-
Williams Formula One driver Nico Rosberg - Source: Reuters
Germany's Nico Rosberg pushed world champion Lewis Hamilton off the top of the timesheets in the final seconds of Friday's first free practice for the Turkish Grand Prix.
The Williams driver, preparing for his 60th Formula One start on Monday (NZT), has now been quickest in 10 of the season's 19 practice sessions while failing to finish any higher than sixth in the six races.
"We just run less fuel than everybody else," he told reporters on Thursday when asked about the discrepancy between practice and race results.
"We look quicker than we are, so it's not important at all. We just do it because it's the best way for us to prepare for our weekend."
Rosberg's quickest lap of one minute 28.952 seconds was 0.311 faster than McLaren's Hamilton with Toyota's Jarno Trulli third in a welcome return to form for the Japanese team after a woeful Monaco weekend.
Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, tipped by many to end championship leader Jenson Button's run of three wins in a row this weekend, was fourth fastest.
Ferrari's Felipe Massa, winner in Istanbul for the past three years from pole position, was fifth.
Button, winner of five of the six races so far, had a low-key start with the 11th fastest lap while Brazilian Brawn GP team mate Rubens Barrichello was ninth.
BMW-Sauber failed to see an immediate boost from their new rear diffuser, with Poland's Robert Kubica 16th and Nick Heidfeld 17th.
The session was briefly red-flagged for repairs to the astroturf lining the kerbs after it was ripped up by some drivers running wide.
