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F1 Spain: Sebastian Vettel edges Fernando Alonso in Barcelona (+photos)

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Khatir Soltani
Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel has edged Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso for the top spot in the second practice session for the Spanish Grand Prix.

The reigning world champion set his best time of 1m22.808 seconds on soft tyres to finish a mere 0.017 seconds ahead of the Spaniard, who topped the time sheets ahead of teammate Felipe Massa in this morning’s first damp practice session. FP2 saw Vettel’s teammate, Mark Webber, finish the morning in third, just 0.083s behind the German’s benchmark time.

F1 Red Bull Sebastian Vettel
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull. (Photo: Red Bull)

Lotus’ Kimi Raikkonen was fourth behind Webber, but ahead of Felipe Massa who dropped to fifth in the dry session and Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton who spun at Turn 11 and failed to improve on the sixth best time he set this morning.

Hamilton headed a Mercedes powered 1-2 with Rosberg and Force India’s Adrian Sutil, who, with teammate Paul di Resta in 10th, has shown good pace all weekend with the cars finishing fifth and 10th in FP1.

F1 Sahara Force India Adrian Sutil
Adrian Sutil, Sahara Force India. (Photo: Force India)

Toro Rosso’s Jean-Eric Vergne put in a good performance to split the two Force Indias with the 9th best time in FP2, as teammate Daniel Ricciardo also fared well with the 11th quickest time.

The #8 Lotus of Romain Grosjean had a strong performance in FP1 to finish third, but could only manage 18th in the afternoon.

F1 Ferrari Fernando Alonso
Fernando Alonso, Ferrari. (Photo: WRi2)

McLaren, who has brought a heavily revised car to Barcelona, elected to send only Sergio Perez out on track in FP1, with the Mexican recording the 13th fastest time.

FP2 was little better for the Woking squad as Button managed 12th, one place ahead of his teammate who failed to improve.

F1 Lotus Kimi Raikkonen
Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus. (Photo: WRi2)

Spanish Grand Prix - Barcelona
Friday May 10, 2013

Free Practice session 1 - Results*
1 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'25"252 - 20 laps
2 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'25"455 - 20
3 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'25"667 - 25
4 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'26"042 - 21
5 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'26"212 - 24
6 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'26"374 - 19
7 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'26"456 - 20
8 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'26"614 - 21
9 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'26"621 - 21
10 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'26"755 - 16
11 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'26"940 - 26
12 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'27"061 - 24
13 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'27"135 - 6
14 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'27"250 - 26
15 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'27"576 - 24
16 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'28"600 - 19
17 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'28"887 - 14
18 - Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'29"177 - 14
19 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'29"457 - 11
20 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'29"473 - 21
21 - Rodolfo Gonzalez (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'30"314 - 12
22 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - no time - 6

F1 Toro Rosso Jean-Eric Vergne
Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso. (Photo: WRi2)

Free Practice session 2 - Results*
1 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'22"808 - 34 laps
2 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari F138) - 1'22"825 - 35
3 - Mark Webber (Red Bull RB9-Renault) - 1'22"891 - 36
4 - Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'23"030 - 32
5 - Felipe Massa (Ferrari F138) - 1'23"110 - 37
6 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes W04) - 1'23"140 - 35
7 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes W04) - 1'23"398 - 45
8 - Adrian Sutil (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'23"840 - 37
9 - Jean-Eric Vergne (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'24"058 - 31
10 - Paul Di Resta (Force India VJM06-Mercedes) - 1'24"104 - 25
11 - Daniel Ricciardo (Toro Rosso STR8-Ferrari) - 1'24"175 - 32
12 - Jenson Button (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'24"306 - 35
13 - Sergio Perez (McLaren MP4/28-Mercedes) - 1'24"854 - 31
14 - Valtteri Bottas (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'24"888 - 38
15 - Nico Hulkenberg (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'25"167 - 38
16 - Pastor Maldonado (Williams FW35-Renault) - 1'25"321 - 32
17 - Esteban Gutierrez (Sauber C32-Ferrari) - 1'25"441 - 37
18 - Romain Grosjean (Lotus E21-Renault) - 1'25"851 - 35
19 - Giedo Van der Garde (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'25"963 - 30
20 - Jules Bianchi (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'26"078 - 31
21 - Charles Pic (Caterham CT03-Renault) - 1'26"930 - 35
22 - Max Chilton (Marussia MR02-Cosworth) - 1'26"970 - 25

* Unofficial timings



Khatir Soltani
Khatir Soltani
Automotive expert
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