SOMETHING LOOSE BETWEEN MY LEGS: VETTEL IN RADIO SHOCK

Sebastian Vettel made light of his disappointment at missing out on beating Lewis Hamilton to a fifth world title on Friday with an unexpected message on Ferrari team radio.

The four-time champion spoke during second practice for the Brazilian Grand Prix where rivals Mercedes topped the times, Valtteri Bottas beating Hamilton by 0.003 seconds.

Vettel was third fastest in the session, complaining of what was originally thought to be problems with his car’s front suspension. He supplied additional impromptu detail when he told the team: “There’s something loose between my legs.

“Apart from the obvious. Something is flying around my feet. I’d be proud if it was what you think it is, but it’s not.”

The mischievous Vettel later joked during an interview that the Interlagos circuit was bewitched and had a spell cast on it. He declined to elaborate on his comments later.

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BOTTAS TOPS PRACTICE

Mercedes returned to the top of the timesheets in practice for a Brazilian GP that looks set to deliver them a fifth successive Formula One constructors’ world championship.

Finland’s Valtteri Bottas, who has yet to win in a season dominated by teammate Lewis Hamilton, set the fastest time of one minute 08.846 seconds on an overcast day at Interlagos. Hamilton, who clinched his fifth title in Mexico last month with two races to spare and now has five stars on his helmet, was a mere 0.003 slower in a session briefly halted after Renault’s Nico Hulkenberg crashed heavily.

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