McLaren, Ferrari throw down the challenge

Updated on: 26 March,2011 07:45 AM IST |
AFP |

McLaren and Ferrari threw down the challenge to the world champion Red Bull team in yesterday's practice for this weekend's season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne

McLaren and Ferrari threw down the challenge to the world champion Red Bull team in yesterday's practice for this weekend's season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne.

Red Bull Racing's German driver Sebastian Vettel ahead ofu00a0 yesterday's
practice for the Australian Formula One GP in Melbourne. Pic/Getty Images

The Red Bull pair of Mark Webber and Sebastian Vettel dominated first free practice with Webber clocking a best lap of one minute 26.831 seconds, before Jenson Button led a McLaren one-two in the late afternoon hit-out.

Button, bidding for a hat-trick of Melbourne victories in Sunday's race, clocked 1:25.854, just 0.132secs ahead of 2008 world champion Lewis Hamilton. Ferrari's Fernando Alonso was lurking with the third quickest time in both practice sessions, indicating that the 16-time constructors' champion team will be thereabouts in the first race.

"We were able to complete a lot of laps today, but the weather was a bit difficult," said Vettel, who at 23 became the youngest F1 world drivers' champion last year. Local hope Webber, bidding to improve on his best placing of fifth in a 12th attempt at winning his home GP, said Ferrari and McLaren looked in good shape.
"McLaren look quick, but with Ferrari you can never tell, as they always run a bit more fuel on a Friday," Webber said.