- Mercedes dominate Friday practice ahead of Sunday’s Bahrain GP
- Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg finish top under floodlights at Sakhir Circuit
- Reigning champion Sebastian Vettel finishes seventh fastest
- Sunday’s Bahrain GP will take place under floodlights for first time
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(CNN) — Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg picked up where they left off in Malaysia completing another dominant day for Mercedes at Friday’s practice session in Bahrain ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix.
The pair took the Formula One team’s first one-two for 59 years at Kuala Lumpur’s Sepang’s International Circuit last weekend, and are on course to repeat the feat if Friday’s practice is any guide.
Hamilton finished the day top of the standings at the floodlit Sakhir circuit with a best lap time of one minute 34.325 seconds with German teammate Rosberg 0.365 seconds behind.
“The track temperature was 38-40 degrees and then this afternoon was a lot cooler, about ten degrees, so it’s just really not trying to panic and react to the change,” Hamilton told Sky Sports News.
“We struggled a bit on the tires as everyone did.”
Rosberg was satisfied with second place and welcomed the new night racing in Bahrain.
“It’s spectacular. Even on track it’s very impressive. It’s good, especially for TV viewers. It’s going to be great to watch,” Rosberg said.
“Visibility wise it’s very similar to Singapore. It’s a bit more difficult in the dark with the glare.”
He was also buoyed by the positive update on the health of his compatriot Michael Schumacher.
The former F1 star has been in a medically-induced coma for over three months following a skiing accident, but is now starting to have “moments of consciousness,” his agent Sabine Kehm said Friday.
“It’s fantastic to hear,” Rosberg said. “I am very happy, as is everybody else in the paddock. We know that his family would be very careful before releasing such good news. I hope he will continue to progress.”
very happy to hear good news about Michael here at Bahrain #KeepFightingMichael http://t.co/baCSQLXXhR
— Nico Rosberg (@nico_rosberg)
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