Alonso, meanwhile, slips to half a second off the pace at Interlagos
Friday 23 November 2012 19:42, UK
Lewis Hamilton and Sebastian Vettel look poised to resume their battle from Austin last weekend in qualifying for the Brazilian GP after once again finishing first and second respectively on the Practice Two timesheet.
What wasn't in doubt on Friday, however, was that Hamilton appears determined to end his McLaren career on an ultimate high by making it back-to-back wins on Sunday. The 27-year-old, who has never even led a single lap at Interlagos despite clinching his sole world title there in 2008, underlined his inherent speed around the challenging lap straight away when the field switched to the 'option' compound mid-way through the session. While Webber, Button and the two Ferraris then all fell a long way short of matching the flying Hamilton's low-1:14s time, Vettel, having had his return to the circuit delayed by the team having to top up water levels on his RB8, got significantly closer yet was still slower than the McLaren through both the twisty middle, and final, sectors. However, while Hamilton's early advantage bodes well for his attempts to claim pole on Saturday, it may be rendered completely academic come race day given heavy and persistent rain is, according to the weather radars, "100%" guranteed for Sunday. Indeed, the forecast dominate paddock chatter at Interlagos and, judging by Friday's form, the predicted Sunday deluge looks certain to remain Alonso's best hope of making a serious run at the title on Sunday.