Australia – Free Practice 2: Schumacher Just Barely

Michael Schumacher set the fastest time in the second practice session of the Australian Grand Prix at the wheel of his Mercedes F1W03. The German completed a lap in 1:29.183 in the final seconds of a session disrupted by rain. He was ahead of his compatriot Nico Hülkenberg in the Force India, as well as Sergio Pérez and his Sauber.

As the lights turned green, the rain completely soaked the Albert Park circuit, and it was only in the last quarter-hour that the drivers fitted dry-weather tires. Needless to say, not much happened the rest of the time.

It was the Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne who was the first to take to the track. The Toro Rosso driver completed an initial lap in 1:52.220 before quickly improving to 1:50.081 and then to 1:47.166 a few minutes later, regaining the lead against his teammate Ricciardo.

On a track that is beginning to dry out, lap times keep improving and the drivers are swapping their wet tires for intermediates.

25 minutes before the end of the session, Narain Karthikeyan takes the risk of going back on track with slick tires. After a slight scare in turn number 5, the Indian significantly improves his lap time and is imitated by the other drivers who decide to liven up the end of the session.

Vettel, Grosjean, Massa, Di Resta, Hülkenberg, and Schumacher will take turns at the top of the timesheet, with the Mercedes AMG driver clinching the first place in this session just ahead of Nico Hülkenberg.

End of the session marked by Kamui Kobayashi’s slip on the pit straight. The Japanese driver was too generous when riding the kerb on the exit of the final corner and lost control of his C31. Fortunately, there was no damage as he admirably regained control of his Sauber, avoiding a crash into the wall.

Note the fourth time of Fernando Alonso and the seventh of Felipe Massa as well as the eighth time of Heikki Kovalainen in his Caterham.

Free Practice 2 Standings of the 2012 Australian Grand Prix: