Vettel leads McLarens in second practice | 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix second practice

Sebastian Vettel headed the times in second practice at Yas Marina.

Vettel took to the top of the times straight after the session began but was pegged back by Lewis Hamilton at first.

McLaren appeared to be a match for Red Bull on the medium tyres. Hamilton set a 1'42.095 which was around half a second quicker than Vettel could manage on the same rubber.

But when the teams switch to the soft tyres Vettel found much more time. A 1'41.751 put him ahead of Hamilton by 0.168s. Mark Webber was fourth-fastest behind the other McLaren of Jenson Button.

Webber's session came to an early end after a leak was seen on his car. During the session Webber's RB8 was also observed to be touching the ground at the T-tray when he had DRS open, kicking up sparks as Vettel's had done in India.

The two Lotuses were next, Romain Grosjean fractionally faster than Kimi Raikkonen. The Ferraris of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa were seventh and eighth.

Pastor Maldonado and Sergio Perez completed the top ten. Nico Hulkenberg was 13th for Force India after a KERS failure on his car.

2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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Image © Yas Marina/LAT

2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix practice in pictures | F1 pictures

Pictures from the first day of practice for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

More images will be added here.

Mark Webber, Red Bull, Yas Marina, 2012

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, Yas Marina, 2012

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, Yas Marina, 2012

Jenson Button, McLaren, Yas Marina, 2012

Jenson Button, McLaren, Yas Marina, 2012

Jenson Button, McLaren, Yas Marina, 2012

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Yas Marina, 2012

Fernando Alonso, Ferrari, Yas Marina, 2012

Felipe Massa, Ferrari, Yas Marina, 2012

Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, Yas Marina, 2012

Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, Yas Marina, 2012

Michael Schumacher, Mercedes, Yas Marina, 2012

Romain Grosjean, Lotus, Yas Marina, 2012

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus, Yas Marina, 2012

Kimi Raikkonen, Lotus, Yas Marina, 2012

Paul di Resta, Force India, Yas Marina, 2012

Paul di Resta, Force India, Yas Marina, 2012

Paul di Resta, Force India, Yas Marina, 2012

Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber, Yas Marina, 2012

Sergio Perez, Sauber, Yas Marina, 2012

Kamui Kobayashi, Sauber, Yas Marina, 2012

Daniel Ricciardo, Toro Rosso, Yas Marina, 2012

Jean-Eric Vergne, Toro Rosso, Yas Marina, 2012

Valtteri Bottas, Williams, Yas Marina, 2012

Heikki Kovalainen, Caterham, Yas Marina, 2012

Vitaly Petrov, Caterham, Yas Marina, 2012

Alexander Rossi, Caterham, Yas Marina, 2012

Ma Qing Hua, HRT, Yas Marina, 2012

Max Chilton, Marussia, Yas Marina, 2012

Timo Glock, Marussia, Yas Marina, 2012

Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull, Yas Marina, 2012

Mark Webber, Red Bull, Yas Marina, 2012

Mark Webber, Red Bull, Yas Marina, 2012

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, Yas Marina, 2012

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, Yas Marina, 2012

Lewis Hamilton, McLaren, Yas Marina, 2012

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, Yas Marina, 2012

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, Yas Marina, 2012

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes, Yas Marina, 2012

Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, Yas Marina, 2012

Nico Hulkenberg, Force India, Yas Marina, 2012

Paul di Resta, Force India, Yas Marina, 2012

Kamui Kobayashi, Esteban Gutierrez, Sauber, Yas Marina, 2012

Jenson Button, McLaren, Yas Marina, 2012

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Images © Ferrari spa/Ercole Colombo, Lotus F1 Team/LAT, Williams/LAT, McLaren/Hoch Zwei, Mercedes, Daimler/Hoch Zwei, Getty Images/Red Bull, Sahara Force India F1 Team, Sauber F1 Team, Caterham/LAT, Marussia, HRT, Pirelli, Yas Marina/LAT

DRS 'seemed particularly ineffective' in India | 2012 Indian Grand Prix

McLaren technical director Paddy Lowe says more work needs to be done to improve overtaking at the Buddh International Circuit following a processional Indian Grand Prix.

Speaking in a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes phone-in Lowe was asked whether the race showed that overtaking aids such as DRS and KERS were rendered ineffective when more conservative tyre compounds were used.

'I suppose in terms of overtaking DRS seemed particularly ineffective there,' said Lowe. 'Several were people stuck behind cars for long periods of time. I think Kimi [Raikkonen] found it extremely tough.'

'I think when you saw, let's say, Lewis [Hamilton] at the end trying to overtake [Mark] Webber, the particular issue seemed to be that you could set yourself up, gain some time in the first sector, get yourself just about within DRS reach but not close up, and then through the cornering sequences because of the effect of the wake you lost that gap again so you never quite got back close for the DRS stretch to make it count.

'So there's something about that circuit which we ought to study to understand why, whether there's something that can be done to make the DRS effective around there.

'I think there are a lot of circuits where it works very well so there's a subtlety to it that needs to be understood.'

Lowe said he did not expect a trend of less exciting races to develop: 'No I don't think so. I think it's something specific to that particular circuit.

'Having said that, let's see how this event goes. Abu Dhabi has also been one of the more difficult ones in the calendar for overtaking, even with DRS. So if that is the case again that doesn't disprove my point because I would have said this would be another one which would be quite difficult.'

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2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

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Image © Daimler/Hoch Zwei

Vettel and Alonso both worthy champions, say rivals | 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso would both be worthy world champions whichever of them wins the title this year, according to their rivals.

Speaking in the press conference ahead of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix Jenson Button said: 'They've both done a fantastic job this year.

