Nico Rosberg ended Friday as the fastest man ahead of the Brazilian Grand Prix, as the rain continued.
Picking up where he left off earlier in the day, the Mercedes driver once again posted the fastest time, despite a flurry of improvements in the dying moments of the session. The second practice session started in even worse conditions than the first, with plenty of standing water and all drivers taking to the track on wet tyres.
But, as conditions improved just enough for a switch to intermediates, lap times began to tumble. It briefly looked like Sebastian Vettel would retake his customary position at the top of time sheets, but he was denied by Rosberg and ended the day second quickest. Mark Webber also showed strong pace to post the third fastest time, while Heikki Kovalainen was fourth for Lotus.
Lewis Hamilton survived a spin to post the fifth fastest time ahead of Jean Eric Vergne and Ferrari’s Felipe Massa. Nico Hulkenberg, Daniel Ricciardo and Romain Grosjean rounded out the top ten.
Fernando Alonso was one of the first drivers to switch to intermediate tyres, but missed out on setting a lap when the track was at its fastest. He was therefore outside the top ten, in eleventh. Jenson Button also had a low key session, only taking to the track late on and completing very few laps. He was the slowest driver of the session, while Sergio Perez was only seventeenth.
Jules Bianchi was the fastest “new” team driver, posting the eighteenth fastest time, ahead of Giedo van der Garde and Charles Pic.
With wet weather expected for the rest of the weekend, Mercedes look in a strong position to take the fight to Red Bull after day one.
