Brazil – Free Practice 2: Rosberg Leads the Red Bulls in the Rain

The rain is still present in Interlagos and, as Météo France predicted on Canal +, its intensity is greater just before the start of free practice 2.

The session is underway, and as often, no one takes to the track. Rubens Barrichello walks through the Sao Paulo circuit paddock with his son, greeting the crowd in the main grandstand. In the Ferrari garage, Felipe Massa poses with some team members. Max Chilton is the first to go out on wet tires (blue), without setting a time.

After 10 minutes, it’s Heikki Kovalainen’s turn to go: he completes a series of three laps, the best in 1:30.537, before returning. Jules Bianchi remains alone on the track before being joined a few minutes later by Mark Webber. The Australian sets an initial time just a tenth behind Kovalainen. On his third lap, he clocks 1:29.088 and takes the lead. The two Caterhams leave the pit lane.

After half an hour, Webber leads ahead of Kovalainen, Van der Garde, Bianchi, and Pic. At McLaren, activity around the cars is almost non-existent. Meanwhile, the two Nicos, Rosberg and Hülkenberg, join the track. The Mercedes driver takes the lead with a 1:28.873.

Fifty minutes from the end, Rosberg leads ahead of Webber, Hülkenberg, Kovalainen, and Di Resta. Grosjean, Bottas, and Ricciardo go out. The Frenchman immediately takes the provisional third place on his first lap, six-tenths behind the Mercedes, despite running wide in turn 12. With three quarters of an hour to go, Bottas and Ricciardo are alone on track: the Toro Rosso driver occupies the 4th place as he comes in, ahead of Hülkenberg who is on track with Sergio Pérez. As the session reaches two-thirds, neither Vettel, the Ferraris, Button, nor Hamilton have set a time yet.

Thirty minutes from the checkered flag, Rosberg is still leading Webber. Next are Grosjean, Ricciardo, and Hülkenberg. The rain continues to fall heavily, but the Ferraris finally come out with twenty minutes to go. Alonso takes the third fastest time on intermediate tires. All the drivers come back out and Vettel finally joins: gradually, on intermediate tires, he gets closer to Rosberg’s time.

Ten minutes from the end, Hamilton makes a mistake without any serious consequences, while Rosberg improves his time to 1:28.693. But Vettel does not let it go: he clocks 1:27.993 and takes the lead before improving to 1:27.531, with Webber falling short by two-tenths behind his teammate. Rosberg settles the score between the two by posting a 1:27.306!

Nico Rosberg leads Sebastian Vettel, Mark Webber, Heikki Kovalainen, and Lewis Hamilton.

Results of Free Practice 2 for the 2013 Brazilian Grand Prix: