AUSTIN, Texas - Sebastian Vettel continued to set the pace at the 2013 US Grand Prix, topping the final practice in another Red Bull one-two.
Vettel, who started from pole at the inaugural race in Austin in 2012, will be favoured to do so again after lapping the Circuit of the Americas in a best time of 1min36.733 seconds.
Vettel, who clinched his fourth successive title in India in September 2013, will be chasing a record eighth win in a row on November 16. Red Bull team mate Mark Webber was the only other driver to dip under 1min37.00, crossing 0.203 behind in a practice session run in overcast conditions.
Lewis Hamilton, winner of the 2012 US GP for McLaren, signalled he is ready to defend his US title with Mercedes after posting the third best effort ahead of Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg.
Romain Grosjean, yet to win a race, was fifth fastest for Lotus followed by McLaren's Jenson Button, who will go into qualifying with a three spot grid penalty for passing under a red flag during the first practice session.
Ferrari continued to struggle to find pace on the twisting circuit, with Fernando Alonso well down the timing chart in 11th with team mate Felipe Massa in 17th.
Results from the2013 United States Grand Prix:
Final practice session
1 Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull 1min36.733
2 Mark Webber (Australia) Red Bull 1min36.936
3 Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 1min37.064
4 Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Sauber 1min37.272
5 Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus 1min37.345
6 Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 1min37.534
7 Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 1min37.578
8 Sergio Perez (Mexico) McLaren 1min37.583
9 Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams 1min37.747
10 Adrian Sutil (Germany) Force India 1min37.748
11 Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari 1min37.763
12 Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico) Sauber 1min37.774
13 Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) Lotus 1min37.879
14 Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Williams 1min38.022
15 Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso 1min38.109
16 Paul Di Resta (Britain) Force India 1min38.275
17 Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 1min38.408
18 Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso 1min38.636
19 Charles Pic (France) Caterham 1min39.578
20 Giedo van der Garde (Netherlands) Caterham 1min40.056
21 Jules Bianchi (France) Marussia - Cosworth 1min40.825
22 Max Chilton (Britain) Marussia - Cosworth 1min41.293
Second practice
First practice
Vettel, who started from pole at the inaugural race in Austin in 2012, will be favoured to do so again after lapping the Circuit of the Americas in a best time of 1min36.733 seconds.
Vettel, who clinched his fourth successive title in India in September 2013, will be chasing a record eighth win in a row on November 16. Red Bull team mate Mark Webber was the only other driver to dip under 1min37.00, crossing 0.203 behind in a practice session run in overcast conditions.
Lewis Hamilton, winner of the 2012 US GP for McLaren, signalled he is ready to defend his US title with Mercedes after posting the third best effort ahead of Sauber's Nico Hulkenberg.
Romain Grosjean, yet to win a race, was fifth fastest for Lotus followed by McLaren's Jenson Button, who will go into qualifying with a three spot grid penalty for passing under a red flag during the first practice session.
Ferrari continued to struggle to find pace on the twisting circuit, with Fernando Alonso well down the timing chart in 11th with team mate Felipe Massa in 17th.
Results from the2013 United States Grand Prix:
Final practice session
1 Sebastian Vettel (Germany) Red Bull 1min36.733
2 Mark Webber (Australia) Red Bull 1min36.936
3 Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 1min37.064
4 Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Sauber 1min37.272
5 Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus 1min37.345
6 Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 1min37.534
7 Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 1min37.578
8 Sergio Perez (Mexico) McLaren 1min37.583
9 Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams 1min37.747
10 Adrian Sutil (Germany) Force India 1min37.748
11 Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari 1min37.763
12 Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico) Sauber 1min37.774
13 Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) Lotus 1min37.879
14 Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Williams 1min38.022
15 Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso 1min38.109
16 Paul Di Resta (Britain) Force India 1min38.275
17 Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 1min38.408
18 Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso 1min38.636
19 Charles Pic (France) Caterham 1min39.578
20 Giedo van der Garde (Netherlands) Caterham 1min40.056
21 Jules Bianchi (France) Marussia - Cosworth 1min40.825
22 Max Chilton (Britain) Marussia - Cosworth 1min41.293
Second practice
First practice