Vettel leads first Indian F1 practice

Formula One championship leader Sebastian Vettel lapped fastest on Friday in opening practice for an Indian Grand Prix that could bring him a fourth win in a row on Sunday.

Red Bull's 25-year-old German, who leads Ferrari's Fernando Alonso by six points with four races remaining, set a best time of 1min27.619 at the hazy Buddh International Circuit south of New Delhi.

McLaren's Jenson Button was second fastest, 0.310sec slower, with Alonso third.

The top three in first practice were in the same order as 2011’s podium finishers at the inaugural Indian Grand Prix, which Vettel won after having already clinched his second championship.

McLaren's Lewis Hamilton was fourth on the timesheets with Vettel's Australian team mate Mark Webber fifth.

Kimi Raikkonen, third in the championship with Lotus, was 10th fastest on his first experience of the track. Last year's race was before he began his comeback after two seasons' absence.

PEREZ ‘NOT WELL’

Mexican Esteban Gutierrez replaced compatriot Sergio Perez at Sauber, after the regular race driver was reported to be unwell, and was 20th.

Perez, who is likely to return for second practice and the rest of the weekend, appeared to disagree about his health and said on Twitter that he was ready to drive and it had been a team decision.

Gutierrez is widely expected to replace Perez next season, with the older Mexican moving to McLaren to take over from Hamilton when he goes to Mercedes.

With the little-used track dusty at the outset, teams took their time to progress beyond installation laps and then focused on gathering data and testing updates before tyre work in the afternoon.

Ferrari, whose wind tunnel data has let them down this season, were trying out updated rear and front wings that they hope will help Alonso take the fight to Vettel. - Reuters

RESULTS

1 Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull - 1min27.619

2 Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren - 1min27.929

3 Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari - 1min28.044

4 Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren - 1min28.046

5 Mark Webber (Australia) Red Bull - 1min28.175

6 Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes - 1min28.447

7 Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari - 1min28.542

8 Michael Schumacher (Germany) Mercedes - 1min28.993

9 Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso - 1min29.204

10 Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Lotus - 1min29.291

11 Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams - 1min29.691