Seb should see it out

Christian Horner will be stunned if Sebastian Vettel turns his back on Ferrari at the end of the season – but the Red Bull team principal believes Lewis Hamilton’s Mercedes team are working to sign his title rival. Horner said: “I’d be amazed if Seb left Ferrari. I guess he wants to see through what he started at Ferrari. He went there for a reason, to build something and very much emulate what Michael Schumacher had done. Stepping out now with the progress they have made would be a job half done.” Englishman could do with another dominant victory as he bids to trim the 20-point margin to rival Sebastian Vettel at the top of the championship.

Vettel, who has been so consistent this season, was only fourth, four tenths of a second slower than the Mercedes pair.

His Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, who spun off during the second session, was also faster after he ended the day third in the order.

Earlier, Vettel became the first driver to trial the so-called ‘shield’ – the FIA’s third different concept aimed at improving cockpit protection.

The device, made of transparent polycarbonate, is designed to sit in front of the driver and deflect any flying debris.

Vettel completed only three laps with the safety concept, which is now the governing body’s preferred option over the ‘canopy’ and the ‘halo’. The latter was described by Hamilton as the “worst-looking modification” in the sport’s history.

“I tried it this morning, and I got a bit dizzy,” Vettel said. “The forward vision is not very good. We had a run planned with it, but I didn’t like it so we took it off.”

The shield is expected to be used again after the summer break with the FIA aiming to carry out a full track test at the Italian Grand Prix in September.