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FP2: Red Bull Racing dictates the pace in Belgium

FP2: Red Bull Racing dictates the pace in Belgium

  • Published on 23 Aug 2013 16:53
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Red Bull took firm control of things during the second practice session at a dry Spa-Francorchamps on Friday afternoon, until fastest man Sebastian Vettel was brought to a halt by a deflated right rear medium-compound tyre. Pirelli suspect that it was a puncture, the cause of which is currently being investigated.

The world champion had lapped in 1m 49.331s prior to that incident, just 0.059s ahead of team mate Mark Webber who had previously set the pace.

The Australian in turn was 0.818s ahead of Romain Grosjean - the arch-villain of last year's race - who lapped his Lotus E21 in 1m 50.149s. Next up was the in-form Felipe Massa who had took his Ferrari round in 1m 50.164s. Jean-Eric Vergne gave himself a boost with fifth fastest time of 1m 50.253s for Toro Rosso, as Kimi Raikkonen finished sixth in the second Lotus on 1m 50.318s, just ahead of Fernando Alonso in the second Ferrari on 1m 50.510s.

Sergio Perez gave McLaren a major boost with the eighth fastest time of 1m 50.536s, leaving Nico Rosberg to take ninth on 1m 50.601s for Mercedes ahead of the Force Indias of Paul di Resta and Adrian Sutil on 1m 50.611s and 1m 50.629s.

It was a bad day in the office for Mercedes as Lewis Hamilton described his W04 as being "all over the place," on the harder tyre and could not better 1m 50.751s for 12th on a circuit where the car had been expected to excel.

Despite Spa being the longest circuit on the calendar, the times were extremely close behind the Red Bulls, with Nico Hulkenberg and Pastor Maldonado completing the sub-1m 51s runners with 1m 50.972s and 1m 50.991s for Sauber and Williams respectively. That put them within eight-tenths of Grosjean.

Jenson Button’s morning promise evaporated with the rain as he was left in 15th place on 1m 51.195s, ahead of Toro Rosso's Daniel Ricciardo on 1m 51.447s and Williams' Valtteri Bottas on 1m 51.568s.

Despite a crash at Curve Paul Frere when he lost the back of his Caterham, Giedo van der Garde was the team's faster runner on 1m 53.157s, with team mate Charles Pic next up on 1m 53.251s. Jules Bianchi was Marussia's lead runner on 1m 53.482s, with partner Max Chilton 22nd on 1m 54.418s after a steering rack change. (Formula1.com)
F1 News Fernando Alonso Jenson Button Valtteri Bottas Felipe Massa Romain Grosjean Pastor Maldonado Daniel Ricciardo Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg Sebastian Vettel Sergio Perez Lotus F1 McLaren Ferrari Pirelli Mercedes Williams Sauber Marussia
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  • Points 182
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  • Place of b. Oviedo, ES
  • Weight 68 kg
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2021

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
26 - Mar 28
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
16 - Apr 18
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
30 - May 2
Portugal
Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
7 - May 9
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
20 - May 23
Monaco
Monte Carlo
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Azerbaijan
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France
Paul Ricard
25 - Jun 27
Austria
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2 - Jul 4
Austria
Red Bull Ring
16 - Jul 18
United Kingdom
Silverstone
30 - Aug 1
Hungary
Hungaroring
27 - Aug 29
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
3 - Sep 5
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
10 - Sep 12
Italy
Monza
24 - Sep 26
Russian
Sochi Autodrom
1 - Oct 3
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
8 - Oct 10
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
22 - Oct 24
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
29 - Oct 31
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
5 - Nov 7
Brazil
Interlagos
19 - Nov 21
Australia
Albert Park
3 - Dec 5
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
10 - Dec 12
United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2021

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
26 - Mar 28
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
16 - Apr 18
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
30 - May 2
Portugal Autódromo Internacional do Algarve
7 - May 9
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
20 - May 23
Monaco Monte Carlo
4 - Jun 6
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
18 - Jun 20
France Paul Ricard
25 - Jun 27
Austria Red Bull Ring
2 - Jul 4
Austria Red Bull Ring
16 - Jul 18
United Kingdom Silverstone
30 - Aug 1
Hungary Hungaroring
27 - Aug 29
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
3 - Sep 5
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
10 - Sep 12
Italy Monza
24 - Sep 26
Russian Sochi Autodrom
1 - Oct 3
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
8 - Oct 10
Japan Circuit Suzuka
22 - Oct 24
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
29 - Oct 31
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
5 - Nov 7
Brazil Interlagos
19 - Nov 21
Australia Albert Park
3 - Dec 5
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
10 - Dec 12
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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