It was a mixed Friday for Red Bull in Malaysia as the team try to capitalise on the RB6’s excellent raw performance. Sebastian Vettel was second fastest behind Lewis Hamilton in Free Practice 2, but in the same session Mark Webber was forced to stop early.
Vettel, who has twice been denied race wins by reliability issues, says he didn’t have everything his way today either. “Some small issues for me today, but nothing big. Mark unfortunately had to stop and couldn't finish the practice, it looks like his engine went. I wasn't 100% happy today, I think we still need to get a little bit quicker. The McLarens and the Mercedes look quick and Ferrari have a decent long run pace, so we'll have to see where we are. This circuit is one of the tougher ones here due to the hot and humid conditions.”
Mark Webber gave a blunt diagnosis of his problem, but was relieved that Vettel seemed to have good pace. “It was the engine. You never want your Friday disturbed and today's problem cost us quite a bit of track time, but the car felt pretty good in the quick stuff and also at low speeds. It's never ideal to lose an engine, but we did, although it was quite high mileage. It's good that Vettel's up there, but it's where we expected to be, it would have been nice to feel the option tyres today, but we'll have to do that tomorrow.”
“It was the engine (Mark stopped early inthe second session). You never wantyour Friday disturbed and today'sproblem cost us quite a bit of track time,but the car felt pretty good in the quickstuff and also at low speeds. It's neverideal to lose an engine, but we did,although it was quite high mileage. It'sgood that Vettel's up there, but it's wherewe expected to be, it would have beennice to feel the option tyres today, butwe'll have to do that tomorrow.”
“Some small issues for me today, butnothing big. Mark unfortunately had tostop and couldn't finish the practice, itlooks like his engine went. I wasn't 100%happy today, I think we still need to get alittle bit quicker. The McLarens and theMercedes look quick and Ferrari have adecent long run pace, so we'll have tosee where we are. This circuit is one ofthe tougher ones here due to the hot andhumid conditions.”
