Hamilton fastest as Brawn men struggle

by Gordon HOWARD

FORMULA ONE: SPA-FRANCORCHAMPS, Belgium, Aug 29, 2009 - Defending drivers world champion Lewis Hamilton topped the times again in Friday afternoon's second free practice session ahead of Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

The 24-year-old Englishman, in his McLaren Mercedes, was quick early in the session and fast again in the closing minutes when he clocked one minute and 47.201 seconds, little more than a tenth of a second slower than his pole time last year. "Wow, I didn't expect that!" said Hamilton afterwards. "It's a lot better than I thought it would be for us. We don't have as much down-force as some of the other teams, so we're not as quick as we'd like to be, especially in the middle sector.

"Fortunately, however, we have KERS and can use it to our advantage in the first and third sectors."

Hamilton's speed and performance proved he and his team are back as pace-setters after a dreadful first half of the season.

AFP