Vettel leads Red Bull 1-2 at Spanish GP practice

Written by Associated Press

By PAUL LOGOTHETIS
AP Auto Racing Writer

BARCELONA, Spain − Sebastian Vettel led a Red Bull 1-2 in Spanish Grand Prix practice on Friday as the Austrian team carried its early season form into Europe, where McLaren also looked quick.

Vettel set a fastest lap time of 1 minute, 19.965 seconds to edge teammate Mark Webber by just over two-tenths of a second in dry but cool conditions at the Circuit de Catalunya.

Mercedes' major upgrades appeared to give Michael Schumacher a boost as the German finished third ahead of local favorite Fernando Alonso of Ferrari, while Lewis Hamilton rounded out the top-five after having led a McLaren 1-2 in the morning session.

“It's good to be fast, but I think the McLarens are quick here,'' Vettel said. “I don't think they were pushing hard this afternoon and I think it will be much closer tomorrow.''

Overall F1 leader Jenson Button, who has 60 points, was ninth-fastest with a lap of 1:21.364 in his McLaren, which is among the pack of front-runners that all arrived with aerodynamic upgrades. Button, who won here last year on his way to the drivers' championship, led a McLaren 1-2 at the preceding Chinese GP.

“It's definitely a step forward but it will be interesting to see how big a step it is tomorrow,'' Hamilton said.

But Red Bull continued to set the pace at a track where the last nine winners have come from pole position.

“It's no surprise, Red Bull remains favorite for pole after showing the fastest car again,'' Alonso said. “I'm quite convinced the advantage is pretty big and tomorrow they should be first and second on the grid. Red Bull is ahead of everybody.''

Red Bull has taken pole position in each of the first four races, but Vettel has only one win in his three starts from first on the grid due mostly to reliability problems.

A new wheelbase and air duct intake on the Mercedes appeared to spark an improvement in the German team's car.

Schumacher had good pace, while teammate Nico Rosberg was seventh behind surprise contender Robert Kubica of Renault.

“The package was doing pretty much as we expected,'' Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn said. “At least our drivers are saying the car is better. We're happy with it.''

Ferrari also brought significant upgrades and is trying out a new rear wing that has given McLaren a slight advantage, although Alonso said the Italians were still unsure if they would use it in Sunday's 66-lap race.

Rosberg is second in the standings with 50 points while Schumacher, a six-time winner here, has had a disappointing return to F1 with only 10 points so far.

Hamilton and Alonso are next with 49 points, Vettel has 45 while Felipe Massa of Ferrari who was seventh fastest has 41, one ahead of Kubica.

Adrian Sutil was 10th for Force India after taking over for test driver Paul di Resta, who drove the morning session.

Williams driver Nico Hulkenberg saw his afternoon limited to seven laps after the German driver spun into the tire wall to damage his front suspension and clip the nose of his car.

Another practice is scheduled for Saturday before qualifying.

Earlier, the Catalan circuit added Button's name to its ``walk of champions.''