Rosberg back on top in Spanish GP practice

BARCELONA: Formula One world championship leader Nico Rosberg set the practice pace on Friday for a Spanish Grand Prix that could see the Mercedes driver celebrate his eighth win in a row.

The German, who would become only the third driver to win the first five races of a season after compatriot Michael Schumacher and Britain’s Nigel Mansell if he triumphs on Sunday (tomorrow), led the way with a fastest time of one minute 23.922 seconds.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel had been fastest in the morning session in 1:23.951 and was fourth in the second session.

Both were well inside Rosberg’s 2015 pole position time of 1:24.681. Vettel’s team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was second fastest in both sessions, 0.254 adrift of Rosberg in the afternoon, with three-time world champion Lewis Hamilton fourth in the morning but third after lunch.

Ferrari were the only ones using the quicker, soft tyres in the morning, having opted for more sets than their rivals as they feel their car is better suited to them.

Hamilton is 43 points behind Rosberg in the standings after suffering power unit failures in the last two race weekends that sent him to the back of the field in China.