Vettel easily fastest in FP2

Sebastian Vettel retained his place at the top of the timesheet and was again fastest in free practice 2. He did the same in FP1 with an apparent easy lap, perfectly timed on a set of medium Pirelli tyres.

Kimi Raikkonen was the first man on track in second practice, but there was a lot of action soon, with Hamilton eager to join the action.

The session continued without much trouble or surprise, until the final 15 minutes during which several drivers made spectacular mistakes. Lewis Hamilton touched the barriers slightly and went wide through the gravel trap at turn 6, however without much damage at all. Few minutes later his teammate Nico Rosberg came to a halt along the track, the team reporting "we think it's gearbox related". By that time, the German had already set the third fastest time, just behind the two Red Bull Racing drivers.

In the dying minutes, Mark Webber added some more drama by spinning at the exit of turn 13.