Free 2: Vettel fastest once again, despite early water leak

Sebastian Vettel has once again ended practice fastest ahead of Sunday’s United States Grand Prix, despite suffering from a water leak in the early stages of the practice session. The reigning World Champion was followed home by team-mate Mark Webber, with Fernando Alonso once again 3rd.

Once again the weather was perfect for racing as the second practice session got underway around the spectacular Circuit of the Americas, with Jean-Eric Vergne becoming the first driver to take to the track. The Frenchman was immediately followed by the Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen, who set the initial pace with a 01:46.770. However, Raikkonen’s time at the top was quickly beaten by Sergio Perez, before reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel asserted his authority over proceedings with a 01:40.790.

Unlike the opening practice session earlier in the day, the drivers immediately opted to take to the track and complete timed laps. This meant the times quickly began to tumble as the track continued to evolve, as Lewis Hamilton, Mark Webber and then Jenson Button each momentarily shared the top spot. Whilst the track became steadily quicker, Sebastian Vettel was dealt a big blow in his preparations for the race weekend, as the German was forced to return to the pits with a water leak reminiscent of team-mate Mark Webber from the first session.

As the Red Bull mechanics strove to fix the issue on his car, it quickly became clear that the issue was much more severe as Sebastian Vettel was seen removing himself from the car as the team continued to work. Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso set the fastest time of the session with a 01:40.431, before Nico Rosberg displaced the Spaniard at the top of the timing sheets with a 01:40.096.

Whilst the entire field set their first laps of the session, both HRT drivers of Pedro de la Rosa and Narain Karthikeyan remained stuck in the pits. This comes amid speculation that the outfit have a lack of spare parts, after the team officially went on sale last week. Whilst HRT remained conservative in the pit lane, Mark Webber stormed to the top of the timing sheets for Red Bull with a 01:39.485, as Vitaly Petrov spun his Caterham at Turn 1.

Mark Webber improved upon his time at the top as the session entered its halfway mark, as Lewis Hamilton pushed a little too hard around Turn 12 at spun his McLaren. The Briton was able to continue circulating after his spin, as Felipe Massa shot to the top with a 01:39.106. Whilst Massa improved at the top, several drivers began opting for the medium tyre compound. Eventually both HRT drivers took to the track for the first time in the session, as Kobayashi confirmed that his Sauber had suffered a broken exhaust.

Mark Webber was quick to rise back to the top as the session progressed, with the Australian driver setting a 01:38.475. Despite the tremendous width of the majority of the circuit, Jean-Eric Vergne and Heikki Kovalainen still managed to make minor contact through Turn 19, as the Frenchman tried to overtake the Finn. This left Vergne with slight front-wing damage, and Kovalainen with a severe left-rear puncture, forcing the Caterham driver to coast back to the pits.

After suffering a water leak on his car earlier in the session, Sebastian Vettel was able to immediately return to his competitive ways towards the end of the session, as the reigning World Champion set a 01:37.718. Whilst Vettel once again returned to the top, Romain Grosjean spun and continued at the tricky Turn 1. As the session came to an end, Pastor Maldonado suffered an engine failure and was seen coasting back to the pits with smoke ominously spewing out of the back of his Williams.

Sebastian Vettel was able to remain fastest as the checkered flag emerged, despite his early water leak on the car. The German has now topped both Friday practice sessions, in his quest to Championship supremacy this weekend. The teams and drivers will now crunch the numbers long into the night, as they continue to prepare for Sunday’s United States Grand Prix.

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