European GP: Friday Press Conference

Michael Schumacher made no secret of the fact that he slowed Lewis Hamilton in the final two minutes of Friday practice on Friday. As the McLaren approached Valencia’s final corner, the championship leader was forced to dodge Schumacher’s Mercedes as the German prepared to start a hot lap, resulting in a hand gesture from the Englishman.

ART Grand Prix driver Esteban Gutierrez fired a warning to his rivals in today's free practice, demonstrating he will be one to watch at the Valencia Street Circuit this weekend.

Renault pilots Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov were neither delighted nor disappointed following the two 90-minute Friday practice sessions in Valencia. With respective 1:39.8 and 1:40.6 lap times, the pair correspondingly finished half a second and 1.3 seconds down on P1 man Fernando Alonso’s Ferrari.

Force India looks back at today's free practice session in which its drivers finished 8th and 12th overall

Christian Klien had hoped for more than 14 laps although the Austrian was helpless to avoid a distinctly short practice session with HRT as he substituted for Karun Chandhok on Friday morning in Valencia.

Valencia - Qualifying Quotes

With Sergio Pérez having set the fastest times in GP2 practice and qualifying on Friday, Esteban Gutierrez has confirmed a promising day for Mexico by topping the timesheets in GP3’s practice session on the streets of Valencia. ART Grand Prix team-mate Alex Rossi and Carlin’s Dean Smith complete the top three.

Ferrari looks back at today's free practice session in which its drivers finished 1st and 7th overall

Sergio Pérez and Addax converted the fastest practice time into pole position in Valencia on Friday and will therefore start at the front for Saturday’s Feature Race in Spain. The Mexican will share the front row with Rapax’s Pastor Maldonado as Jules Bianchi and Davide Valsecchi start behind them for ART and iSport respectively.

Lewis Hamilton has confirmed that there is no bad blood between himself and fellow Mercedes-powered driver Michael Schumacher after the two World Champions experienced an on-track set to in Valencia on Friday.

Renault looks back at today's free practice session in which its drivers finished 6th and 13th overall

Bridgestone's super soft tyre took home hero Fernando Alonso to the fastest time of the day in his Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro in glorious weather at Valencia on day one of the European Grand Prix.

GP3: Valencia - Practice Times

Hispania looks back at today's free practice session in which its drivers finished 23rd and 24th overall

Despite placing the f-duct on its car on Friday for the first time since Barcelona, Red Bull Racing is yet to confirm whether the rear wing-stalling device will stay put for the remainder of the Valencia weekend. Sebastian Vettel narrowly missed out on the top spot in second practice as team-mate Mark Webber ended the day less than a tenth behind.

McLaren looks back at today's free practice session in which its drivers finished 5th and 9th overall

Williams looks back at today's free practice session in which its drivers finished 10th and 17th overall

The fact that his gearbox was jammed in fifth gear was the reason Timo Glock pulled off the circuit in second free practice on Friday. However, the German driver remains positive about his and Virgin Racing’s overall performance in Valencia.

Red Bull looks back at today's free practice session in which its drivers finished 2nd and 3rd overall

Mercedes looks back at today's free practice session in which its drivers finished 4th and 11th overall

Fernando Alonso would rather wait until Saturday before evaluating Ferrari’s updated car parts in Valencia. The Spaniard finished as the quickest runner in second practice but stresses that P1 on Friday does not guarantee pole position.

Virgin looks back at today's free practice session in which its drivers finished 21st and 22nd overall

Heikki Kovalainen’s 19th place on the final Friday timesheets may not have been an obvious source of excitement in Valencia although the Finn’s achievement was somewhat remarkable within the team considering the Finn only arrived in the city at 5am on Friday following a 1,000-kilometre drive from Geneva, Switzerland.

Sergio Perez delighted his Addax team with a last minute pole position at their local track this afternoon in Valencia, claiming the top spot at the very last minute to break the hearts of Pastor Maldonado and Jules Bianchi.

