Lewis Hamilton tops third practice in Russian Grand Prix

Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's British driver Lewis Hamilton steers his car during the third practice session of the Formula One Russian Grand Prix at the Sochi Autodrom circuit on April 30, 2016. PHOTO | ALEXANDER NEMENOV |

By  AFP

What you need to know:

  • Brazilian Felipe Massa was fifth in the leading Williams ahead of his team-mate Finn Valtteri Bottas, Dutch teenager Jos Verstappen of Toro Rosso and 2009 champion Briton Jenson Button of McLaren Honda.
  • His team-mate local hero Russian Daniil Kvyat was 13th behind two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso in the second McLaren

SOCHI

Rosberg was fastest in Friday morning's first session before Hamilton took over at the top in the second session.

German Vettel was six-tenths of a second off the pace set by Hamilton with his team-mate Finn Kimi Raikkonen 1.3 seconds adrift of the leading Mercedes.

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That suggested qualifying later on Saturday was likely to be decided by a fine margin between the two Mercedes men.

Brazilian Felipe Massa was fifth in the leading Williams ahead of his team-mate Finn Valtteri Bottas, Dutch teenager Jos Verstappen of Toro Rosso and 2009 champion Briton Jenson Button of McLaren Honda.

Spaniard Carlos Sainz was ninth in the second Toro Rosso and Mexican Sergio Perez 10th for Force India, leaving a disappointed Australian Daniel Ricciardo down in 10th in his Red Bull.

His team-mate local hero Russian Daniil Kvyat was 13th behind two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso in the second McLaren, an endorsement of his team's improvement since their disappointing season in 2015.

PROVISIONAL RESULTS

1. Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes-AMG 1:36.403, 2. Nico Rosberg (GER) Mercedes-AMG 1:36.471, 3. Sebastian Vettel (GER) Ferrari 1:37.007, 4. Kimi Raikkonen (FIN) Ferrari 1:37.727, 5. Felipe Massa (BRA) Williams 1:37.918, 6. Valtteri Bottas (FIN) Williams 1:37.985, 7. Max Verstappen (NED) Toro Rosso 1:38.133, 8. Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren-Honda 1:38.260, 9. Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP) Toro Rosso 1:38.465, 10. Sergio Perez (MEX) Force India 1:38.542

11. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) Red Bull 1:38.622, 12. Fernando Alonso (ESP) McLaren-Honda 1:38.633, 13. Daniil Kvyat (RUS) Red Bull 1:39.047, 14. Nico Hülkenberg (GER) Force India 1:39.162, 15. Esteban Gutierrez (MEX) Haas 1:39.230, 16. Kevin Magnussen (DEN) Renault 1:39.238, 17. Romain Grosjean (FRA) Haas 1:39.239, 18. Jolyon Palmer (GBR) Renault 1:39.589, 19. Rio Haryanto (INA) Manor 1:39.599, 20. Pascal Wehrlein (GER) Manor 1:39.663, 21. Marcus Ericsson (SWE) Sauber 1:39.740, 22. Felipe Nasr (BRA) Sauber 1:39.898

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