Ahead of today's second session, the air temperature is 29 degrees C, while the track temperature is 42 degrees. Following this morning's bright sunshine, this afternoon it is even brighter... and warmer.

Tyre choices on this the fastest track on the calendar are hard (prime) and medium (option). There are two DRS zones, one on the main pit straight the other on the run from the second Lesmo to the Variante Ascari.

Lewis Hamilton was the pace-setter this morning but it was tight, indeed, so tight the top fifteen drivers were covered by just 1.029s.

This afternoon we will see the option tyres make their debut here which will mean higher lap times - the cars were averaging over 150 mph this morning - and a more strung out field.

No major problems this morning, though the first and second chicanes caught out a number of drivers as did Ascari and the Parabolica, all legendary turns on a legendary circuit.

Having given over their cars to reserve drivers this morning, Adrian Sutil, Giedo Van der Garde and Jules Bianchi are back in action this afternoon.

In the moments before the lights go green mechanics are working furiously on Webber's car which has a KERS problem, the Australian unlikely to be seen in the opening phase of the session.

Like this morning, Chilton is first out, though he has Button and Raikkonen for company, Perez also amongst the eager beavers.

In no time at all there are seven names on the timesheets, Perez heading Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Button and Vergne, the Mexican having posted a 26.700.

Vergne misses the first chicane, with Raikkonen spinning there moments later. Elsewhere, Bianchi heads through the gravel at Ascari.

Soon all but Webber, Alonso and Hamilton are on track, whilst Raikkonen, who has had a nose change - the car, people, the car! - raises the bar with a 25.725, the Finn at the wheel of the longer wheelbase E21. Grosjean, in the standard wheelbase Lotus, goes second (26.090).

No messing about from Vettel who goes straight to the top of the sheets with a 25.616 as Vergne runs wide in the first Lesmo.

Going purple in all three sectors, Vettel ups the ante with a 25.038, elsewhere, Alonso is running suspiciously close to his Ferrari teammate bringing back memories of last year when they attempted to use slipstreaming to their advantage... but with limited success.

Rosberg, having gone quickest in S2, goes second overall (25.699), the German clearly missing out in S1. Elsewhere, Webber leaves the Red Bull garage.

As Ricciardo switches to options, twenty minutes into the session, Alonso goes second with a 25.543.

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Jackal, 06/09/2013 16:28

"It is very impressive that Vettel and RBR seem to consistently come out of the Summer break far more prepared than their competition. This time last year they made up all the ground they were behind Alonso/Ferrari which ultimately led to Seb taking the title and now again they seem to have done their homework during the break far better than anyone else. Good on them. The team and their driver are an incredible combination and it will seemingly take a lot of doing from the rest to keep pace with them."

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Vettel untouchable in FP2

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