In game of cat and mouse, Vettel still big cheese
A SUPREMELY- confident Sebastian Vettel topped the times with ease ahead of his Red Bull teammate Mark Webber in yesterday’s second free practice session for this weekend’s US Grand Prix in Austin, Texas.
After a frustrating morning session curtailed by fog, during which he was only 18th fastest, the newly-crowned fourtime world champion blasted back to lead the way. He clocked a best lap in one minute and 37.305 seconds to finish a tenth of a second ahead of his retirementbound teammate who later suggested the champion may have toyed with his rivals.
Webber, who would dearly love to end Vettel’s triumphant run, said he felt the 26-year-old German did not really show his true pace.
‘‘Seb did a pretty good lap — at his fourth attempt,’’ said Webber. ‘‘So I don’t think he got the best out of his tyres, unfortunately. Or, fortunately for him, but unfortunately for us.’’
Webber reminded reporters of the way in which Vettel had made a dramatic step on race day in Abu Dhabi two weeks ago.
‘‘I will try and get involved again if I can tomorrow,’’ he said, recalling that he was able to grab pole position at the Yas Marina circuit, a feat that provoked Vettel’s sharp response.
‘‘He wasn’t too happy in Abu Dhabi, but then he destroyed us in the race. So I will try to have a clean Saturday and Sunday and get the best result.’’
It was a dominant performance again from Vettel who is seeking his eighth consecutive victory of the season in Sunday’s race at the Circuit of the Americas.
The Mercedes pair of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton were fourth and fifth fastest ahead of Heikki Kovalainen, who made a strong return as replacement for compatriot Kimi Raikkonen at Lotus.
Hamilton, who admitted he has been suffering poor form since the European summer break, looked faster and sharper and was hopeful his new Mercedes chassis will solve his recent problems.
The 2008 world champion has a new chassis because the team found what Hamilton described as a hole in the car he had used during the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
As Raikkonen underwent back surgery in Strasbourg, Kovalainen confirmed his potential with an excellent showing to wind up ahead of sixth-placed Esteban Gutierrez and his Sauber team-mate Nico Hulkenberg. Kovalainen’s Lotus team-mate Romain Grosjean was eighth.