Free 3: Vettel remains dominant in Austin after practice three

Sebastian Vettel has ended the final practice session of the weekend fastest once again, as the teams and drivers prepare for qualifying later in the day. Once again grip levels were non-existent to begin with, as Lewis Hamilton and Pastor Maldonado followed the reigning Champion home in 2nd and 3rd respectively.

With the weather conditions similar to Friday, Kamui Kobayashi was the first driver to take to the Circuit of the Americas as the third and final practice session got underway at Austin. The Japanese driver was followed out immediately by team-mate Sergio Perez, however the majority of the paddock decided to initially complete installation laps. Kimi Raikkonen was the first driver to set a timed lap for Lotus, with the ‘Iceman’ setting a 01:49.107.

This time was almost instantly thwarted by the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne, who gradually improved in the early stages of the session with a 01:43.593. However, the Frenchman’s reign at the top was ended by the Mercedes duo of Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher, with the latter setting a 01:42.396 to go fastest. Vergne momentarily returned to the top as several more drivers left the confines of the pits, before Rosberg and Schumacher once again rose to the top, with Rosberg managing a 01:38.221.

Sergio Perez and Charles Pic made contact through Turn 7, with the Mexican driver tapping the Frenchman’s Marussia into a spin whilst trying to overtake him. The two drivers were able to continue, however Charles Pic returned to the pits to allow the team to check the car. Jenson Button then set the pace at top with a 01:37.973, which the 2009 World Champion was able to improve upon as the session entered its halfway mark. Whilst Jenson Button and McLaren continued to improve out on track, the Ferrari duo remained in the pits completing practice pit-stops.

As Lewis Hamilton shot to the top with a 01:37.492, Ferrari’s plan of waiting for the track conditions to improve failed to pay off, as Jean-Eric Vergne peeled off of the track with suspension issues and caused a lengthy yellow period throughout the first sector. This prevented anyone from improving throughout the lap, and angered Felipe Massa as he vented his frustration over the team radio.

Romain Grosjean’s preparations for qualifying were dealt a rather cruel blow after a suspected gearbox issue was discovered on the Frenchman’s Lotus, preventing him from returning to the track to complete a qualifying run on the medium tyres. Whilst Grosjean’s morning was brought to a premature conclusion, Sebastian Vettel once rose to the top, setting another scintillatingly quick time with a 01:36.490. This time failed to be beaten as the session drew to a conclusion, with Lewis Hamilton and Pastor Maldonado finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively.

With all three practice sessions now over, the drivers will now be preparing for the all-important qualifying session later in the day. Sebastian Vettel has topped all three practice sessions, and is looking the favorite to once again clinch pole position for Red Bull.

Follow me on Twitter - @AndyYoungF1