Zoom Kubica P1 but what does it really mean?

The final practice session ahead of qualifying is normally a pretty confusing affair as teams run differing programmes depending on what they expect in qualifying later in the day. This morning at Fuji Speedway this was compounded by rain ahead of the session and a drying circuit that saw the fastest six all set their best lap times right at the end of the session.

Robert Kubica led the way for BMW Sauber with a best lap of 1:25.087s, seven seconds off the best dry times recorded in free practice yesterday afternoon. Kubica languished towards the bottom of the timesheets with team-mate Nick Heidfeld until his final run and he ended the session 0.084s ahead of Timo Glock in the Toyota. Glock has been towards the sharp end of the timesheets for much of the Japanese Grand Prix weekend.

Nelson Piquet recorded the third fastest time in his Renault, three-tenths off the ultimate pace while Nick Heidfeld vaulted fourth fastest in the second F1.08 as the chequered flag flew. Kazuki Nakajima was another on the move at the end of the session as he set the fifth fastest time ahead of David Coulthard in the Red Bull Renault.

Felipe Massa topped the timesheets for much of the session in his Ferrari. The Brazilian did head out at the end of the session but did not complete a flying lap and therefore his seventh fastest time overall, six-tenths off Kubica, was an impressive performance in the tricky conditions.

Mark Webber was eighth in the second Red Bull ahead of Singapore Grand Prix winner Fernando Alonso in his R28 and wet-weather specialist Sebastian Vettel rounded out the top ten for Toro Rosso Ferrari.

McLaren restricted both Lewis Hamilton and Heikki Kovalainen to just eight and ten laps respectively as they set the 11th and 15th best times respectively. Hamilton ran well in the early stages of the session, but remained in the pits as the circuit improved towards the end of the one hour of running.

Sebastien Bourdais was 12th fastest in the second Toro Rosso ahead Jarno Trulli and Nico Rosberg. Kimi Raikkonen put in plenty of laps but was just 16th fastest in the second Ferraro ahead of the Honda duo of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button.

It was a tough session for Adrian Sutil and it was only in the final ten minutes of running that he was able to put in a stint, setting the 19th best time ahead of Force India Ferrari team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella.

Given the variable conditions and the tactics used in this session in terms of fuel load, the times probably don’t mean a great deal. Qualifying proper is next up with all eyes on the Japanese skies.

Earl ALEXANDER
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