Webber tops practice ahead of Belgian GP

Aug 26, 2011, 13:57 GMT

Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium - Red Bull's Mark Webber was fastest in Friday's second practice session with the best time of the day ahead of Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

Webber finished ahead of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso and the McLaren pair Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, while team-mate and championship leader Sebastian Vettel was off the pace in 10th.

Seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher had celebrated the 20th anniversary of his Formula One debut by posting the fastest lap in a rain-affected morning session, but the Mercedes driver had to make do with 11th in the afternoon session.

Australian Webber posted one minute 50.321 seconds on the 7.004km circuit at Spa-Francorchamps in another session affected by rain.

Alonso was 0.140 seconds back, with Button at 0.449 and Hamilton at 0.517. World champion Vettel was 1.469 slower.

Ferrari's Felipe Massa was fifth, followed by Nico Rosberg in a Mercedes, Sergio Perez in a Sauber, with Force India reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg, team-mate Paul di Resta and Vettel filling the rest of the top 10 places.

The first session had seen Schumacher edge team-mate Rosberg, with Button third in a session disrupted by a heavy shower.

Schumacher and Rosberg were the only drivers to record a time before the shower which left rivals forced to change to intermediate tyres.

Drier weather is expected for Saturday's qualifying and the race itself.

Vettel, on 234 points, has a commanding lead in the championship, ahead of Webber (149), Hamilton (146), Alonso (145) and Button (134).

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