Free 3: Sebastian Vettel dominates final practice at Korea

Sebastian Vettel has dominated the final practice session for this weekend’s Korean Grand Prix, ahead of the all-important qualifying session later in the day. The reigning World Champion was followed home by the McLaren duo of Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, with Romain Grosjean a distant 4th for Lotus.

As the final practice session began, the majority of the field immediately decided to take to the track to complete installation laps, with the Caterham of Heikki Kovalainen becoming the first driver to take to the track. However, once the drivers had finally returned to the pits after completing their installation laps, the track fell silent for several minutes as work was carried out on numerous cars up and down the pits.

Eventually the Lotus of Kimi Raikkonen returned to the track, setting the initial pace with a 01:46.111, albeit after making a minor error throughout the final sector. Daniel Ricciardo was able to immediately beat the Finn at the top with a 01:40.983, before Raikkonen once again returned to the top of the timing sheets with a much more competitive 01:39.748. This time was marginally improved upon, as many drivers began taking to the track to complete their own fastest laps.

As the session progressed, the Red Bull duo of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber began to show their speed at the front. Firstly it was the reigning World Champion of Sebastian Vettel who went fastest with a 01:39.086, before team-mate Mark Webber rose to the top with a 01:38.766. However, the Red Bull’s reign at the top failed to last for long, as the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton stormed to the top with a competitive 01:38.464, as Bruno Senna became the first driver to opt for Pirelli’s super-soft tyre compound.

Sebastian Vettel wasted no time in returning to the top of the timing sheets, with the German driver setting a 01:38.215. As one Red Bull driver asserted his authority over proceedings at the front, the other remained in the pits with many Red Bull and Renault mechanics milling around rear of the car with something possibly amiss. However, after several minutes of work on the rear of the car, Webber’s Red Bull was fired back up without any further issues. However, the Australian driver was frustratingly unable to return to the track, with his mechanics running out of time to reattach the numerous engine covers to the rear of the car.

With only 7 minutes of the session remaining, the entire field [except Webber] returned to the track on Pirelli’s super-soft tyre compound for several qualifying simulation laps. This saw Sebastian Vettel only cement his dominance at the sharp end of the timing sheets, with the reigning Champion improving to a 01:37.642 in the closing stages of the session. Lewis Hamilton followed the Red Bull driver home in 2nd, with Jenson Button a distant 3rd.

With all three practice sessions now over, the teams and drivers will now be looking ahead to the all-important qualifying session later in the afternoon which will determine the grid for Sunday’s race. The Red Bull of Sebastian Vettel looks practically unbeatable at the front when it comes to one-lap pace, and is a firm favorite within the paddock for pole. However, can the McLaren duo of Jenson Button or Lewis Hamilton spark a surprise and snatch pole away from Sebastian Vettel?

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