European GP – Free Practice 3: Sebastian Vettel ahead of the Ferraris

The beginning of the session only saw a few installation laps from the drivers without any timed laps being completed. First, Jaime Alguersuari set the best time ahead of Kamui Kobayashi with a 1’42’477. Then Nick Heidfeld took the first position ahead of Pastor Maldonado and the two Toro Rosso drivers. Michael Schumacher, after a few laps, set the second-best time behind his compatriot from Lotus Renault GP. Before the two Ferrari drivers, led by Alonso, moved ahead, with Nico Rosberg slotting in between them. But the LRGP driver pushed again to position just behind the Spanish Ferrari.

At mid-session, more than half of the drivers are in the pits while both Red Bull drivers are just coming out, the team seems calm. And Mark Webber is just two-tenths behind Alonso’s lap time, while Sebastian Vettel betters the Spaniard’s time by half a second. Then the Australian sets the second-fastest time, before his teammate lowers the reference time set on medium tires.

Twenty minutes before the end, soft tires start to make their appearance, and it’s Michael Schumacher who attacks first among the leading drivers to rank between the two Red Bulls, before Nico Rosberg overtakes Sebastian Vettel. Both Sauber drivers have also opted for soft tires, followed by the majority of the drivers in anticipation of this afternoon’s qualifications. The two Ferrari drivers consecutively set the fastest times while Jenson Button records the third fastest time as his teammate takes the 7th place. The two Red Bull drivers hit the track and while Mark Webber sets the 4th fastest time behind the Ferraris, the reigning world champion achieves the three best sectors to record the fastest time, four-tenths quicker than the Spanish Ferrari driver.

While Sebastian Vettel was improving the best time, a yellow flag forced him to slow down, signaling the end of the session as Kamui Kobayashi made a mistake and hit the wall at the last corner, but managed to return to the pits.

So once again, it’s a Red Bull that finishes the session in the lead ahead of two well-performing Ferraris and McLarens that are less sprightly than usual.

Results of Free Practice 3 – 2011 European Grand Prix: