Free 2: Schumacher fastest for Mercedes in FP2

During the break between FP1 and FP2, the Albert Park circuit was doused in a tropical storm as heavy rain lashed down on the track. This caused a very wet start to proceedings in FP2, as the Sauber’s and Toro Rosso’s braved the wet weather on the Pirelli full Cinturato wets.

It was the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne who set the first timed lap of the session, with a 01:52.220 which was quickly beaten by his team-mate, Ricciardo, with a 01:48.874. The Toro Rosso’s continued where they left off in FP1 and began swapping fastest laps atop the timing sheets as the track slowly began to dry. Kamui Kobayashi had a rough ride through the gravel and grass as the Japanese driver ran wide at turn 1.

As the times began to tumble, Nico Hulkenberg went fastest with a 01:46.779, which was beaten by Kamui Kobayashi with a 01:46.098. As the track began to dry out, intermediates became to tyre of choice as Fernando Alonso braved the still treacherous conditions and became the first driver to set a lap with the intermediates.

The Spaniard immediately went top, with a 01:44.912, as his fellow countryman Pedro De La Rosa finally made his 2012 track debut for HRT. Further up the field, however, Felipe Massa set to righting his wrongdoings of FP1 by going quickest with a 01:41.976. Times were still tumbling as both Maldonado, Button and Schumacher all shared the top spot as the track gradually dried out after the afternoons deluge of rain.

As drivers’ got to grips with the drying track, both Mark Webber and Heikki Kovalainen pushed a little too hard and ran wide at turn 1. Paul Di Resta then went quickest with a 01:31.639, which was bettered by a whole second by Michael Schumacher who set a 01:30.643 as drivers’ began to opt for the dry Pirelli tyres.

As the session came to a close, Nico Hulkenberg went fastest with a 01:29.808, which he improved on as the drivers’ began pushing to the limits on a track which was still slightly damp in places. This was evident when Heikki Kovalainen ran extremely wide at turn 1 and cut through the gravel and extremely wet grass, the Finn lucky to rejoin unscathed.

As the checkered flag waved, the session came to dramatic end as Michael Schumacher went fastest with a 01:29.183 and Kamui Kobayashi completed a 360 degree spin after loosing his Sauber on the kerb of the final corner. Narain Karthikeyan ended the session stopping out on track as HRT’s misery continues.

Tomorrow, the teams will be hoping the weather forecast is correct and that dry running can be completed prior to qualifying later in the day.

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