Australia EL2: Nico Rosberg on his way

As during the first session played earlier this morning, both Mercedes W06 Hybrid by Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton set the pace in Melbourne, Australia in FP2. If the Ferrari by Kimi Räikkönen then Sebastian Vettel had for a time moved to the forefront after passing the soft tires, the two Silver Arrows quickly responded, Rosberg being a tenth faster than the reigning World Champion Hamilton with a best time established in 1'27″697.

The two SF15-Ts of Vettel and Räikkönen rank 3rd and 4th by more than seven tenths, and are ahead of the only Williams in action in EL2, that of Valtteri Bottas. Felipe Massa did not take part in the session, a leak having been detected on his FW37. Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull), sole representative of Red Bull in this session continued to Daniel Ricciardo's motor problems, takes sixth place ahead of Toro Rosso de Carlos Sainz (his teammate Verstappen experienced a battery problem), the two Lotuses of Pastor Maldonado and Romain Grosjean and the Force India of Nico Hulkenberg.

Felipe Nasr places the first Sauber in 11th position, the single-seaters ofHinwil having finally taken the track despite Giedo van der Garde's legal actions. Marcus Ericsson also had a problem with his left rear wheel. On the side of McLaren, Button finished 13th and experienced a loss of power at the end of the session while Magnussen, 16th, ended his session against the wall of tires, after going off the track at turn 6. The Manor Marussia of Will Stevens and Roberto Merhi, however, have still not entered into action in Melbourne.

The third free practice session will begin tomorrow at 4 a.m. before qualifying scheduled for 7 a.m. Photos from the Australian Grand Prix can be viewed here.