It almost would have worked out today evening in Singapore with Michael Schumacher’s first fastest time since the third free practice session at Suzuka in 2006, but in the end, the Mercedes driver had to be content with second place. Because after the 90 minutes it championship leader Mark Webber just displaced from the top.

The Red Bull driver lapped the street circuit in 1:54.589 minutes, thus faster than Schumacher, 0.119 seconds, which was to always find the leaders, although he learn the new route for it first had to. However, be the strong results of the seven-time world champion exaggerate not, after it was damp at the start and the track dried out slowly. Therefore, de facto, included only the last ten minutes on slicks.
In which it was quite turbulent, to – again and again took the driver exit or cut off one of the chicanes. However, none provided a truly devastating mistake, so the session went without any major incidents to an end. Exciting it was only in the closing stages, as the big favorites spared in moist conditions at the beginning of their tires and engines from the box and watched.

Only shortly before the finish was so surprised man Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber) from the top displaced and still passed through to twelfth place. The Japanese ended up 1.750 seconds behind Webber, but remained narrowly ahead of his teammate Nick Heidfeld (13 / 1.869), returning to Singapore in the Grand Prix circus. Accordingly, the German looks happy: “With the first session, I am very satisfied,” he notes.

“I had this at the beginning take it easy, for I am ever not ridden in the wet. Also at the end, when it was still a bit damp, it was important for me to shoot many rounds,” said Heidfeld. “When I saw then, that not much time, I’ve been a bit more gas. Of course, I’m with the settings of the car not quite satisfied. The basis should be good, but because you can fine-tune still a lot.”

The second comeback was less striking: Christian Klien (HRT / 8.835) was due after 20 minutes the first rider to set a time landed, but after 90 minutes only on rank 23 – well before Lotus tail light Fairuz Fauzy (11.105), but just as well behind his team-mate Bruno Senna (22 / 5.194). Another new name, Jérôme D’Ambrosio (Virgin / 4.686), was a good 21, just behind stable-mate Timo Glock (20 / 4.445).