7 time World Champion Michael Schumacher topped the timesheets on a drying track during the 2012 Chinese GP’s second free practice session. The German was 0.172s ahead of closest rival Lewis Hamilton in the McLaren.
Sebastian Vettel wasn’t very far as the reigning World Champion was just 0.015s behind the Briton.
Mark Webber set the 4th fastest time in the second Red Bull, the Australian was testing his team’s latest exhaust layout.
Nico Rosberg couldn’t match his teammate’s pace and had to settle for 5th, while Jenson Button, who complained of understeer on his car, took 6th.
Kamui Kobayashi kept Sauber in contention as the Japanese driver was 7th, ahead of Force India duo Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg.
Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso completed the top 10 and is yet to extract the full potential of his car.
Pos Driver Team Time 1. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m35.973 2. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m36.145s + 0.172 3. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m36.160s + 0.187 4. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m36.433s + 0.460 5. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m36.617s + 0.644 6. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m36.711s + 0.738 7. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m36.956s + 0.983 8. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m36.966s + 0.993 9. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m37.191s + 1.218 10. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m37.316s + 1.343 11. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m37.417s + 1.444 12. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m37.616s + 1.643 13. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m37.836s + 1.863 14. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m37.930s + 1.957 15. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m37.972s + 1.999 16. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m38.176s + 2.203 17. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m38.293s + 2.320 18. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m38.783s + 2.810 19. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m38.990s + 3.017 20. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m39.346s + 3.373 21. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m39.651s + 3.678 22. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m40.343s + 4.370 23. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m40.753s + 4.780