Michael Schumacher has pipped compatriot Nico Hulkenberg to record the fastest time in Practice 2 for Sunday’s Qantas Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix.
The seven-time World Champion set a best time of 1:29.18s after the chequered flag fell on the 90 minute session to emerge 0.11s faster than the Force India driver.
Hulkenberg had himself displaced Schumacher from the top spot with six minutes remaining, before improving his own benchmark four minutes later.
Sergio Perez was third, while Fernando Alonso and Kamui Kobayashi – who surived a wild spin exiting the final corner as the session ended – rounded out the top five.
Paul di Resta, Felipe Massa, Heikki Kovalainen, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel filled sixth through 10th.
Australians Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo were 11th and 21st fastest respectively.
The session began in full-wet conditions after a deluge hit the Albert Park circuit 40 minutes prior to the scheduled start time.
Fernando Alonso was the first to try intermediates at the 30 minute mark, while it took a further half hour before Narain Karthikeyan pioneered the move to slicks.
After a 15 minute lull, the top runners joined the HRT driver on slicks for a frantic final 15 minutes.
Practice 3 will kick off at 1400 local time tomorrow ahead of qualifying at 1700.
CLICK HERE for Speedcafe.com’s Practice 1 report
CLICK HERE for more on Mark Webber and Daniel Ricciardo’s practice
Results, Practice 2
| Pos | No | Driver | Team | Time/Retired | Gap | Laps |
| 1 | 7 | Michael Schumacher | Mercedes | 1:29.183 | 16 | |
| 2 | 12 | Nico Hulkenberg | Force India-Mercedes | 1:29.292 | 0.109 | 19 |
| 3 | 15 | Sergio Perez | Sauber-Ferrari | 1:30.199 | 1.016 | 23 |
| 4 | 5 | Fernando Alonso | Ferrari | 1:30.341 | 1.158 | 13 |
| 5 | 14 | Kamui Kobayashi | Sauber-Ferrari | 1:30.709 | 1.526 | 14 |
| 6 | 11 | Paul di Resta | Force India-Mercedes | 1:31.466 | 2.283 | 13 |
| 7 | 6 | Felipe Massa | Ferrari | 1:31.505 | 2.322 | 14 |
| 8 | 20 | Heikki Kovalainen | Caterham-Renault | 1:31.932 | 2.749 | 16 |
| 9 | 8 | Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | 1:32.184 | 3.001 | 17 |
| 10 | 1 | Sebastian Vettel | Red Bull Racing-Renault | 1:32.194 | 3.011 | 19 |
| 11 | 2 | Mark Webber | Red Bull Racing-Renault | 1:32.296 | 3.113 | 20 |
| 12 | 24 | Timo Glock | Marussia-Cosworth | 1:32.632 | 3.449 | 17 |
| 13 | 21 | Vitaly Petrov | Caterham-Renault | 1:32.767 | 3.584 | 15 |
| 14 | 10 | Romain Grosjean | Lotus-Renault | 1:32.822 | 3.639 | 11 |
| 15 | 3 | Jenson Button | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:33.039 | 3.856 | 18 |
| 16 | 4 | Lewis Hamilton | McLaren-Mercedes | 1:33.252 | 4.069 | 11 |
| 17 | 18 | Pastor Maldonado | Williams-Renault | 1:34.108 | 4.925 | 21 |
| 18 | 9 | Kimi Räikkönen | Lotus-Renault | 1:34.275 | 5.092 | 7 |
| 19 | 19 | Bruno Senna | Williams-Renault | 1:34.312 | 5.129 | 17 |
| 20 | 17 | Jean-Eric Vergne | STR-Ferrari | 1:34.485 | 5.302 | 29 |
| 21 | 16 | Daniel Ricciardo | STR-Ferrari | 1:34.604 | 5.421 | 31 |
| 22 | 25 | Charles Pic | Marussia-Cosworth | 1:34.770 | 5.587 | 13 |
| 23 | 23 | Narain Karthikeyan | HRT-Cosworth | 1:42.627 | 13.444 | 16 |
| 24 | 22 | Pedro de la Rosa | HRT-Cosworth | No time | 1 |
See below for Speedcafe.com’s Australian Grand Prix Race Guide
