Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton led the way in a wet first practice at the Brazilian Grand Prix. Rosberg set his fastest lap time early in the session and no-one got close to him as he sat out the second half of the session. Hamilton ended up 0.449 seconds adrift.
Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettel took third, with McLaren’s Jenson Button fourth ahead of Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso and the second Red Bull of Mark Webber. There were a number of spins and off-track moments in the slippery conditions, including from both Mercedes drivers.
Russian Daniil Kvyat was impressive in the Toro Rosso, setting the eighth fastest time in only his second outing in an F1 car at a grand prix. The 19-year-old has run in first practice at the final two grands prix of the season in preparation for his full debut in 2014, replacing Red Bull-bound Daniel Ricciardo.
Lotus’s Heikki Kovalainen, standing in for Kimi Raikkonen in the final two races after his fellow Finn had an operation on a long-standing back operation, was ninth, ahead of Sauber’s Nico Hulkenberg.