Australian GP - Practice Three

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Saturday, 26 March 2011 07:33

Heikki Kovalainen is the first man out on track for the third practice session, followed by Sutil, the two Toro Rosso drivers and about half of the field to complete their installation laps.

We are hearing from drivers the track is slippery as Nico Rosberg is soon the only driver on the circuit. He is now back in the garage as the teams wait for someone else to clean the track, it seems no one wants to be first.

Looks like Virgins don't mind being the first. There is a pun in there but I will leave it alone. Glock sets the first lap time of the day, a 1:35.394. Liuzzi and HRT manage to get out on track a great deal earlier than yesterday, we are only 18 minutes into the session. Oh, we spoke to soon, he has stopped at turn four and is wheeled behind the barrier. Doesn't look hopeful for the rest of the session for him.

D'Ambrosio has a trip into the grass at turn 15, no technical problem and he didn't hit anything so there is a couple of positives. Petrov has gone to the top of the times with a 1:28.385. Only four times have been set so far.

Liuzzi is on his radio saying as he hit the brakes at turn three the engine went into a false neutral and shut down. Petrov is still on top, having bettered his time to a 1:27.709. Well he was on top until Vettel came out and went all world champion on the Russian, setting a 1:27.337.

Schumacher looks like he is struggling with his Mercedes as Button locks his brakes and heads into the gravel. Maldonado is also off at turn six, bringing out the yellow flags to rescue him from the gravel. Rosberg is second fastest, only 0.158 behind Vettel. Things are looking much better for him all ready this year.

With just over 26 minutes remaining in the session Webber is out and sets his first time, good enough for fifth fastest. No wait, make that fastest man so far, doing a 1:26.993 as the other drivers in the top five sit in their garages. I am sure they will be out quick smart. Buemi has gone second fastest. He has posted a 1:27.008. Vettel is in third but still not back out on track.

Button is now on top with a 1:25.961, while Alguersuari has catapulted into fifth giving us a McLaren plus Red Bull, Red Bull, Toro Rosso, Toro Rosso top five. But not for long, Vettel has returned to 'number 1' with a 1:25.327.

Ten minutes left in the session and the two Ferraris are joined on track by Maldonado, Alonso sitting in third quickest, Massa in 15th and Maldonado in 18th.

Hamilton heads back out and soon takes Alonso down a notch, nabbing third quickest from him on soft tyres, while Vettel remains on top, 0.634s clear of Button. HRT are promising Karthikeyan will get out sometime in the next eight minutes, oh and here he comes. He managed to complete the lap unscathed and return to the garage. Baby steps! It must be soul crushing for a driver, lets hope the situation improves.

Webber is the ah, number 2 driver on the track as he joins Vettel in the 1:25s only 0.037s away from his team mates time. Not wanting him to get too close, Vettel pulls out a 1:24.507 with two minutes remaining. Hamilton in third is an entire one second off of Vettel's time. Button has slotted into fourth quickest as Petrov rounds out the top five. Karthikeyan has managed to also set a lap time, a 1:41.554. Ouch. By Jacki Warnock

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