Practice 3: Lewis A Tenth Behind Massa, Alonso 8th

By Sam Cooper
October 20 2007

The Vodafone McLaren Mercedes formula one team have completed the third and final practice session for this weekends Brazilian Grand Prix in 2nd and 8th position. Current drivers world championship leader Lewis Hamilton ended the session in 2nd place, a tenth behind Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, Fernando Alonso finished in 8th position, seven tenths behind pace setter Massa.

Ferrari’s Felipe Massa has ended the third and final practice session, ahead of this weekends Brazilian Grand Prix, in 1st place, ahead of Britain’s Lewis Hamilton, who put in a last minute dash to claim 2nd place.

In third was Ferrari’s Kimi Räikkönen, who needs to finish in the top two to claim his first world drivers championship ended the session in 3rd place. Red Bull Racing’s Mark Webber finished in 4th position, Red Bull are looking very strong this weekend, and if anything should happen to the big four, Red Bull could find themselves in a podium position.

Jarno Trulli finished 5th in the Toyota just 0.6 seconds away from pace setter Massa. Honda’s Rubens Barrichello finished an excellent 6th in front of his home crowd. The Brazilians team mate Jenson Button looked to be struggling in the second Honda. Nick Heidfeld finished a tenth behind Rubens in 7th. The German’s team mate Robert Kubica stopped with a mechanical problem, which stopped the Polish drivers session early.

McLaren’s Fernando Alonso finished in a disappointing 8th position 0.7 seconds behind Massa and crucially 0.6 seconds behind Lewis Hamilton. Sebastian Vettel is very fast around the Brazilian circuit, the nineteen year old rookie finishing in 9th position ahead of William’s Nico Rosberg.

McLaren looked to be struggling, Lewis Hamilton was outside the top ten with just five minutes to go, he went out on circuit to do one flying lap and came away with a time just 0.1 seconds from Felipe Massa’s best. Hamilton’s team mate Fernando Alonso wasn’t fairing better, the Spaniard stayed in 8th position.

Times from the session are shown below.