Ferrari driver trashes car but sets morning pace

This is Felipe Massa’s wrecked Ferrari, after his high-speed crash in this morning’s first practice session. The Brazilian lost control of his car at the end of the 180mph Hangar Straight - it spun out on oil leaked by Fernando Alonso’s ailing Renault - and slammed backwards into a tyre wall.

Massa played no further part in the session, but his time of 1:19.575 wasn’t bettered. Heikki Kovalainen pipped McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton into second place right at the death as the top three finished the session separated by just 0.048secs.

Full timesheet below, plus some more pics from the morning session:

Some photos from Friday at Silverstone:

Fernando Alonso waves to the crowd after his Renault suffered mechanical problems.

Massa’s Ferrari is lifted from the track.

Lewis Hamilton in his element.

Kimi Raikkonen with his comfort blanket. Ferrari red, of course.

Heikki Kovalainen prepares to take his McLaren out.

David Coulthard can’t hear you, blah blah blah.

Timesheet, Friday morning:

1. Felipe Massa (Ferrari) 1:19.575

2. Heikki Kovalainen (McLaren) 1:19.587
3. Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 1:19.623

————————————————-
4. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 1:19.948
5. Robert Kubica (BMW) 1:20.367
6. Fernando Alonso (Renault) 1:20.436
7. Sebastian Vettel (Toro Rosso) 1:20.588
8. Nelson Piquet (Renault) 1:20.653
9. David Coulthard (Red Bull) 1:20.698
10. Nico Rosberg (Williams) 1:20.744
11. Mark Webber (Red Bull) 1:20.892
12. Timo Glock (Toyota) 1:21.102
13. Nick Heidfeld (BMW) 1:21.107
14. Sebastien Bourdais (Toro Rosso) 1:21.166
15. Jarno Trulli (Toyota) 1:21.265
16. Kazuki Nakajima (Williams) 1:21.282
17. Jenson Button (Honda) 1:21.901
18. Adrian Sutil (Force India) 1:22.169
19. Giancarlo Fisichella (Force India) 1:22.219
20. Rubens Barrichello (Honda) 1:24.123

 

Winners: A good morning for Massa, despite his prang, and Kovi; both men got one over on their No.1 team-mates. Alonso showed good pace until his car broke down, while young bucks Vettel and Piquet will be pleased to have cracked the top 10.

Losers: A poor morning for Honda (especially Rubens) and Williams (especially Kazuki). Messrs Heidfeld and Bourdais were shown up by their team-mates, again.