams-Toyota 1:33.845 + 0.506 24
8. Button Honda 1:33.880 + 0.541 36
9. Heidfeld BMW Sauber 1:34.146 + 0.807 22
10. Kubica BMW Sauber 1:34.221 + 0.882 19
11. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:34.235 + 0.896 29
12. Wurz Williams-Toyota 1:34.264 + 0.925 21
13. Sato Super Aguri-Honda 1:34.357 + 1.018 26
14. Barrichello Honda 1:34.411 + 1.072 26
15. Fisichella Renault 1:34.431 + 1.092 28
16. Kovalainen Renault 1:34.446 + 1.107 25
17. Coulthard Red Bull-Renault 1:34.504 + 1.165 19
18. Davidson Super Aguri-Honda 1:34.554 + 1.215 26
19. Speed Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:35.320 + 1.981 26
20. Liuzzi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:35.653 + 2.314 24
21. Sutil Spyker-Ferrari 1:36.527 + 3.188 25
22. Winkelhock Spyker-Ferrari 1:37.319 + 3.980 19