United States – Free Practice 2: Vettel Takes Charge in Austin

The second free practice session of the 2013 United States Grand Prix began without fog.

Heikki Kovalainen and Nico Hülkenberg are the first on track. A few minutes later, it’s Romain Grosjean who takes the lead in this session, which he ultimately has to give up to Sebastian Vettel. The Frenchman is using a special helmet, also for the first time during this second session.

**After 17 minutes** and after a scare in turns 8 and 9, Lewis Hamilton takes the second position. **Ten minutes later**, Charles Pic and Esteban Gutierrez are the first to switch to medium (white) tires, followed later by Heikki Kovalainen and Nico Hülkenberg; the German immediately sets the second provisional time. Nico Rosberg takes the lead before Mark Webber eventually surpasses him, on mediums.

After forty minutes, Vettel still hasn’t fitted the medium tires, which he does 5 minutes later. However, being hampered, he returns to the pits. Kovalainen sets the provisional fourth-fastest time, two-tenths ahead of Grosjean. Vettel finally manages to complete a clean lap: 1:37.305, it’s the best time!

Subsequently, the drivers began long stint series, loaded with fuel. The lap times hardly changed and, apart from a few small errors here and there, there was little to report during the last half-hour, except for the immobilization of Max Chilton’s Marussia less than 10 minutes before the end of the session, with brake discs on fire: he reported that the brake pedal sank, leading to a mistake. There were some difficulties removing the Russian car, which Hülkenberg and Massa pointed out over the radio…

The session concludes with a complete status quo, Vettel ahead of Webber and the two Mercedes. Kovalainen takes a promising fifth place, preceding the Saubers, Grosjean, Button, and Alonso struggling with the traction of his Ferrari.

Free Practice 2 Results of the 2013 United States Grand Prix: