Austria-EL2: Rosberg ahead of Hamilton after the rain

While the first driving session took place under mild skies, the rain made a notable appearance after only ten minutes in free practice 2, forcing the drivers on track with slick tires to return to the pits, not without starting at the fault for some, like Sergio Pérez (Force India) or Jolyon Palmer (Renault). Previously, Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) had set a first time in 1’07″967, which will prove to be the final reference of the session.

After a long silence on the track of almost 45′, the drivers Red Bull finally came out on intermediate tires, followed by Romain Grosjean and Esteban Gutiérrez, before the slick tires were finally released at the end of the session.

No one is going to look for Nico Rosberg, even if Lewis Hamilton will come within 19 thousandths of the best time, a time that Rosberg could have improved after having signed the best first partials in the last minutes before cutting his effort.

Nico Hulkenberg places its Force India in third position and ahead of the Ferrari de Sebastian Vettel, unfortunate animator of the final moments of driving, with an exit from the track at turn no. 2, after losing his SF16-H while braking. A figure of speech imposing the entry into action of the virtual safety car. More fear than harm for the German who finished his race in the gravel trap, but without hitting the barriers.

Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull) ranks fifth ahead Carlos Sainz (Toro Rosso) and Max Verstappen (Red Bull) back on track after his suspension broke in EL1 this morning. The Australian, however, reported a lack of power on his Renault Power Unit in the last quarter of an hour.

Kimi Räikkönen, who made a mistake at the start of the session in the gravel trap just before the rain arrived, took eighth place ahead of Valtteri Bottas (Williams) and Jenson Button (McLaren). Romain Grosjean (Haas) only finished 20th while the two Renault R.S. 16s of Magnussen and Palmer finished in 15th and 16th places.

The third free practice session will begin tomorrow morning at 11 a.m. before qualifying scheduled from 14 p.m., which will be followed live on our website.

Results Free practice 2