Carrying the energy of wins in both of the season's first two races, Sebastian Vettel looked every bit as strong in gap practice Friday at Shanghai International Circuit.
Vettel, chasing the rare feat of initial a season with three straight wins, posted a quick lap of 1:38:739 to easily beat out coworker Mark Webber in the sister Red Bull RB7.
Webber, at 1:39:394, was the only other driver to eclipse the one minute, 39 second fence as third-place Lewis Hamilton (1:40:845) was more than two full seconds back of Vettel.
Jenson Button, who reported throughout the practice that his KERS system wasn't working, and Nick Heidfeld finished the top five.
The 90-minute session didn't turn out to Heidfeld's liking, however, as the German stopped his Lotus Renault GP entry on a wet track below overcast, hazy skies.
Heidfeld went over the curbs at Turn 10 and lost power, damaging his car.
Rookies Pastor Maldonado and Paul di Resta also spun, in that order, at different times.