'You would say throughout the season Fernando has probably been ' well, he has been, the more consistent.

'The last few races, yeah, it's been a great job by Red Bull but also a great job by Sebastian. He's been given the equipment and he's delivered.

'Your don't win Grands Prix on your own, you don't win championships on your own. So whoever comes out on top is the driver who deserves to win it.'

Alonso's team mate Felipe Massa said he has done 'an incredible job' this year.

'Sebastian as well,' Massa added. 'Especially in the second part of the championship. So I think we are not talking about one guy which has many victories, the other one not. We are talking about two drivers and one of them who win we would say he deserves it.'

'But anyway, I hope Fernando will win,' he concluded.

Daniel Ricciardo said the outcome of the title contest is not a foregone conclusion despite Vettel increasing his lead in the last race:

'I think this season's been very hard to judge. It's been a very exciting season and I think anything can happen. So even if it is the case that the package of Vettel, himself and the car, is better at this stage, it still doesn't confirm a world championship. You have to get it done on Sunday and there's still three Sundays to go and things can happen.

'I think they've both had a little bit of bad luck this season. I think from now they're going to go head-to-toe. Obviously Red Bull's been the car to beat in the last four races or so. But I think the pace is always changing and Ferrari's obviously got some good experience and good people behind them. So I'm sure a surprise is not impossible either.

'So we'll see what happens. It's exciting ' I'd like to be a part of it.'

But Vitaly Petrov suspects Red Bull's performance advantage will prove decisive: 'I think it's clear for me in the moment, today, the Red Bull car has a big advantage compared to Ferrari.

This year Alonso did a fantastic, incredible job at the beginning and he have a few crashes. But we know all of us, I think, Ferrari is not in the same place as Red Bull so it will be difficult for Ferrari but Ferrari also has a lot of passion to win and they bring a lot of updates so maybe this weekend or another weekend.

'I really don't know but what I can see at the moment is Red Bull is a quicker car, that's it.'

2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

• Abu Dhabi to be hot as usual for fourth Grand Prix
• Vettel and Alonso both worthy champions, say rivals
• DRS "seemed particularly ineffective" in India
• 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix TV Times
• First DRS zone extended at Yas Marina

Browse all 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix articles

Abu Dhabi to be hot as usual for fourth Grand Prix | 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix weather

Abu Dhabi will see temperatures in excess of 30C on all three days of the race weekend.

However with the crucial qualifying and race sessions being held in the evening, teams will keep a close eye on how the track temperature falls as it goes dark.

Air temperatures will remain well above 20C even as night falls at the circuit when the cars are in action.

At present Sunday is set to be the hottest of the three days. Sunset will begin at 5:30pm local time, half an hour after the race starts.

'The most special thing about this event is the fact we race in the dusk,' explained Sauber's head of track engineering Giampaolo Dall'Ara. 'This requires us to adapt some of our work, especially in free practice one and three when it's very hot.

'Free practice two is of particular importance because then the conditions are those that are most comparable to the ones we will experience in qualifying and the race.'

There will be regular updates on the track conditions during each session on F1 Fanatic Live and the F1 Fanatic Twitter account.

Location of Yas Marina

See the location of every race on the 2012 F1 calendar here:

• 2012 F1 calendar

2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

• Abu Dhabi to be hot as usual for fourth Grand Prix
• Vettel and Alonso both worthy champions, say rivals
• DRS "seemed particularly ineffective" in India
• 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix TV Times
• First DRS zone extended at Yas Marina

Browse all 2012 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix articles

Image © Red Bull/Getty images

Nico Hulkenberg joins Sauber for 2013 | 2013 F1 season

Nico Hulkenberg will move to Sauber for 2013, the team has confirmed.

It will be the third team Hulkenberg has raced for in as many seasons. He arrived in F1 with Williams in 2010 but was replaced at the team by Pastor Maldonado the following year.

He spent 2011 as a test driver for Force India before joining their race team this year.

'I'm really looking forward to working with the Sauber F1 Team,' said Hulkenberg. 'It's a well-placed team and very competitive.'

'Plus it's a team in which young drivers have repeatedly delivered exceptional performances. I would like to take up that baton.

'The Sauber F1 Team is currently going through a very positive development and I'm certain that together we can achieve a lot. Until that time I will remain fully focused on my job with the Sahara Force India Team. I'd like to thank the management at Sahara Force India for giving me the chance to return to Formula One as a team driver.'

Sauber team principal Monisha Kaltenborn said: 'We've been observing Nico for some time now and his performances have been very persuasive. That was the case in GP2 and has continued into Formula One.

'An obvious highlight was how he scored pole at Interlagos in 2010 despite the most challenging external conditions. He clearly showed that he can seize the chance if it arises.

'But high spots like that are one thing; systematic teamwork is another ' and on that score I have confidence in Nico too. I'm sure he will fit in very well with the Sauber F1 Team. We look forward to working together with him.'

Sauber added the team's second driver for 2013 would be confirmed 'at a later date'.

Sergio Perez is already known to be leaving the team for McLaren. Kamui Kobayashi's seat is believed to be under threat, with reserve driver Esteban Gutierrez tipped as a replacement.

Force India team principal Vijay Mallya said it had been 'a pleasure' to work with Hulkenberg this year.

'At the end of 2010 we identified him as a star of the future and it has been rewarding to watch him develop his racing skills,' he said.

'Together with Paul he has done a brilliant job for us, helping the team score more points than ever before and giving 100% commitment every weekend. We would like to thank him for all his hard work and wish him well for the future. With three races remaining this season, we know Nico will remain totally committed and continue to deliver his best performances for the team.'

See the updated list of 2013 F1 drivers and teams

2013 F1 season

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Image © Sahara Force India F1 Team