• Korean Grand Prix - FP3

Kubica sets surprise pace in final practice

Robert Kubica topped the final session ahead of qualifying © Getty Images

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Robert Kubica set a surprise fastest lap in the final practice session for the Korean Grand Prix as the top four drivers were separated by less than a tenth of a second.

Kubica made use of the Renault's efficient F-duct to set a blistering pace in sector one and then called on his immense reserves of talent to hold the advantage around the rest of the lap. His time of 1:37.354 was 0.048 up on Lewis Hamilton's McLaren in second, 0.072 up on Fernando Alonso's Ferrari in third and 0.087 up on Mark Webber's Red Bull in fourth.

Championship protagonists Sebastian Vettel and Jenson Button were way off the pace, although the closing moments of the session were dominated by traffic and Vettel got his Red Bull fully sideways towards the end of his fast lap.

With four different cars so evenly matched there is simply no way of predicting who will take pole position, and traffic and mistakes are likely to play a big part in Saturday afternoon's qualifying. As on Friday, the times improved dramatically as the session wore on, with as much as 0.2 seconds being found on each consecutive lap at times. Again, the timing of the final laps ahead of qualifying will also be crucial.

Modifications to the inside kerbs at turns 16 and 18 worked successfully to prevent drivers taking liberties at the apices, although it didn't stop most of them trying. There were several mistakes made by most of the top drivers as they searched for grip, with turn nine proving a popular place to leave the track. With each excursion more dust was brought onto the track, meaning that drivers were still complaining about conditions right up until their final runs.

The tyres were also feeling the strain on the low-grip tarmac, with severe graining - even on the hard tyres - up and down the pit lane. A number of teams hinted at two-stop strategies in the race in order to cope with the excessive wear.

Towards the end of the session Alonso was severely baulked by Mercedes' Nico Rosberg (fifth fastest) midway through his first quick lap on the soft tyres. The Ferrari driver had to stand on the brakes to avoid Rosberg, who had slowed to a crawling pace on the racing line. As Alonso swerved past he also slowed and gesticulated wildly to try and prove his point.

Blocking is not usually penalised in free practice but the incident could also qualify as dangerous driving and Rosberg may find himself answering to the stewards.

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