It has started the Formula 1 World Championship in Melbourne with Fernando Alonso setting the pace on track, leaving second placed Jenson Button to over half a second behind.
The session began with an installation lap from almost all drivers, leaving behind to the ones who did not do that: Lotus, Red Bull, Caterham and Marussia.
Since installation laps there has been surprises, such as the big favorite this weekend, Lewis Hamilton, whose Mercedes was left standing in the middle of the track with a problem, apparently sensor oil pressure.
The practice session has been developed and the drivers were again marking time, Ferrari and McLaren have been pretty solid above expectations, followed by Williams and a discrete Nico Rosberg, Mercedes driver.
Sebastian Vettel finally came out and was able to make a couple of timed laps with a rhythm of about 8 more tenths slower than the first driver in the timesheet.
But Lotus was the team who had more problems. This one has only been able to get on track Pastor Maldonado at the end of the session, however, the Venezuelan driver in his installation lap had to stop because the engine of his car had smoke in the passenger compartment.
Marcus Ericsson has also had to leave the session early; the total number of drivers who have set no time for this session is 6.
Results:
1ºAlonso
2ºButton
3ºBottas
4ºMassa
5ºRicciardo
6ºRosberg
7ºVettel
8ºMagnussen
9ºRaikkonen
10ºVergne
11ºHulkenberg
12ºPerez
13ºKvyat
14ºGutierrez
15ºSutil
16ºBianchi
17ºChilton
