Indian GP: Sebastian Vettel plays down Red Bull's practice speed

The championship leader was quickest both in the morning and afternoon practice sessions to kick off his weekend in perfect fashion as he seeks a fourth consecutive victory.

Team-mate Mark Webber was second fastest.

Championship rival Fernando Alonso was over half a second off Vettel's pace, but the German said he is not reading too much into Friday's times.

Asked if he felt he was set for another pole, Vettel replied: "I don't know. I know it is not between me and him [Webber]. It is between all of us.

"Friday is always difficult on a circuit like this. When you do a new-tyre run the track improvement is quite big."

He added: "Today is Friday, tomorrow there is another practice before qualifying and we focus on that first."

Australian Webber, who finished just over a tenth behind Vettel in second practice, reckons Red Bull has a "very good chance" of having a strong weekend.

"It was good today," said Webber. "Pole position is one thing, but obviously Sunday is another so we need to perform well for both days.

"I think we have a very good chance of doing that. The guys are doing a great job. There is a huge amount of stuff to go through tonight with the car and the team is obviously incredibly motivated and the drivers are also."