By Simon Strang Friday, October 14th 2011, 02:39 GMT
Michael Schumacher, Korea, 2011In keeping with his recent renaissance, Michael Schumacher set the fastest time in first practice session for the Korean Grand Prix, though his position was enhanced by changing track conditions following a very wet start to the day.
The Mercedes driver survived a trip across the muddy pitlane border as well as late attacks from newly crowned world champion Sebastian Vettel and Paul di Resta to stay top of the times as the surface water dissipated slightly in the final moments of the 90 minutes.
The rain threatened to completely wash out first practice until the session came alive in the last 30 minutes.
After nearly an hour of waiting around in the rain - with the exception of some development laps for Lewis Hamilton's McLaren - it wasn't until the Briton re-emerged from the pits and triggered a mini burst of activity as five or six cars joined him within minutes, that things came alive.
Hamilton was the first to post a time with a 2m03.391s lap, which was quickly usurped by Toro Rosso's Sebastien Buemi (2m03.182s).
That time stood for a while as Kamui Kobayashi's Sauber and the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg and Schumacher all failed to bump the Swiss from the top spot. Meanwhile Pastor Maldonado's Williams ran off the track twice in the space of ten minutes.
It seemed as if Buemi had enjoyed the best of the conditions as with 10 minutes of the session left, both Force India drivers Adrian Sutil and di Resta had a crack at the top spot. Sutil's lap looked strong until the final sector, while the Scot had to catch a wild moment as the rain continued to fall.
Around the same time, newly-crowned world champion Vettel ran wide around Turn 11 almost dinking another front wing against an unsuspecting wall. As if to emphasise the grip level, Karun Chandhok also spun his Lotus harmlessly.
Vettel then posted the fastest lap, only to be outdone by Schumacher on intermediate tyres, whose 2m02.784s was enough to take the top spot. Di Resta persisted to take the third fastest time, ahead of his team-mate, as the chequered flag waved.
Buemi ended up fifth ahead of Kobayashi, Hamilton, Rosberg, Sergio Perez and Mark Webber, as only 18 cars set times. One of those was French rookie Jean-Eric Vergne, who made his practice debut for Toro Rosso and ended the morning 13th.
