GP China, Free Practice 3: Vettel ahead of the McLarens

Sebastian Vettel also achieved the best time in the third and final free practice session of the Chinese Grand Prix. In Shanghai, the Red Bull Racing world champion preceded the two McLaren Mercedes of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton, climbing back to third position in the final stages and appearing to be in difficulty, complete with off-piste. Fourth time for Nico Rosberg's Mercedes GP, at the top of the standings for most of the session.

Ferrari in fifth and sixth position with Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.

Vitaly Petrov confirms Renault's competitiveness with the seventh fastest time ahead of Adrian Sutil (Force India), Michael Schumacher (Mercedes) and Paul di Resta (Force India).

The Scotsman was the first on the track and therefore immediately took the lead. After the first 20 minutes Schumacher took the lead. Then it was the McLarens' turn to take the lead towards mid-session with Button lapping in 1.37.367. The world champion then dropped to 1.36.918 but Vettel, with 28 minutes to go, lapped in 1.36.053 while Webber suffered an electrical problem, probably linked to KERS.

With 20 minutes to go Schumacher moved within 88 thousandths of Vettel on soft tires but Rosberg did better to take the lead with a 1.35.677. Webber finally did a timed lap with 15 minutes to go, but without KERS, and after setting the sixth fastest time he returned to the pits, unhappy with the car.

Rosberg remained in the lead until the final minutes when the runs on soft tires determined the final classification of the session with Vettel still in command ahead of the McLarens, the only one able to go under the 1'35” barrier.

F1 GP China – Free practice 3 results

Pos Driver Team Time Laps 1. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m34.968s 13 2. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m35.176s + 0.208s 15 3. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m35.373s + 0.405s 14 4. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m35.677s + 0.709s 18 5. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m35.818s + 0.850s 17 6. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m35.971s + 1.003s 15 7. Vitaly Petrov Renault 1m36.098s + 1.130s 18 8. Adrian Sutil Force India- Mercedes 1m36.125s + 1.157s 15 9. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m36.141s + 1.173s 14 10. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m36.370s + 1.402s 18 11. Nick Heidfeld Renault 1m36.404s + 1.436s 16 12. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m36.582s + 1.614s 18 13. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m36.596s + 1.628s 17 14. Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m36.717s + 1.749s 16 15. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m36.896 .1.928s + 5s 16 1. Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 36.953m1.985s + 14s 17 1. Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 37.007m2.039s + 20s 18 1. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Cosworth 37.304m2.336s + 18s 19 1 38.176 Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Renault 3.208m12s + 20s 1 38.739. Jarno Trulli Lotus-Renault 3.771m12s + 21s 1 39.938. Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 4.970m17s + 22s 1 39.998. Jerome D'Ambrosio Virgin-Cosworth 5.030m16s + 23s 1 40.593. Tonio Liuzzi HRT-Cosworth 5.625m17s + 24s 1 40.881. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 5.913m18s + XNUMXs XNUMX