Webber takes over top spot during morning of Ricard

[davewilson]

With the absence of rookie Lewis Hamilton at this morning session in Paul Ricard, it was time for another drive to rule the day, with Mark Webber stepping up to the challenge, by posting the morning's fastest time, a 1:29.687. Today saw the 11 teams switch to the 1E-SC version of the Paul Ricard HTTT, a configuration that replicates the long straights and tough braking of the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve in Monteal, the destination for all teams in a month's time.

Webber was hounded by Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen, the Finn clocking a 1:30.051, with Scott Speed surprising in the Toro Rosso with a 1:30.053, the STR2 and RB3 notably working well around this configuration.

Unofficial morning times from Paul Ricard [1E-SC] (17/05/2007):
1. Mark Webber (Red Bull-Renault) - 1:29.687, 44 laps
2. Kimi Räikkönen (Ferrari) - 1:30.051, 20 laps
3. Scott Speed (Toro Rosso-Ferrari) - 1:30.053, 36 laps
4. Rubens Barrichello (Honda) - 1:30.108, 60 laps
5. Pedro de la Rosa (McLaren-Mercedes) - 1:30.457, 63 laps
6. Franck Montagny (Toyota) - 1:30.478, 32 laps
7. James Rossiter (Super Aguri-Honda) - 1:30.575, 61 laps
8. Heikki Kovalainen (Renault) - 1:30.917, 40 laps
9. Robert Kubica (BMW Sauber-BMW) - 1:30.931, 19 laps
10. Alexander Wurz (Williams-Toyota) - 1:31.324, 19 laps
11. Markus Winkelhock (Spyker-Ferrari) - 1:32.756, 43 laps
12. Christijan Albers (Spyker-Ferrari) - 1:32.960, 12 laps