F1: Vettel Remains Red Hot In First India Practice

Formula 1

F1: Vettel Remains Red Hot In First India Practice

Sebastian Vettel is looking to make it four wins in a row this weekend in India...

Jared Turner | Posted October 26, 2012 New Delhi (IND)

With all eyes on the close championship battle between Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso, it should come as no surprise that German Vettel and Spaniard Alonso were close together — and two of the quickest drivers — in Friday's opening round of practice at Buddh International Circuit.

Vettel, who leads Alonso by six points in a championship fight that almost certainly will be settled between the two former World Champions, showed the way in FP1 with a lap of 1:27:619 in his Red Bull RB8.

Alonso, who held second on the time sheet before a fast last-minute lap by the McLaren of Jenson Button (1:27:929), clocked in third at 1:28:044 in his newly upgraded Ferrari.

Lewis Hamilton, looking to finish the season and his McLaren tenure on a strong note after a run of misfortune in recent weeks, was fourth after pacing the early moments of Free Practice One.

Mark Webber, driving a second Red Bull, completed the top five, followed by Nico Rosberg, Felipe Massa, Michael Schumacher, Daniel Ricciardo and Kimi Raikkonen.

Seeking his third consecutive title, Vettel enters Sunday's second ever Indian Grand Prix on the heels of three consecutive victories, the most recent of which vaulted the Red Bull driver into the points lead after trailing Alonso for most of the season.

Alonso, a two-time World Champion, is seeking his first title with Ferrari.

Sauber driver and future McLaren man Sergio Perez sat out FP1 due to illness, and was replaced by Sauber reserve Esteban Gutierrez in the C30.

Perez is expected to return to the seat at some point later in the weekend, however.

Jared Turner is an Associate Editor for SPEED.com, covering NASCAR and Formula One, and is an Editor for TruckSeries.com. His professional motorsports writing career began in 2005.