Free 2: Red Bull set the pace in second practice at Korea

The Red Bull duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber have set the pace during second practice ahead of this weekend’s Korean Grand Prix, with Championship leader Fernando Alonso a close 3rd for Ferrari. Jenson Button followed the trio in 4th with Michael Schumacher 5th only +0.498 seconds off the pace.

Unlike the opening practice session earlier in the day, practice two saw drivers immediately attack the Korea International Circuit. Lewis Hamilton became the first driver to take to the track, followed closely by the Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen. The Briton set the initial pace with a 01:41.851, before the Finn of Raikkonen rose to the top with a 01:41.368. The times at the top quickly began to tumble, with drivers deciding against completing installation laps and immediately setting flying laps.

Nico Rosberg and then Jenson Button momentarily went fastest, before the Mercedes of Michael Schumacher stormed to the top of the timing sheets with a 01:40.424. Mercedes power remained fastest as the session progressed, however it was the Force India of Paul di Resta who went fastest with a 01:40.331. Michael Schumacher returned to the top of the timing sheets shortly afterwards, before the reigning World Champion of Sebastian Vettel asserted his authority over proceedings with a 01:39.794.

The McLaren duo of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button then went fastest, before the Ferrari duo of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa did likewise, with the Brazilian driver setting a 01:39.687. Bruno Senna spun at turn 12 but was able to rejoin the circuit, with the Williams driver getting his first taste of the Korea International Circuit after making way for Valtteri Bottas in the opening practice session.

Jean-Eric Vergne became the first driver to opt for Pirelli’s super-soft tyre compound, as the Red Bull of Mark Webber shot to the top of the timing sheets with a 01:39.404. Sergio Perez joined the Toro Rosso of Vergne in opting for the super-soft compound, as the Marussia mechanics frantically worked on changing Charles Pic’s steering rack in the pits.

Sebastian Vettel returned to the top of the timing sheets as the session wore on, once again asserting his and Red Bull’s dominance with team-mate Mark Webber a close 2nd. Whilst HRT fixed a new rear-wing to Pedro de la Rosa’s car, Sergio Perez came to a halt at turn 11 on the track, with an actuator issue in relation to the engine on his Sauber. This momentarily saw a lull in the track action, as the marshals took their time to retrieve Perez’s stricken Sauber.

The Red Bull duo continued to assert their authority over proceedings throughout the session, as Mark Webber and then Sebastian Vettel went fastest with the latter setting a 01:38.832. The Red Bull’s remained fastest as the session drew to a close, with the majority of the field running race simulations in the latter half of the second practice session. Sergio Perez looked set to be returning to the track after his earlier issue with only 13 minutes remaining in the session, however the Mexican driver eventually failed to return to the track with mechanical issues still plaguing his Sauber.

As the session came to a conclusion, many drivers began out-braking themselves into turn 1 with the likes of Lewis Hamilton and Felipe Massa doing so in tremendous fashion. Whilst numerous drivers struggled to negotiate the opening corner, the astroturf lining the majority of the circuit began to once again rip up, particularly on the exit of turn 1.

However, as the checkered flag emerged it was the Red Bull duo who topped the timing sheets, once again demonstrating superlative one-lap pace. Championship leader Fernando Alonso followed the Milton Keynes-based outfit in 3rd position, with the top ten split by only one second. The teams and drivers now have only one practice session remaining to prepare for qualifying tomorrow afternoon, which will determine the grid for the race on Sunday.

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