2013 US GP Practice Two: Sebastian Vettel back on top in Austin from Mark ... ift.tt/1hNZfWi Sebastian Vettel: Back at the forefront in Practice Two Normal service was resumed both on and off track in Practice Two at the U.S. GP as Sebastian Vettel bounced back from a low-key opening session to head Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber at the top of the order. The opening morning of running on F1s second visit to the expansive Circuit of the Americas had proved something of a bizarre affair thanks to early-morning fog, technical problems with the medical helicopter and the sight of Vettel marooned in 18th place on the timesheets. However, in glorious clear skies and warm, albeit slightly blustery, weather in the afternoon in the vibrant Texan capital, things proved far more straightforward, and by 2013 standards predictable, as runaway World Champion Vettel led a Red Bull one-two with a best time at the end of the medium-tyre runs of 1:37.305. Underlining the renewed sense of normality, the Mercedes pair of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton took third and fourth positions respectively - although once more the pace gap to the lead Red Bull was significant, half a second on this occasion. Live on Sky Sports Live Formula One 2013 United States Grand Prix: Qualifying November 16, 2013 5:00pm It therefore proved to be fifth place where arguably the days surprise story came from as Lotus new boy, and F1 race returnee, Heikki Kovalainen capped an impressive debut in the E21. The Enstone teams experienced Kimi Raikkonen replacement, who only first sat in the Lotus on Wednesday, outpaced the in-form Romain Grosjean in the sister car by nearly two tenths of a second and made no obvious errors during his 40-odd laps. And although it is early days in the weekend, and few would bet against Grosjean leading the teams challenge come qualifying, Lotuss decision to overlook their inexperienced reserve driver Davide Valsecchi in preference for the race-winning Kovalainen looks to have initially been vindicated. It also proved to be an encouraging start to the weekend for Sauber who saw their drivers finish sixth and seventh on the times, Esteban Gutierrez fractionally faster than team leader Nico Hulkenberg. But for the Swiss teams engine suppliers Ferrari, however, P2 proved something of a reality check as morning pacesetter Fernando Alonso ended up 1.1s off the Red Bulls down at the foot of the top ten. Although the F138s pace in the faster afternoon session may be slightly deceptive as, despite the 5.5km tracks grip levels having ramped up through the day, Alonsos P2 best on the medium tyres was actually one tenth slower than the 1:38.343 time he managed on the hard tyres in the disjointed morning session. McLarens Jenson Button also slipped down the order as the lap times among the front-runners quickened with the Briton ending up between Grosjean and Alonso in ninth, his weekend already including confirmation of a three-place grid penalty for qualifying after he overtook under red flags during P1. More to follow... You can watch the U.S. GP live on Sky Sports F1 - coverage continues with Practice Three on Saturday at 2.45pm
Posted on: Sat, 16 Nov 2013 18:15:32 +0000
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