Webber tops Spanish GP practice

Mark Webber underlined his ambitions to win a second straight Spanish Formula One Grand Prix when he led both practice sessions on Friday.

Lewis Hamilton spoilt a full Red Bull party when he squeezed his McLaren between Webber and world champion Sebastian Vettel in the afternoon.

The Australian Webber clocked 1 minute 22.470 seconds on the 4.655-kilometre Circuit de Catalunya and Hamilton was close behind in 1:22.509 minutes on a sunny day.

Hamilton is the only man to beat Vettel so far this season when he took victory in China ahead of the German who has won all other three races and leads the Briton by 34 points, 93 to 59.

Vettel posted 1:22.826 to come third in the afternoon after second in the opening session. Jenson Button was fourth for McLaren in 1:23.188 and local hero Fernando Alonso followed on 1:23.568 the day after the news that he will stay at Ferrari until 2016.

Red Bull are considered favourites in Spain, but Hamilton showed that the others are ready to close in as all teams brought upgrades to their cars for the fifth season race.

Qualifying is on Saturday and the 66-lap race on Sunday where overtaking is considered difficult and the last 10 races were won from pole. Vettel has monopolised the pole this season and will be seeking a fifth straight top spot on the grid.