Fernando Alonso, in the wake of the Red Bulls

The first practice sessions for the Korean Grand Prix, which took place in perfect 20 degree conditions, with 31 degrees on track, offered a continuation of what was seen last week at Suzuka. Red Bull in control, Sebastian Vettel in control and Ferrari starting behind them, although it seems the distances between them aren’t as great at the Yeongam track.

Fernando Alonso set the third fastest time on super soft tyres, barely three tenths of a second slower than the Red Bulls, a far cry from the one second difference during the practice sessions in Japan, although the defending champion’s superiority was evident with only a lap to go and with the double DRS device working flat out.

This always happens on the Friday and Saturday of every Grand Prix but never on the Sundays, as it cannot be used freely during the race, giving the Ferrari an opportunity to make a comeback.

During Friday’s longer sessions, loaded with 100kg of fuel and on super soft tyres, in other words, simulating race conditions, Alonso and Massa’s times were the same as those of the McLaren and in particular Jenson Button. It seems the key is to qualify further forward than Fernando has been doing on average all season (sixth), and from that position give it all on Sunday.

Hamilton, despite dominating in the first session, suffered a number of problems in the second, when his wheels locked up in the last minutes, the same as happened to Massa.