YEONGAM (South Korea), Oct 4: Lewis Hamilton was fastest in both free practice sessions for the Korean Grand Prix on Friday as Kimi Raikkonen escaped a heavy crash in the opening run-out.

Britain’s Hamilton nudged Red Bull’s world championship leader Sebastian Vettel into second in both sessions.

Vettel was 0.108sec off Hamilton’s best time of 1min 38.673sec in the second outing.

Under blue skies at the Yeongam circuit Lotus driver Raikkonen, fourth in the title race, was only eighth quickest in both sessions and spun off towards the end of the morning practice, slamming into a wall.

Second practice:

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1:38.673, 2. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull Racing 1:38.781, 3. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1:38.797, 4. Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull Racing 1:38.844, 5. Felipe Massa (BRA) Scuderia Ferrari 1:39.114, 6. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus 1:39.226, 7. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Scuderia Ferrari 1:39.444, 8. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Lotus 1:39.757, 9. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren Mercedes 1:39.774, 10. Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India 1:40.006, 11. Paul di Resta (GBR) Force India 1:40.007, 12. Sergio Perez (MEX) McLaren

Mercedes 1:40.152, 13. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX) Sauber 1:40.186, 14. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Sauber 1:40.210, 15. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:40.446, 16. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:40.552, 17. Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Williams 1:41.117, 18. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams 1:41.289, 19. Giedo van der Garde (NED) Caterham 1:42.461, 20. Charles Pic (FRA) Caterham 1:42.798, 21. Jules Bianchi (FRA) Marussia 1:43.108, 22. Max Chilton (GBR) Marussia 1:43.441

First practice:

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes 1:39.630, 2. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Red Bull Racing 1:39.667, 3. Mark Webber (AUS) Red Bull Racing 1:39.816, 4. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes 1:40.117, 5. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren Mercedes 1:40.215, 6. Fernando Alonso (ESP) Scuderia Ferrari 1:40.374, 7. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Lotus 1:40.396, 8. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Lotus 1:40.677, 9. Sergio Perez (MEX) McLaren Mercedes 1:40.860, 10. Felipe Massa (BRA) Scuderia Ferrari 1:40.880, 11. Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Sauber 1:40.899, 12. Adrian Sutil (GER) Force India 1:41.432, 13. Pastor Maldonado (VEN) Williams 1:41.482, 14. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX) Sauber 1:41.626, 15. Jean-Eric Vergne (FRA) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:41.924, 16. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams 1:42.002, 17. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:42.043, 19. Charles Pic (FRA) Caterham 1:43.660, 20. Giedo van der Garde (NED) Caterham 1:43.883, 21. Max Chilton (GBR) Marussia 1:44.100, 22. Rodolfo Gonzalez (VEN) Marussia 1:46.810.—AFP