Australian GP Practice 2: Schumacher fastest in wet

Michael Schumacher

Michael Schumacher set the pace in a rain-slowed second free practice session for the Australian Grand Prix.

The seven-time champion set his 1m29.183s lap on the last of the session, on a track that was improving in terms of grip with every second of running. However, Schumacher was on top or near the top throughout the session.

Nico Hulkenberg was second best and Sergio Perez was third fastest for Sauber.

Michael Schumacher
"Today was a nice start into a hopefully exciting season, and certainly two promising sessions for us. However, I would not go so far as to speak about being confident, as the weather conditions were too mixed to gain a clear picture. We know what Friday sessions are for and don't know what fuel loads others were running. On the other hand, it is good to see that we were competitive in different circumstances today and that the car provides good handling – I just feel it."

Nico Hulkenberg
“Both FP1 and FP2 had mixed conditions, especially FP2 with the heavy rain, which arrived just before the start of the session. But we made the best of it and I ran on the full wets, the intermediates and the soft tires when the track had dried out. It’s difficult to read much from the times because not everyone ran the soft tires and there were lots of different fuel loads, but the main thing for me is that I have a good feeling with the car already."

Sergio Perez Sauber C31-Ferrari
1st Practice: 15th / 1:30.124 min (22 laps) / 2nd Practice: 3rd / 1:30.199 min 23 laps)
“We made a good improvement from the first to the second session, but it is extremely difficult to deal with today’s information as the conditions were not at all consistent. The third free practice tomorrow will be very important. We have to watch how the conditions develop and then really get everything right for qualifying."

Results