Lewis Hamilton led a Mercedes 1-2 during second practice for Formula 1’s Russian Grand Prix.
Hamilton set two laps quick enough for top spot around the streets of Sochi as he wound up with a time of 1:33.385.
That left him 0.199s clear of team-mate and 2017 race winner Valtteri Bottas, as the Mercedes drivers finished comfortably ahead of the chasing pack.
Red Bull pair Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo were third and fourth respectively, 0.442s and 0.459s off the pace, as both prepare to drop down the grid amid engine penalties.
Hamilton’s title rival Sebastian Vettel was fifth quickest, half a second off the pace, and also spun through Turn 13 in his race simulation.
Vettel was additionally less-than-amused about his placement on track, quipping over the radio: “You want me to go through traffic or catch it all the time?”
Vettel’s Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen was over a second behind leader Hamilton as he wound up sixth.
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Force India drivers Sergio Perez and Esteban Ocon were seventh and ninth, 1.7s off the pace, sandwiching Toro Rosso’s Pierre Gasly, as he continued to evaluate Honda’s Spec 3 update.
Marcus Ericsson, having sat out FP1 while Antonio Giovinazzi ran, rounded out the top 10 for Sauber, in front of lead Haas driver Kevin Magnussen.
Renault duo Carlos Sainz Jr. and Nico Hulkenberg were 12th and 14th respectively, split by Sauber’s Charles Leclerc, with Perez through Hulkenberg split by less than half a second.
Romain Grosjean and Brendon Hartley took 15th and 16th for Haas and Toro Rosso, while McLaren and Williams continued their dismal seasons, finishing at the rear of the field.
Fernando Alonso was 2.6s off the pace, though still held a gap of six-tenths over McLaren partner Stoffel Vandoorne, while home representative Sergey Sirotkin and Williams team-mate Lance Stroll were 19th and 20th.
Results (FP2):
Lewis Hamilton Mercedes
Valtteri Bottas Mercedes
Max Verstappen Red Bull Racing
Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing
Sebastian Vettel Ferrari
Kimi Raikkonen Ferrari
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