Free 2: Lewis Hamilton remains the man to beat at Interlagos after second practice

Lewis Hamilton has remained the man to beat around Sao Paulo’s Interlagos circuit, as the 2008 World Champion once again ended the second practice session fastest ahead of the Red Bull duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber. Felipe Massa was a competitive 4th, with Fernando Alonso 5th and Michael Schumacher 6th.

With rain forecast for race day, the drivers were once again eager to take to the track once the second practice session got underway, as Romain Grosjean instantly took to the track for Lotus. The Frenchman set the initial pace for Lotus with a 01:25.681, which was instantly beaten by the Toro Rossos of Daniel Ricciardo and Jean-Eric Eric Vergne. Unlike the opening practice session, the majority of the field opted to immediately set a timed lap, instead of completing various installation laps.

The Lotus duo returned to the top as the times quickly began to tumble in the opening stages of the session, as Kimi Raikkonen and Romain Grosjean returned to the top, with the Frenchman setting a 01:16.070. However, with the times improving every minute, Mark Webber quickly disposed of the Lotus driver, before Lewis Hamilton asserted his authority over proceedings with a 01:15.893. Webber was able to momentarily return to the top, before the Ferrari of Felipe Massa stormed to the top of the timing sheets with a 01:15.473. Fernando Alonso then shot to the top, however the Spaniard was instantly thwarted by fellow Championship contender Sebastian Vettel with a 01:15.226.

As the second practice session wore on, the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne became the first driver to opt for Pirelli’s medium tyre compound, as Kimi Raikkonen’s woeful day continued with the Finn running wide at Turn 1. The 2007 World Champion then returned to the pits, allowing his mechanics once again busy themselves around his Lotus. Fernando Alonso eventually returned to the top of the timing sheets, as he too opted for the medium tyres.

However, as the majority of the field also opted for Pirelli’s medium tyre compound, Romain Grosjean quickly disposed of the Championship contender with a 01:14.994, with the Frenchman looking extremely competitive around the Interlagos circuit. Nico Rosberg momentarily thwarted the Lotus driver, before Ferrari’s Felipe Massa and then the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton rose to the top, with the latter setting a 01:14.026.

After being confirmed at Caterham for next season, Charles Pic’s second practice session was brought to a premature conclusion towards the end of the session, as the Marussia driver was struck with a suspected alternator issue plaguing his progress. As he pulled to the side of the track through Turn 10, the majority of the field began completing heavy fuel simulations, as the various teams continued preparing for the race on Sunday. As the checkered flag emerged, Lewis Hamilton remained fastest at the top of the timing sheets ahead of the Red Bull duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber.

With the weather forecast to change drastically over the next two days at Sao Paulo, all track knowledge the teams and drivers have compiled over these opening two sessions could be thrown upside down, as a threatening 100% chance of rain looms for Sunday’s 71-lap Brazilian Grand Prix. Qualifying also has a slim chance of being struck by thunderstorms, which could create a topsy-turvy grid for the race.

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