F1: Hamilton Fastest in FP2 while Vettel Conquers Wet FP3 Session

Sebastian Vettel set the fastest lap during a wet final practice session for the British Grand Prix as neither Mercedes driver set a time but the FP2 session belonged to Mercedes. In FP3 however, both the Mercedes drivers remained in the pits and when they came out they managed to do just nine laps between them.

Vettel set a best time of 1:52.522 and edged out, after a long time, team-mate Daniel Ricciardo by just over 0.1s. Pastor Maldonado was third ahead of Romain Grosjean. Adrian Sutil was fifth for Sauber ahead of Daniil Kvyat. Kevin Magnussen and Jenson Button were seventh and eighth respectively ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Kimi Raikkonen. Kimi's team-mate Fernando Alonso also opted against setting a time.

Intermediate tyres was the favoured choice and we saw Vettel hitting some standing water and running off on to the grass, while Grosjean spun out of the final corner but managed to keep car away from the wall.

While most drivers went out to at least get a feel for the conditions ahead of qualifying, Max Chilton completed just one lap as he was hampered by a gearbox issue down at Marussia. The FP2 session however, was a much better one.

Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time of FP2 for the British Grand Prix but failed to finish the session as his Mercedes stopped on track. He beat the time team mate Nico Rosberg set in FP1 and went on to set a time of 1:34.508s. Hamilton set off on medium tyres but with 30 minutes to go a radio message from the Mercedes car "Engine killed, no shifting" brought the British race car driver's session to a halt.

Rosberg was just 0.228s behind Hamilton with Alonso once again placed in third place within a second of the two Mercedes as he was in the first session. The two Red Bulls also continued their strong form from the morning by finishing fourth and fifth with Daniel Ricciardo and Sebastian Vettel respectively. Bottas completed 33 laps and set the sixth fastest time ahead of Jenson Button, Kevin Magnussen and Kimi Raikkonen.

Jean-Eric Vergne was tenth fastest but had some form of failure with the wheel retainer on his front left, with the wheel coming loose as he took Turn 1, but fortunately remaining attached as Vergne was able to bring the car to a controlled stop.

We will be keeping a close eye on the Qualification rounds which will decide who takes pole position in tomorrows race.