Free 1: Lewis Hamilton leads the way at Korea

Lewis Hamilton has ended the opening practice session fastest ahead of this weekend’s Korean Grand Prix, around the Korea International Circuit. The McLaren of Hamilton was followed home atop the timing sheets by Championship leader Fernando Alonso, with the Red Bull of Mark Webber a close 3rd.

Only one week after the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka, the teams and drivers were preparing to take to the still relatively new Korea International Circuit for the opening practice session for the Korean Grand Prix. In traditional Friday practice fashion, several teams opted to run their reserve drivers’ which included Jules Bianchi [Force India], Valtteri Bottas [Williams], Giedo van der Garde [Caterham] and Dani Clos [HRT].

The opening session began in glorious weather conditions, with the Toro Rosso duo of Jean-Eric Vergne and Daniel Ricciardo the first two drivers to take to the 5.615km circuit. As usual, there was no rush amongst the paddock to immediately take to the track, with the majority of the field only completing one or two installation laps. Eventually, the Williams of Valtteri Bottas set the initial pace with a 01:45.225, a time which the Finn was able to improve upon straight away.

As many drivers began returning to the Korea International Circuit to set their first timed laps of the day, Jenson Button stormed to the top of the timing sheets with a 01:41.395. The 2009 World Champion’s reign at the top was short-lived, however, as Championship leader Fernando Alonso quickly asserted his authority with a 01:40.895. The Spaniard was able to improve upon his time with a 01:39.857 a little later, as the Red Bull duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber finally returned to the track 49 minutes into the session.

As the opening practice session of the weekend drew to a close, Fernando Alonso once again improved at the top with a 01:39.450. Mark Webber had managed to rise up to 3rd after only taking to the track in the closing half of the session. However, Lewis Hamilton finally ended Alonso’s reign with a tremendous 01:39.280 which propelled the Briton to the top of the timing sheets.

This late surge by the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton enabled the Briton to end the opening session fastest overall, ahead of Championship leader Fernando Alonso and the Red Bull of Mark Webber. Lewis Hamilton confirmed his reign at the top with an improved 01:39.148, as the checkered emerged signaling the end of the session. The drivers will return to the track later in the afternoon for the second practice session, which will see Nico Hulkenberg, Bruno Senna, Vitaly Petrov and Narain Karthikeyan all return behind their respective wheels.

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