24/09/2010
NEWS STORY
Ahead of today's second session, the air temperature is 30 degrees C, while the track temperature is 28 degrees. There has been no further rain since this morning, and the track is much drier than earlier - though a couple of damp patches still remain. Humidity is 69 percent.
The lights go green and Alguersuari heads the queue of drivers eager to get to work now that track conditions have improved.
Tyre options this weekend are medium (prime) and super-soft (option). However, for much of this morning's session it was the intermediate compound that was de rigueur.
Unlike this morning, we don't have to wait long for the first flying lap, indeed, just six minutes into the session there are twelve names on the timesheets with Hamilton topping the lot with a 1:51.712. On his next lap the McLaren driver gets it all wrong at the Singapore Sling.
All but the Red Bull duo are on track as Button goes quickest (49.768), ahead of Barrichello, Massa, Alguersuari, Alonso and Hulkenberg.
Twenty minutes into the session, Alonso posts a 48.661 having gone quickest in all three sectors.
Alguersuari, who has been on the very edge - if not a little bit over - all day, clouts the wall with his left-rear, but is somehow able to continue. Meanwhile, Massa makes it a Ferrari 1-2 with a 49.449.
Vettel goes quickest with a 48.559 as Alguersuari is asked if his steering has been affected by the earlier incident, though it was the rear left which came into contact with the barriers.
A 48.893 sees Webber go third as Red Bull and Ferrari appear to have the edge over McLaren. To prove the point, the Australian posts a 48.584 to make it a Red Bull 1-2.
Liuzzi clouts the wall with his rear-right at Turn 9, his immediate easing of pace suggesting that hasn't been as fortunate as Alguersuari.
Currently ninth, Hamilton goes quickest in S1 showing total disregard for the kerbs at the chicane. At the line the McLaren driver posts 48.334 to go second.
Onboard with Sutil and it is clear that the German has had a bit of a moment. Replay shows the Force India being launched high into the air as it ran over the kerbs at the chicane, the left-front left hanging limply from the car. The kerbs have been moved a little this year and it is clear that this is causing problems.
Bang on half-time, Button goes quickest in the first two sectors finally crossing the line at 47.690. The Englishman, on options, looking far more aggressive than we are used to.
Vettel, also on options, posts 47.168, thereby going 0.522s quicker than Button, while Alonso consolidates third (47.718) on primes.
Next time around Vettel posts 46.974 while Button makes a mistake in S3 and ruins what looked like a very promising lap.
Vettel continues to set a blistering pace, the German posting a 46.660, thereby eclipsing second-placed Button by over a second. Both Vettel and the RB6 are fully on the game here this weekend.
Having had a big spin a couple of laps earlier, Glock voices his unhappiness with the handling of his car. He is told to pit next time around.
Webber posts 47.667 to go second, albeit 1.007s off the pace of his teammate. Button is third, ahead of Alonso, Hamilton, Barrichello, Rosberg, Kubica, Schumacher and Massa.
In the Renault garage, Kubica is out of his car and looking hot and bothered, as his crew work on the rear end of his car.
Webber closes to within 0.627s of Vettel, Red Bull looking very, very good here this afternoon.
That said, Alonso, now on options, goes quickest in S1. Having posted a personal best in S2 the Spaniard makes a mistake at Turn 18 and heads off down the escape road. He reverses back on to the track but then stalls the Ferrari. Unable to get it going he climbs out of the car and attempts to push it to safety.
With the usual suspects filling the bottom six positions, it is surprising to see the Toro Rosso duo well off the pace, as is the Force India pairing.
With 11:30 on the clock, it's: Vettel, Webber, Button, Alonso, Hamilton - the five championship contenders- Barrichello and Massa, all covered by 1.681s.
Robert Kubica leaves the pits with less than four minutes remaining, his crew appearing to have solved what was found to be a hydraulics problem. However, with 22 cars on track there is a lot of traffic.
The session ends with no significant improvements, Vettel quickest, ahead of Webber, Button, Alonso, Hamilton, Barrichello, Massa, Rosberg, Kubica and Schumacher.
To check out our Singapore practice gallery, click here