Vettel edges Webber in Abu Dhabi practice

Infiniti Red Bull Racing continued its dominance of the 2013 Formula 1 season as team-mates Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber topped practice day at Abu Dhabi.

Vettel, who sealed his fourth consecutive world title last weekend in India, proved 0.16s quicker than the Australian in the afternoon’s second practice session.

Vettel emerged as the fastest man on the hard tyres in the early stages of the 90 minute hit-out before temporarily falling down the order as he waited for a late soft tyre run.

Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen and Nico Rosberg eventually completed the evening’s top five.

Raikkonen had been the talk of the paddock prior to practice having not arrived at the circuit until Friday morning.

Downplayed by Lotus, the late arrival was a clear display of disharmony between the team and its Ferrari bound driver.

Raikkonen did not take kindly to stern radio messages from trackside operations director, Alan Permane, during last weekend’s race, while a continued absence of money owed to the Finn is also said to be souring the relationship.

The McLarens of Sergio Perez and Jenson Button meanwhile ensured that Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso could manage no better than eighth around the Yas Marina circuit on Friday.

Button lost time with a puncture during the session; the same fate that befell fellow Briton Paul di Resta.

The evening proved almost three seconds quicker than the afternoon’s Practice 1, which was topped by Romain Grosjean.

GP2 front-runner James Calado was the fastest of the three stand-in drivers during the opening hit-out, taking Adrian Sutil’s Force India to 14th.

Heikki Kovalainen (Caterham) and Rodolfo Gonzalez (Marussia) also cut laps, turning the 20th and 22nd fastest times respectively.

See below for the Practice 2 result

 See below for the Practice 1 result