The two Red Bull Racing Renaults of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were first and second fastest in today’s second free practice for the Spanish Grand Prix.
Despite the McLarens’ speed in the first outing, Red Bull turned on the style in the second session, ending up over half a second clear of their nearest rival.
Michael Schumacher was that man, tantalisingly producing a glimmer of his old speed and whetting the appetite of fans for more. His best of 1m20.757 was followed by the Ferrari of home favourite Fernando Alonso, while Schumacher’s team-mate Rosberg could only manage seventh quickest.
McLaren will not be too downcast with Lewis Hamilton’s fifth fastest time and Jenson Button’s ninth, while Renault will be pleased to see Robert Kubica near the pace in sixth.
Massa in eighth and Adrian Sutil rounded out the top ten. Pedro de la Rosa, having missed the first session this morning due to a gearbox issue, will be relatively pleased with his 11th fastest time.
Lotus proved themselves once again the closest of the new teams, but even with Nico Hulkenberg’s off-track excursions, none of the 2010 arrivals could challenge the established order.
It remains to be seen whether that will change in qualifying.
Pos Driver Team Time Laps
1. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:19.965 24
2. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:20.175 + 0.210 35
3. Schumacher Mercedes 1:20.757 + 0.792 28
4. Alonso Ferrari 1:20.819 + 0.854 30
5. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.191 + 1.226 23
6. Kubica Renault 1:21.202 + 1.237 36
7. Rosberg Mercedes 1:21.271 + 1.306 27
8. Massa Ferrari 1:21.302 + 1.337 25
9. Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:21.364 + 1.399 26
10. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:21.518 + 1.553 32
11. de la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 1:21.672 + 1.707 37
12. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:21.904 + 1.939 32
13. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:21.931 + 1.966 29
14. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:22.184 + 2.219 37
15. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1:22.192 + 2.227 33
16. Petrov Renault 1:22.435 + 2.470 35
17. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:22.449 + 2.484 34
18. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1:23.765 + 3.800 7
19. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1:24.209 + 4.244 26
20. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1:24.894 + 4.929 22
21. di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1:25.066 + 5.101 30
22. Chandhok HRT-Cosworth 1:25.972 + 6.007 23
23. Senna HRT-Cosworth 1:26.152 + 6.187 25
24. Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1:26.596 + 6.631 21
