Massa tops times in forlorn rain-hit practice

Felipe Massa topped the times in Friday's forlorn and rain-swept second free practice session for Sunday's Russian Grand Prix, the Brazilian clocking the best lap in the closing seconds as only eight cars set times.

After a morning session reduced to an hour following a diesel spillage that left the Sochi Autodrom circuit in a slippery and treacherous condition, the afternoon was hit by torrential rain which left the surface of the track awash with water in many places.

Massa in his Williams took top spot away from Finnish team-mate Valtteri Bottas in a final flurry of action that also saw four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel jump up to second in his Ferrari. Bottas fell to third.

Massa's best lap was two minutes and 0.458 seconds, two-tenths quicker than the time set by Bottas, as the track improved marginally, but a long way off last year's pole time set by world champion Lewis Hamilton in one minute and 38.5 seconds.

Dutch teenager Max Verstappen, who celebrated his 18th birthday by passing his driving test last week, was fourth for Toro Rosso ahead of two-time champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso, in his 250th Grand Prix, in a McLaren-Honda running with an updated engine.

Local hope Russian Daniil Kvyat was sixth for Red Bull ahead of Spaniard Carlos Sainz in the second Toro Rosso and Briton Jenson Button in the second McLaren.

No other drivers set meaningful lap times on a day that gave few clues to performance or the qualifying session and race ahead.

"Not a great day for the fans who came here to watch us," said German Nico Rosberg, who trails his Mercedes team-mate two-time world champion Briton Lewis Hamilton by 48 points with five races remaining this year.
Frenchman Romain Grosjean, who will leave Lotus for the new American-owned Haas team next year, was equally succinct.

"Boring," he said. "The rain came just before that session so we did a team 'selfie' and we discussed the track… it was too wet and there was no point in running.

"We'll just have to wait and do all the work on Saturday."

In the absence of any real track action, the paddock was abuzz with rumours about the future of the Red Bull and Toro Rosso teams – who remain without confirmed engine suppliers for next season.

Commercial ring-master Bernie Ecclestone was involved in talks with the teams and prospective engine suppliers, but without giving away any clear information.

"It's all sorted," he said, with a typically enigmatic half-smile after making clear he was confident of having a full grid for 2016.

Source: AFP