01/03/2013
NEWS STORY
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As forecast, the morning got off to a wet and windy start however, with only two more days of pre-season testing and the chance at rain in at least two of the opening races, the teams knuckled down to work.
Williams and Toro Rosso both opted to change their driver rota in light of the ongoing threat from the weather gods, Pastor Maldonado replacing Valtteri Bottas and Daniel Ricciardo standing in for Jean-Eric Vergne.
Just forty minutes into the session it was Ricciardo who brought out the first red flag of the day, the Toro Rosso grinding to a halt at Turn 9.
Around ninety minutes into the session the rain finally stopped however the track remained very wet and it was only in the final hour before the lunch break that conditions allowed for slicks.
After an early trip through the gravel Sebastian Vettel spent almost ninety minutes in his garage before reappearing, while in the final moments Grosjean stopped at Turn 9 bringing out the reds once again.
Newly confirmed at Force India, Adrian Sutil has looked good from the outset, the German showing no sign of 'ring rust' (or neck ache) after a year long enforced absence.
It is expected to remain dry this afternoon and for the remainder of the weekend, allowing the teams to make their final preparations ahead of the season opener in Melbourne in just two weeks.
Midday Times - All Times Unofficial
| Name | Team | Laps | Time | Gap |
| Button | McLaren | 33 | 1:25.936 | 121.174 mph |
| Sutil | Force India | 42 | 1:26.152 | 0.216 |
| Hulkenberg | Sauber | 36 | 1:27.246 | 1.310 |
| Rosberg | Mercedes | 50 | 1:27.672 | 1.736 |
| Grosjean | Lotus | 52 | 1:27.757 | 1.821 |
| Alonso | Ferrari | 52 | 1:27.878 | 1.942 |
| Maldonado | Williams | 35 | 1:29.132 | 3.196 |
| Ricciardo | Toro Rosso | 40 | 1:29.682 | 3.746 |
| Chilton | Marussia | 39 | 1:29.772 | 3.836 |
| Vettel | Red Bull | 26 | 1:31.159 | 5.223 |
| Van der Garde | Caterham | 29 | 1:39.036 | 13.100 |
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