Vettel downplays practice performance

Vettel topped the morning session ahead of team-mate Mark Webber, with third-placed Robert Kubica over a second behind the German.

In the afternoon Vettel was quickest again, this time around half a second in front of Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

But despite its strong start to the weekend, Vettel is convinced things will be very close between his team and its rivals.

"I wouldn't say that," said Vettel when asked if Red Bull was in a league apart. "I think this morning we know what happened and the gaps were very big, but this afternoon was much more like it.

"I think the Ferraris will be very close and I think in the long run if you look at the pace was very similar so again it looks tight, and McLaren are going at coming back for Saturday so you never know.

"This morning was a bit not a clear picture but this afternoon was much more like it, much tighter and the Ferraris seemed very quick again, not just on short run but also on longer run, so I think they will be very quick again tomorrow as well.

"And you cannot forget the McLarens, there were a lot of times this year when they made a good forward to Saturday."

He is adamant that the battle for pole position will not be exclusively fought out between himself and Webber, despite Red Bull having secured 10 poles this year.

"It will be between us and the rest of the field - especially the McLaren and Ferraris. It is not just one or two, to be on pole you need to beat more than one or two guys on a grid."