By Sam Cooper
July 22 2007

Despite their best efforts throughout today’s free practice session, Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso could not get past the revitalised Kimi Räikkönen, who finished the session 1st, leaving him favourite for pole position, for this years European Grand Prix. Kimi was 0.25 seconds faster than next best runner Lewis Hamilton.

The weather, that had troubled the previous sessions dry running wasn’t going to jeopardise dry running in today’s sixty minute free practice session. Allowing teams to focus on achieving the best possible strategy for today’s vitally important, three part qualifying session.

Behind double world champion, Fernando Alonso was Robert Kubica in his BMW Sauber, behind the Pole was Ferrari’s Felipe Massa, who undoubtedly expected to be nearer the front end of the finishing order.

Behind Felipe was German Nico Rosberg, and fellow countryman, Nick Heidfeld, who finished the third session in 6th and 7th respectively, with Red Bull driver Mark Webber in 8th, the Aussie was followed by team mate Coulthard who finished 9th. Toyota’s Ralf Schumacher looks to have mastered the problems that limited his racing pace earlier in the year, as the German ended the session 10th, showing that he has a chance of getting into the top 10 shootout.

Just outside the top 10 was Vitantonio Liuzzi, who has struggled to show any signs of getting his struggling team off the mark, who earlier this year, were expected to threaten their sister team Red Bull, sadly for the Italian team, this is not the case. Britain’s Jenson Button followed the Italian, posing 11th fastest time, Button was followed by Schumacher’s team mate Jarno Trulli, who ended the session a disappointed 13th.

Scott Speed and Alexander Wurz followed Trulli, the pair able to get themselves ahead of current constructors champions, Renault, who have been the surprise of this weekend, as drivers Giancarlo Fisichella and Hekki Kovalainen, were unable to lift themselves higher than 16th and 18th. Splitting the two Renaults was the second Honda of Rubens Barrichello.

Super Aguri driver Anthony Davidson bet team mate Sato to 19th position, the pair showing relatively little pace, both drivers will be hoping that this changes for Saturdays qualifying session. The Spyker pair of Adrian Sutil and Markus Winkelhock ended the session 21st and 22nd, Winkelhock, son of late Touring Car ace Manfred Winkelhock, finished the session a massive 1.6 seconds behind his team mate.

The session was relatively uneventful with barely any yellow flags been waved on the circuit. Times will be shown below.