Vettel sets pace in Spain

May 07, 2010 08:24 pm | Updated 08:24 pm IST - Barcelona

Red Bull F1 driver Sebastian Vettel

Red Bull F1 driver Sebastian Vettel

The Red Bulls of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber were quickest in the second practice session on Friday ahead of Sunday’s Spanish Formula One Grand Prix.

Former world champion Michael Schumacher was third fastest in a Mercedes, with teammate Nico Rosberg seventh.

Schumacher had also been third quickest in the first session behind the McLaren duo Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

Vettal clocked one minute 19.965 on the 4.655 kilometres Circuit de Catalunya, the only driver to go under the 1:20 mark.

Webber posted 1:20.175 and Schumacher 1:20.757, almost 0.80 seconds behind Vettel.

The teams have come to Barcelona, the first race in Europe, with major updates to their cars.

“It was clear to see that Michael Schumacher was much better and especially quicker with our reworked car for the European premiere than he was three weeks ago in China,” Mercedes motorsport director Norbert Haug said.

Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was fourth fastest, followed by Hamilton and Renault’s Robert Kubica. Overall leader Button was ninth behind Ferrari’s Felipe Massa and ahead of Adrian Sutil in a Force India.

Hamilton had set the pace with 1:21.134 in the morning session, 0.538 seconds ahead of Button, with Schumacher 0.044 seconds behind the reigning world champion.

Qualifying takes place on Saturday to determine grid positions.

After four races, Button has 60 points, Rosberg 50, Alonso and Hamilton 49 and Vettel 45.

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