It is reported that Rubens Barrichello will take a 5 place grid penalty due to a gearbox change
6:53
Sebastian Vettel was quickest on Friday while both Webber and Grosjean crashed during practice
6:55
Air temperature is 31 degrees while track temperature is at 35 degrees
6:57
Track conditions are dry
7:00
Session underway!
7:00
The cars go out on their installation laps
7:01
A few drivers practicing starts on their way out
7:02
Just the 2 Brawn cars still in the pits
7:03
Most of the drivers are now back in the pits as both Brawns go out
7:05
All cars are back in the pits
7:07
The overhead shot of the track is just magnificent showing the illuminated track
7:10
Fisichella is the first to go back out
7:12
Fisichella starts a timed lap. He struggled for most of yesterday but set some reasonable times late in the second practice
7:12
Grosjean and Alguersuari also on the track
7:12
Raikkonen on the track too
7:13
Alguersuari seems to have stalled it at the end of the pit lane!
7:14
The mechanics try to instruct the stewards how to push the car back so the mechanics can retrieve it!
7:15
Fisichella sets a 1:58.455
7:15
Grosjean sets a 1:52.436. Track very dusty!
7:16
Now Raikkonen is fastest with a 1:51.794
7:17
Ferrari targetting both cars to reach Q3 but admit that they are struggling as they are not developing the car like many other teams
7:17
Alguersuari out again and this time he practices a start successfully!
7:18
Raikkonen improves with a 1:50.347. Kubica in second and Buemi in third
7:19
20 minutes: Rosberg fastest with a 1:50.134
7:20
Now Kubica goes fasteest with a 1:49.679
7:22
Raikkonen goes wide and has to reverse to get back on the track!
7:22
Rosberg now quickest with a 1:49.447
7:24
Hamilton very quick in 1st sector as Kubica goes fastest with a 1:49.434
7:25
Hamilton goes fastest with a 1:48.346
7:28
Webber has made it out on the track. He is the only driver yet to set a time
7:30
Halfway into Saturday practice: Hamilton, Barrichello, Kovalainen, Heidfeld, Alonso, Kubica, Rosberg, Button, Glock and Nakajima
7:31
Fisichella is currently in 19th having done the most laps so far (9 laps)
7:33
Hamilton is over 8 tenths quicker than anyone else. Was he on a light fuel run ?
7:34
[Comment From RaHuL ] Where are Luizzi and Sutil?
[Ed] Liuzzi in 18th, Sutil in 13th (34 minutes)
7:37
[Comment From RaHuL ] How the practice and qualifying affect the positions in race, if u can elaborate? and how practice is different from qualifying? :)
[Ed] Practice is just that, drivers try to get the most out of the car in preparation for the race. Qualifying is where is all counts and they need to drive a perfect lap to determine the grid order
7:38
Trulli is in 20th place with an uncompetitive time. Looks like he has a problem
7:39
Fisichella up into 15th and ahead of Raikkonen at this stage (38 minutes in)
7:39
[Comment From RaHuL ] That means officially practice doesn't count but whoever is fastest in qualifying will get the pole and so on?
[Ed] Correct
7:40
[Comment From RaHuL ] one lap is all it takes in qualifying?
[Ed] There are 3 sessions in qualifying so 3 laps!
7:40
[Comment From RaHuL ] like Hamilton did it in Monza to Sutil in last lap of qualifying?
[Ed] Yes
7:41
Kovalainen moves into second with a 1:48.427!
7:41
Replay shows Sutil brushing the wall. Doesn't appear to have damaged anything!
7:42
[Comment From RaHuL ] Then we can say that it's best of three in qualifying, the fastest lap of the driver will be counted, thnx :)
[Ed] Not exactly. It is a knockout. Watch in a few hours!
7:43
Mechanics working on Raikkonen's car. Looks like something is wrong there!
7:43
[Comment From RaHuL ] what is Q3?
[Ed] Session 3 of Qualifying!
7:44
Hamilton improves with a 1:48.197
7:45
[Comment From RaHuL ] you have to qualify for Q2 in Q1 and for Q3 in Q2, like that...if u don't then u r knocked out..
[Ed] Yes, slowest 5 are out in Q1 and Q2
7:46
15 min remain in Saturday practice - Order: Hamilton, Rosberg, Kovalainen, Glock, Barrichello, Trulli, Alonso, Sutil, Kubica & Vettel
[Comment From RaHuL ] time in IST for qualifing?
[Ed] It is 22:00 Local time
7:51
[Comment From RaHuL ] what is pre qualifying runs?
[Ed] Runs to simulate qualifying. Low fuel and new tyres mainly
7:51
Raikkonen up into 7th on the super softs
7:52
Vettel goes quickest with a 1:47.938
7:52
[Comment From RaHuL ] qualifying in 2hrs approx.?
[Ed] Yes
7:53
Vettel improves slightly
7:54
19 cars on the track now!
7:56
Hamilton quickest in S1 but misses a turn and has to reverse back
7:57
A few drivers had their laps ruined due to that
7:58
Less than 2 minutes remain and Vettel still fastest ahead of Hamilton and Rosberg
7:59
[Comment From RaHuL ] I have never heard of reversing in race so why are they revrsing here?
[Ed] It is practice
7:59
Hamilton now fastest with a 1:47.632
8:00
Session over, awaiting final lap times
8:03
Saturday practice - Top 10: Hamilton, Vettel, Rosberg, Kovalainen, Kubica, Heidfeld, Barrichello, Glock, Buemi, Trulli
8:05
Saturday practice - 11th - 20th: Nakajima, Raikkonen, Webber, Button, Alonso, Liuzzi, Sutil, Alguersuari, Grosjean and Fisichella
8:06
[Comment From RaHuL ] I know it is practice, so why they don't miss turns in race? and if they do then why don't they reverse?
[Ed] They do but they have to be more careful. They can reverse but under certain conditions
8:07
1.041 separates the top 8. 2.009 seconds separate the top 19
8:09
Saturday practice: Most laps by Fisichella (21 laps). Least laps by Trulli (12 laps)
