Hakkinen fastest, Schumacher absent
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Motor racing
The McLaren-Mercedes of Mika Hakkinen was fastest around the Estoril track in Portugal yesterday. Making no impression, however, was the Ferrari of the world champion Michael Schumacher, whose absence from the morning session went unexplained.
Hakkinen lapped the 4.36-kilometre track in 1min 20.87sec, eight-tenths of a second faster than Damon Hill in a Williams-Renault and the Jordan- Peugeot of Rubens Barrichello.
There was no sign of Schumacher. The German, in his first season for Ferrari, arrived on Tuesday to test the new F310 car. But he ran last year's car fitted with the new Ferrari V-10 engine for only seven laps before retiring with a mechanical failure. Ferrari officials said the new car might arrive in Estoril today.
Hill's team-mate, Jacques Villeneuve, was fourth quickest in 1:21.11, ahead of Gerhard Berger's Benetton-Renault that recorded 1:21.38.
The second Jordan-Peugeot of Martin Brundle was sixth in 1:21.64, ahead of Mika Salo, who, in 50 laps, clocked a fastest 1:21.91 in his Tyrrell- Yamaha. He was finally towed in after suffering a problem with oil pressure.
The second Benetton-Renault, driven by Jean Alesi, was eighth fastest in 1:22.58, nearly half a second faster than Ukyo Katayama in the second Tyrrell-Yamaha.
Blundell's challenge, page 26
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments