Red Bull leads the way in Silverstone practice (Roundup)

Jun 19, 2009, 14:47 GMT

   Silverstone, Britain - The Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber led the way on Friday in both practice sessions for the British Formula One Grand Prix which were overshadowed by the plan of eight major teams to quit the sport.

   The German Vettel clocked 1 minute 19.400 seconds over the 5.141-kilometres lap, with Australia's Webber on 1:19.682 as both posted their fastest lap in the opening morning session.

In the afternoon, Vettel had 1.19.456 and Webber 1:19.597 before the Australian had to retire his car late in the session after driving hard over a curb.

   The Red Bulls pipped season leaders Brawn GP as championship frontrunner Jenson Button started his home race action on 1:20.227 and team-mate Rubens Barrichello had 1:20.242 minutes.

Seemingly riding with a heavier car due to much more fuel in some race preparation, Barrichello was sixth and Button 13th in the afternoon.

Force India's Adrian Sutil took third place in the afternoon on 1.20.141 followed by Williams driver Kazuki Nakajima on 1:20.209.

   Former world champion Fernando Alonso was fifth in both sessions in a Renault. Ferrari's Felipe Massa was six in the morning and reigning champion Lewis Hamilton seventh in the afternoon in his McLaren-Mercedes.

The practice sessions are no real indication of a team's strength as they serve to get the set-up for the race in place.

   Button has won six of seven races as he tops the standings with 61 points from Barrichello (31), with Vettel third on 29 points. Vettel won the other race, in China.

Qualifying is on Saturday and the 60-lap race on Sunday.

   Racing took a back seat on the day after eight teams (Ferrari, Red Bull, McLaren, Toyota, Renault, Toro Rosso, Brawn and BMW-Sauber) organized in the umbrella organization FOTA announced they will form a new series due a budget cap row with the ruling body FIA.