Two-time World Champion Sebastian Vettel put his Renault-powered Red Bull RB8 on top of the timing charts at the end of the first free practice session of the Grand Prix of the United States held Friday at Circuit of the Americas near Austin, Texas.
It was sunny, but cool, and only 12 degrees celsius when the session got underway at 10 a.m.
The track was very green, as no support categories laid down rubber on the tarmac prior to the first Formula 1 session.
Drivers suffered from massive understeer in almost every corner, and fans witnessed several off-course excursions with no harm to the drivers.
“It is very slippery, worse than in the rain,” said Sahara Force India driver, Nico Hulkenberg, to his engineer early in the session.
Lewis Hamilton of McLaren-Mercedes showed good speed early on and set the fastest time. With just 10 minutes to go, Hamilton was the first driver to break the 1m40 barrier with a time of 1m39.670.
He then went a bit faster with a 1m39.543.
However, Vettel smashed Hamilton's time, setting a very fast 1m38.692 (with the best time in sectors 2 and 3), and then went even quicker with a stunning 1m38.125 on his last lap under the checkered flag.
Hamilton ranked second in front of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button (McLaren), Mark Webber (Red Bull), Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Nico Hulkenberg (Sahara Force India-Mercedes), Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber-Ferrari), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG), and Serio Perez (Sauber).
Grand Prix of the United States
Austin, Texas
First free practice session - Results*
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m38.125 30
2. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m39.543s 28
3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m40.337s 29
4. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m40.528s 29
5. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m40.650s 30
6. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m40.966s 26
7. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m41.023s 29
8. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m41.036s 28
9. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m41.159s 32
10. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m41.473s 9
11. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m41.783s 29
12. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m41.825s 28
13. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m41.833s 29
14. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m41.880s 23
15. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m41.998s 27
16. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m42.539s 30
17. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m42.588s 25
18. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m43.288s 23
19. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m43.443s 28
20. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m43.522s 23
21. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m44.464s 24
22. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m44.548s 29
23. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m46.917s 13
24. Ma Qing Hua HRT-Cosworth 1m48.559s 19
*Unofficial timings
It was sunny, but cool, and only 12 degrees celsius when the session got underway at 10 a.m.
 |
| (Photo: WRI2) |
The track was very green, as no support categories laid down rubber on the tarmac prior to the first Formula 1 session.
Drivers suffered from massive understeer in almost every corner, and fans witnessed several off-course excursions with no harm to the drivers.
“It is very slippery, worse than in the rain,” said Sahara Force India driver, Nico Hulkenberg, to his engineer early in the session.
 |
| Lewis Hamilton, McLaren (Photo: WRI2) |
Lewis Hamilton of McLaren-Mercedes showed good speed early on and set the fastest time. With just 10 minutes to go, Hamilton was the first driver to break the 1m40 barrier with a time of 1m39.670.
He then went a bit faster with a 1m39.543.
 |
| Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing (Photo: WRI2) |
However, Vettel smashed Hamilton's time, setting a very fast 1m38.692 (with the best time in sectors 2 and 3), and then went even quicker with a stunning 1m38.125 on his last lap under the checkered flag.
Hamilton ranked second in front of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso, Jenson Button (McLaren), Mark Webber (Red Bull), Felipe Massa (Ferrari), Nico Hulkenberg (Sahara Force India-Mercedes), Kamui Kobayashi (Sauber-Ferrari), Nico Rosberg (Mercedes AMG), and Serio Perez (Sauber).
Grand Prix of the United States
Austin, Texas
First free practice session - Results*
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m38.125 30
2. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m39.543s 28
3. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m40.337s 29
4. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m40.528s 29
5. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m40.650s 30
6. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m40.966s 26
7. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m41.023s 29
8. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m41.036s 28
9. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m41.159s 32
10. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m41.473s 9
11. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m41.783s 29
12. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m41.825s 28
13. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m41.833s 29
14. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m41.880s 23
15. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m41.998s 27
16. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m42.539s 30
17. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m42.588s 25
18. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m43.288s 23
19. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m43.443s 28
20. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m43.522s 23
21. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m44.464s 24
22. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m44.548s 29
23. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m46.917s 13
24. Ma Qing Hua HRT-Cosworth 1m48.559s 19
*Unofficial timings