Formula One: Alonso trumps Massa in final practice

Formula One: Alonso trumps Massa in final practice
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Summary Alonso clocked a lap time of one minute 35.391sec to snatch the best time.


SHANGHAI (AFP) - Ferrari enjoyed a one-two in the final practice on Saturday for the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai, as Fernando Alonso outgunned his team-mate Felipe Massa late in the session.

 

Alonso, the two-time world champion, was 0.622sec quicker than Massa, who had topped the time charts in the afternoon session on Friday. Lewis Hamilton, recovering from a pollen allergy, was third-fastest in warm but dry conditions.

 

Alonso clocked a lap time of one minute 35.391sec to snatch the best time.

 

Reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel was fourth-fastest, 0.895sec off title rival Alonso. Vettel s estranged Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber came home fifth-fastest.

 

He was followed by the Force India of Adrian Sutil, ahead of Lotus  Kimi Raikkonen. Jenson Button of McLaren, team-mate Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg, of Sauber, rounded out the top 10.

 

Hamilton s Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg, winner in Shanghai last year and who topped the first practice, had only the 14th-best time after suspension trouble saw him sit out the crucial last minutes of the session.

 

Qualifying for Sunday s race is later on Saturday.
 

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