• Indian Grand Prix - FP3

Vettel completes practice clean sweep

ESPN Staff
October 27, 2012
Sebastian Vettel was fastest in all three practice session at the Buddh International Circuit © Sutton Images
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Sebastian Vettel set the fastest time of FP3 for the Indian Grand Prix to complete a clean sweep of all three practice sessions.

Having dominated in Friday practice, Vettel was once again comfortably faster than the rest of the field, although his fastest lap time of 1:25.842 was only 0.192s clear of Jenson Button. However, Vettel's theoretical best lap time with the sector times he did - including the fastest first sector on his in lap after the chequered flag - would be over half a second quicker than the time he actually set.

Button was a close second over one lap, with Mark Webber third; 0.266s slower than his team-mate. That was despite a strange spin late in the session on hard tyres, losing the rear under braking for the final corner.

Lewis Hamilton was fourth quickest with a 1:26.151 as McLaren showed improved one-lap pace, though he surprisingly crossed the line slowly on his final flying lap having caught a slide exiting the final corner, meaning his best time was set on the hard tyres. Kimi Raikkonen was also competitive in fifth, 0.05s slower than Hamilton.

That more pace is to come from Red Bull is evidenced by Bruno Senna's position in sixth, just 0.372s slower than Vettel and over 0.3s clear of Fernando Alonso in seventh. Nico Hulkenberg, Michael Schumacher and Romain Grosjean completed the top ten.

After his strong showing in FP2, Nico Rosberg had a less encouraging session. He ended final practice in 15th place having at one point been driving the wrong way through the gravel at turn three. Track conditions remain tricky, with a number of drivers running wide as they struggled for grip.

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