Rosberg quickest as Mercedes shine in F1 practice (Roundup)

Mar 12, 2010, 15:12 GMT

Sakhir, Bahrain - Nico Rosberg was fastest with Mercedes GP team-mate Michael Schumacher third in Friday's second practice session ahead of the season-opening Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix.

Rosberg clocked a fastest lap of 1 minute 55.409 seconds on the Sakhir circuit, 0.494 seconds quicker than seven-time world champion Schumacher.

Britain's Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 world champion, was second, with McLaren team-mate and reigning world champion Jenson Buton fourth.

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel was fifth, ahead of fellow German Nico Hulkenberg in a Williams.

Schumacher was not entirely happy with his return on the hot desert track with temperatures hovering around 30 degrees Celsius.

'I certainly feel a little bit rusty, certainly on the one-lap issue I can do better,' he said.

'On long runs and consistent runs things are pretty good, I'm quite happy. I will just use the rest of the weekend in order to tweak out the little bits.'

The practice session are not necessarily a gauge of performance ahead of Saturday's qualifying and Sunday's race because teams are using different fuel loads and are fine-tuning their set-ups.

Teams were using the practice sessions to run on a variety of fuel loads to prepare for both qualifying - when fuel loads will be light - and the race itself, when cars will start with a maximum load.

But Mercedes, in their first season since taking over from Brawn GP, will be boosted by the times of their all-German driving team.

Mercedes motorsport director Norbert Haug said the team was using a light fuel load. 'It is impossible to say where you stand but the development is going in the right direction,' he said.

Schumacher, returning to Formula One after three years' retirement, was 10th in the initial session, two places behind Rosberg.

There were several indications teams were using different fuel loads for the two sessions.

Adrian Sutil in a Force India was fastest in the first practice session, but was down to 10th in the second spell.

Fernando Alonso of Spain in a Ferrari had the second fastest lap, but was 13th in the second session. Alonso's team-mate Felipe Massa was 16th after placing fourth in the morning.

The first real test of where the teams stand will come in Saturday's qualifying when all cars should have light fuel loads. Refuelling is prohibited during racing, meaning cars will begin on Sunday with maximum fuel loads.

In another rule change, the top 10 on the grid are not allowed to change tyres after qualifying while the other 14 drivers can do so.