Vettel tops charts in final F1 Korean practice

YEONGAM, South Korea (AFP) –

Red Bull-Renault driver Sebastian Vettel signs autographs to South Korea course crews at the paddock after a drivers’ meeting in Yeongam, on October 12. Vettel topped the time charts in final practice at the Korean GP on Saturday, with his world championship rival Fernando Alonso more than a second off the pace.

Sebastian Vettel topped the time charts in final practice at the Korean Grand Prix on Saturday, with his world championship rival Fernando Alonso more than a second off the pace.

The Red Bull of Vettel is four points behind the Ferrari man going into Sunday’s race, after which there are just four grand prix left in what has been a highly unpredictable season. But the German has the momentum.

He was fastest in second practice on Friday and sent out another ominous warning in the third and final practice when he clocked a best time of one minute 37.642 seconds.

Alonso was only sixth-fastest, 1.063 seconds off, while McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton registered the second-quickest time, 0.527 slower than reigning double world champion Vettel.

The fellow McLaren and Briton Jenson Button was third-fastest, followed by Romain Grosjean in a Lotus, Kimi Raikkonen and Alonso. Vettel’s Red Bull team-mate Mark Webber, second-fastest on Friday, was seventh.