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FORMULA ONE: Zippy Vettel

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LOOKING GOOD: Fastest in final practice

MONTREAL: DEFENDING drivers' champion Sebastian Vettel  topped the times for Red Bull yesterday morning during the final practice  session ahead of qualifying for today's Canadian Grand Prix.   

The 24-year-old clocked a lap of the Gilles Villenauve circuit in a time of  one minute 14.442 seconds, edging out Spaniard Fernando Aonso of Ferrari by six  thousandths of a second.

   Drivers were able to make the most out of the improved weather conditions,  as were the Canadian crowd, who were out in force despite student protesters  threatening to block access to subway lines leading to the circuit as part of  an ongoing fight against a raise in tuition fees.

   Alonso was the first driver to break the one minute 15 seconds barrier  midway through the session, and looked set to finish the session fastest.

   That was until Vettel, eager to perform well after gifting last year's  victory here to McLaren's Jenson Button on the final lap, surpassed his time in  the final minutes of the session.

   McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton was third fastest ahead of Australian Mark  Webber in the second Red Bull.

   Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado of Williams was fifth quickest, followed by  Brazilian Felipe Massa in the second Ferrari and German Michael Schumacher of  Mercedes.

   Rookie Frenchman Romain Grosjean clocked the eighth fastest time ahead of  his Lotus teammate Kimmi Raikkonen of Finland and German Nico Hulkenberg in  the second Williams.

   Chinese Grand Prix winner Nico Rosberg did not set a time after his car  stopped at turn six at the start of the session owing to a clutch failure, and  Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne was also forced to retire after losing control of  his car and crashing at the exit of turn one. AFP

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