Vettel on top in rain-reduced practice session

Sebastian Vettel topped the times for Ferrari in Saturday's third and final free practice session for Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix before rain intervened.

The four-time champion German clocked a best lap in one minute and 9.994 seconds to outpace nearest challenger, series leader and defending champion Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes by 0.017 seconds.

Vettel's Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was third quickest ahead of Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India and German Nico Rosberg in the second Mercedes.

The mid-session rain prevented the top drivers from producing improved times in the closing part of the hour and offered a chance, instead, for practice with Pirelli's wet tyres.

Many went out to use the wet tyres, but Briton Hamilton chose to stay in the garage and was the only front-running driver to do so. He wound up having completed only 16 laps compared to Rosberg's 23.

Hamilton and Rosberg had dominated the early part of the session and traded fastest laps until Vettel took over at the top.

It was another challenging morning for the struggling McLaren Honda team with Spaniard Fernando Alonso down in 15th place and Briton Jenson Button 18th.
Source: AFP