Sauber looks back at today's free practice session in which its drivers finished 14th and 15th overall

Lotus looks back at today's free practice session in which its drivers finished 19th and 20th overall

Valencia - Qualifying Times

Jaime Alguersuari experimented with a new brake configuration in Valencia’s first practice session on Friday morning although, after driving the street circuit in his home country for the first time, the Toro Rosso man elected to use the more familiar – and what he believes to be quicker – previous setup.

Toro Rosso looks back at today's free practice session in which its drivers finished 16th and 18th overall

European GP: Friday Free 2 - Times

Local favourite Fernando Alonso wound up fastest as the second 90-minute practice session came to a close in Valencia on Friday afternoon. The Ferrari driver led the Red Bull pairing as Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton set the quickest Mercedes GP and McLaren lap times. However, Felipe Massa lost running time after a Turn 5 spin.

Fernando Alonso is quickest in today's second session, ahead of Vettel, Webber, Rosberg, Hamilton, Kubica, Massa, Sutil, Button and Barrichello.

US racing mogul Roger Penske criticises F1, plus other rumours and stories

Addax driver and fourth-placed championship man Sergio Pérez set the pace in Valencia’s practice session on Friday morning. Prior to qualifying on the Spanish streets this afternoon, the Mexican led the way from Venezuela’s Pastor Maldonado by a quarter of a second.

Fernando Alonso is now more relaxed over of being held up behind lapped traffic at the Circuit de Gilles Villeneuve, having lost both first and second places to the McLaren drivers after being slowed by back-markers last time out in Canada.

British Formula 3 drivers will be forced to make compulsory pit-stops in the first of the three races at Rockingham next weekend. The initiative, which will hand competitors an 8-lap window in which to come in, is designed to allow drivers to practice pitting ahead of future racing series such as GP2 and Formula 1.

Valencia - Practice Times

The Dreyer & Reinbold team has confirmed that Paul Tracy will be driving in Watkins Glen’s round of the IndyCar Series next weekend. The Canadian driver, Champ Car Champion of 2003, will be piloting the #24 car as England’s Mike Conway continues to recover following his massive Indy shunt.

European GP: Friday Free 1 - Times

Nico Rosberg and Mercedes GP finished Friday morning at the top of the timesheets as first free practice took place on the streets of Valencia. In a warm, dry and chiefly incident-free session, championship-leading McLaren duo Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button completed the top three ahead of Robert Kubica and Felipe Massa.

Nico Rosberg is quickest in the openoing session in Valencia, ahead of Hamilton, Button, Kubica, Massa, Vettel, Webber, Schumacher, Alonso and Barrichello.

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg is fastest in first practice at the European Grand Prix in Valencia, with the McLarens of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button next quickest.

Anthony Davidson has hit out at Formula 1’s teams and sporting governing body the FIA, claiming that the drivers should have more of a say when it comes to introducing new car features such as the moveable rear wing device of 2011.

Christian Horner is confident that moveable rear wings, electronically-operated and permitted in Formula 1 from next season onwards, will spice up racing as drivers are able to push a button and enjoy a straight-line speed advantage to aid passing.

Hispania Racing test driver Christian Klien returns to the cockpit in Spain on Friday morning as he replaces Karun Chandhok for the first free practice session ahead of Sunday’s European Grand Prix.

Hispania Racing test driver Christian Klien returns to the cockpit in Spain on Friday morning as he replaces Karun Chandhok for the first free practice session ahead of Sunday’s European Grand Prix.

Practice is about to begin for the European Grand Prix in Valencia.

Benjamin Bailly stole the headlines at Zolder as the Belgian collected his maiden F2 win with an assured lights-to-flag victory in the second race - Bailly igniting not only the crowd but all his family and sponsors who were present at the circuit. In the wake of his triumph, Formulatwo.com spoke to Benjamin about his thoughts on his weekend, his continued improvement and his hopes for the rest of the season...