2013-04-16 10:05:26 +02:00

214 lines
5.3 KiB
Plaintext
Executable File

sport
motorsport
formulaone
redbull
8128586
-----
# F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel sets the pace during
first practice at Yas Marina
## Sebastian Vettel's last-ditch attempt to win the Formula One world title
today began with an explosive performance in first practice for Sunday's
season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
![F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel sets the pace during
first practice at the Yas Marina circuit][1]
All smiles: Sebastian Vettel blew rivals Fernando Alonso and Mark Webber away
during the first practice in Abu Dhabi Photo: GETTY IMAGES
By Telegraph staff and agencies 11:42AM GMT 12 Nov 2010
[Comments][2]
Vettel has to finish in the top two to stand any chance of claiming an
unlikely championship triumph bearing in mind he is the only one of the four
contenders yet to lead the standings at any stage this season.
The German is currently 15 points behind Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and seven
adrift of Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber, but those two were left virtually
standing by Vettel.
The 23-year-old, who won the inaugural race at Yas Marina circuit a year ago,
comfortably set the pace as he finished over six tenths of a second clear of
Lewis Hamilton.
Astonishingly, in a country that sees precious little rain over the course of
the year, practice began with damp conditions
A 20-minute downpour soaked the circuit as the Porsches practised around 90
minutes before the F1 cars hit the circuit.
## Related Articles
* [Massa insists he'll be a force again][3]
12 Nov 2010
* [Webber: I will not quit Formula One][4]
12 Nov 2010
* [Alonso eyes hair-raising finale][5]
11 Nov 2010
* [Hamilton upbeat ahead of Formula One finale][6]
11 Nov 2010
* [Alonso shuts out controversy][7]
11 Nov 2010
* [Abu Dhabi GP circuit guide][8]
11 Nov 2010
Despite temperatures of 29 degrees centigrade, the track was still declared
wet come the start of the initial 90-minute session.
It meant after the customary installation laps, the drivers did not venture
out again until the circuit was completely dry.
Vettel then emerged as the one to catch as he set a time of one minute
42.760secs for the 5.554km venue.
Hamilton, who was on pole for McLaren 12 months ago, was 0.609secs adrift as
he began his search for the miracle that will give him the championship due to
the fact he is 24 points down on Alonso.
As for the rest, outgoing world champion Jenson Button was the next of the
challengers, but the 30-year-old in his McLaren was a second off Vettel,
followed closely by Webber.
Robert Kubica was fifth in the standings in his Renault, followed by
championship leader Alonso, who knows he needs only a top-two finish to
guarantee himself a third title.
Ferrari rarely show their hand in first practice, and with the last of his
engines for the season understood to nearing the end of its life, it was a
steady start from Alonso who was 1.361secs down.
Mercedes and Sauber took up the remaining four slots in the top 10, with
Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg seventh and ninth for the former and Kamui
Kobayashi and Nick Heidfeld eighth and 10th for the latter.
In 11th place was Ferrari's Felipe Massa, 2.4secs off Vettel such had been the
early pace set by the 23-year-old, who could become the youngest champion in
F1 history.
At the back of the field was Lotus' reserve driver Fairuz Fauzy who replaced
Heikki Kovalainen for a session in which he finished nine seconds adrift and
after burning a hole in the side of the exhaust.
[X][9] Share & bookmark
Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
[What are these?][10]
* Share: [Share][9] [ ][11] [ ][12]
[Tweet][13]
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/motorsport/formulaone/redbull/8128586/F1-Abu-
Dhabi-Grand-Prix-Red-Bulls-Sebastian-Vettel-sets-the-pace-during-first-
practice-at-Yas-Marina.html
Telegraph
## [Red Bull][14]
* ### [Sport »][15]
* ### [Motorsport »][16]
* ### [Formula One »][17]
* ### [Lewis Hamilton »][18]
* ### [F1 News »][19]
In sport
[![Formula One 2011: Sebastian Vettel signs new Red Bull deal][20] ][21]
### [Vettel commits to Red Bull][21]
[![Red Bull driver Mark Webber determined not to slow down in he jostles for
position in Formula One: Mark Webber][22] ][23]
### [Webber refuses to back off][23]
[![][24] ][25]
### [F1 2011: full race schedule][25]
[![Formula One, 2011: Team by Team guide: Red Bull][26] ][27]
### [F1 2011: team-by-team guide][27]
[![Follow Telegraph Sport on Twitter][28]][29]
### [Follow Telegraph Sport on Twitter][29]
[X][9] Share & bookmark
Delicious Facebook Google Messenger Reddit Twitter
Digg Fark LinkedIn Google Buzz StumbleUpon Y! Buzz
[What are these?][10]
Share:
* [ ][9]
* [ ][11]
* [ ][12]
* [Tweet][13]
* FORMULA ONE ACTION PHOTOS
Advertisement
![][30]
telegraphuk
Please enable JavaScript to view the [comments powered by Disqus.][31] [blog
comments powered by Disqus][32]
Advertisement
Formula 1 Drivers' championship: Latest standing in the Formula One drivers'
championship.
## MORE ON RED BULL
### [Red Bull links][14]
* [Red Bull Racing official][33]
* [Mark Webber][34] | [Sebastian Vettel][35]
Advertisement
Classified Advertising
* [Motoring][36]
* [Engineering Jobs][37]
* [Property][38]
Loading
var puffs_8257595 = new Array();