Massa fastest in practise session ahead of Malaysian GP

Apr 6, 2007, 10:54 GMT

Brazilian Formula 1 driver Felipe Massa of Scuderia Ferrari steers his car during the second practice session at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Friday 06 April 2007. The Formula One Grand Prix of Malaysia will take place at the Sepang circuit near Kuala Lumpur on Sunday (08.04.). EPA/ JENS BÜTTNER

Sepang, Malaysia - Ferrari's Felipe Massa was fastest in both free practise sessions Friday ahead of Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang.

During the first session, the Brazilian had a fastest lap of 1 minute 34.792 seconds for the 5.543-kilometre circuit, 0.248 seconds quicker than defending world champion Fernando Alonso in a McLaren- Mercedes.

Alonso's McLaren team-mate Lewis Hamilton was third quickest followed by Australian GP winner Kimi Raikkonen in the second Ferrari.

In the second session, Massa had a lap time of 1:35.780 minutes with the Renaults of Giancarlo Fisichella and Heikki Kovalainen second and third quickest, respectively.

Alonso was 12th fastest in the second session.

Meanwhile Malaysian Grand Prix stewards rejected a protest by the Spyker team against Scuderia Toro Rosso that the STR car had identical parts, using photos and technical data as evidence.

Race stewards said that the matter falls outside their jurisdiction adding that Spyker have already begun arbitration proceedings against STR and Super Aguri over the issue.

FIA said in a statement Friday that as Spyker have made an application for arbitration, they had accepted that the dispute could not be addressed by Formula One rules.

'It is considered therefore that it would be entirely inappropriate for the stewards to involve themselves in a matter being dealt with at the instigation and election of the protestor, Spyker, in an entirely different forum,' said FIA.