Lewis Hamilton dominates practice sessions at Australian Grand Prix

Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes walks in the paddock during previews to the Spanish Formula One Grand Prix at Circuit de Catalunya on May 12, 2016
© Getty Images
Three-time world champion Lewis Hamilton kicks off the new season by topping the first two practice sessions ahead of the Australian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton left his rivals trailing in their wake as he came out on top in the first two practice sessions ahead of this weekend's Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne.

The three-time world champion headed a Mercedes one-two in the first session of the season, edging new teammate Valtteri Bottas and leaving Ferrari with some early thinking to do.

Hamilton ended more than half a second clear at the top on 1:24.22, while Red Bull duo Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen finished just ahead of Ferrari's pairing, with home driver Ricciardo posting the third-fastest time - 0.6s slower than Hamilton.

It was a similar story in second practice, meanwhile, as Hamilton this time finished 0.54s clear of Ferrari's Vettel in second, who himself was narrowly ahead of Bottas.

Ricciardo finished in fifth, behind Raikkonen, while Fernando Alonso exceeded expectation in the McLaren-Honda to set the 12th quickest time in the final session of the day.

Final practice takes place in the early hours of Saturday morning Down Under, with qualifying scheduled to get under way later in the day.

Sebastian Vettel of Germany and Ferrari celebrates on the podium after winning the Formula One Grand Prix of Singapore at Marina Bay Street Circuit on September 20, 2015
Read Next:
Marko: 'Mercedes interested in Vettel'
>



You May Like
Recomended from Sports Mole
TeamPoints
1Ferrari37
2Mercedes33
3Red Bull10
4Williams-Mercedes8
5Force India7
6Toro Rosso6
7Haas0
8Renault0
9Sauber0
10McLaren0
DriversTeamPoints
1Sebastian VettelFerrari25
2Lewis HamiltonMercedes18
3Valtteri BottasMercedes15
4Kimi RaikkonenFerrari12
5Max VerstappenRed Bull10
6Felipe MassaWilliams-Mercedes8
7Sergio PerezForce India6
8Carlos SainzToro Rosso4
9Daniil KvyatToro Rosso2
10Esteban OconForce India1
11Fernando AlonsoMcLaren0
12Daniel RicciardoRed Bull0
13Romain GrosjeanHaas0
14Nico HulkenbergRenault0
15Kevin MagnussenHaas0
16Marcus EricssonSauber0
17Stoffel VandoorneMcLaren0
18Antonio GiovinazziSauber0
19Jolyon PalmerRenault0
20Lance StrollWilliams-Mercedes0