ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates - Sebastian Vettel wrapped up practice for the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix on Saturday with his name on top of the leader-board in yet another Red Bull one-two.
The newly-crowned quadruple World champion, sporting a new helmet with the Roman numerals IV on top, lapped the Yas Marina circuit with a best time of 1min41.349 seconds set late in the afternoon heat.
KEEPING THE LEAD
Despite track temperatures hovering around 44 degrees, and air temperature of 36, Vettel lapped 0.222 quicker than Australian team mate Mark Webber. The pair were also one-two in Friday's second practice.
The 26-year-old German, who clinched his fourth successive title at the 2013 Indian GP last weekend, will be chasing his seventh win in a row on Sunday in the day-to-night race under the banks of floodlights.
Lewis Hamilton, whose Mercedes team is fighting to defend second place in the Constructors' standings from Ferrari and Lotus, was third fastest with German team mate Nico Rosberg fourth.
Behind the pair was Frenchman Romain Grosjean, yet to win a race but considered possibly Vettel's biggest rival after finishing third in his last three grands prix.
Ferrari continued to find the hard and soft tyres not to their liking with Fernando Alonso 11th and Brazilian Felipe Massa 14th.
Marussia's Jules Bianchi spun and hit the barriers at turn one in the only incident of the session.
3rd and Final Free Practice Session from the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit
1. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) RedBull - Renault 1:41.349
2. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull - Renault 1:41.571
3. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 1:41.580
4. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 1:41.721
5. Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus - Renault 1:41.832
6. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 1:41.956
7. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Sauber - Ferrari 1:42.055
8. Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico) Sauber - Ferrari 1:42.282
9. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Lotus - Renault 1:42.387
10. Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:42.457
11. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari 1:42.516
12. Paul Di Resta (Britain) Force India - Mercedes 1:42.681
13. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams - Renault 1:42.698
14. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 1:42.702
15. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:42.727
16. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Williams - Renault 1:42.798
17. Adrian Sutil (Germany) Force India - Mercedes 1:42.989
18. Sergio Perez (Mexico) McLaren 1:43.142
19. Giedo van der Garde (Netherlands) Caterham - Renault 1:44.472
20. Charles Pic (France) Caterham - Renault 1:44.728
21. Max Chilton (Britain) Marussia - Cosworth 1:45.621
22. Jules Bianchi (France) Marussia - Cosworth 1:47.506
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Abu Dhabi GP weekend.
The newly-crowned quadruple World champion, sporting a new helmet with the Roman numerals IV on top, lapped the Yas Marina circuit with a best time of 1min41.349 seconds set late in the afternoon heat.
KEEPING THE LEAD
Despite track temperatures hovering around 44 degrees, and air temperature of 36, Vettel lapped 0.222 quicker than Australian team mate Mark Webber. The pair were also one-two in Friday's second practice.
The 26-year-old German, who clinched his fourth successive title at the 2013 Indian GP last weekend, will be chasing his seventh win in a row on Sunday in the day-to-night race under the banks of floodlights.
Lewis Hamilton, whose Mercedes team is fighting to defend second place in the Constructors' standings from Ferrari and Lotus, was third fastest with German team mate Nico Rosberg fourth.
Behind the pair was Frenchman Romain Grosjean, yet to win a race but considered possibly Vettel's biggest rival after finishing third in his last three grands prix.
Ferrari continued to find the hard and soft tyres not to their liking with Fernando Alonso 11th and Brazilian Felipe Massa 14th.
Marussia's Jules Bianchi spun and hit the barriers at turn one in the only incident of the session.
3rd and Final Free Practice Session from the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit
1. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) RedBull - Renault 1:41.349
2. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull - Renault 1:41.571
3. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) Mercedes 1:41.580
4. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes 1:41.721
5. Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus - Renault 1:41.832
6. Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren 1:41.956
7. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Sauber - Ferrari 1:42.055
8. Esteban Gutierrez (Mexico) Sauber - Ferrari 1:42.282
9. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Lotus - Renault 1:42.387
10. Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:42.457
11. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari 1:42.516
12. Paul Di Resta (Britain) Force India - Mercedes 1:42.681
13. Valtteri Bottas (Finland) Williams - Renault 1:42.698
14. Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari 1:42.702
15. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso - Ferrari 1:42.727
16. Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Williams - Renault 1:42.798
17. Adrian Sutil (Germany) Force India - Mercedes 1:42.989
18. Sergio Perez (Mexico) McLaren 1:43.142
19. Giedo van der Garde (Netherlands) Caterham - Renault 1:44.472
20. Charles Pic (France) Caterham - Renault 1:44.728
21. Max Chilton (Britain) Marussia - Cosworth 1:45.621
22. Jules Bianchi (France) Marussia - Cosworth 1:47.506
Stay with Wheels24 for the 2013 Abu Dhabi GP weekend.