Rosberg beats Mercedes teammate Hamilton to top of P2 timesheet

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg has beaten his teammate Lewis Hamilton to the top of the timesheet in the second practice session ahead of the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi.

Ferrari pair Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel started strongly as just three tenths of a second separated the duo after the first few laps.

Hamilton, who topped first practice in his Mercedes, clocked an early time which was 0.375 of a second faster than his rival Rosberg.

The yellow flag came out with just under half an hour of the session to go as Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz Jr parked on the run-off at Turn 7 due to a problem that resulted in him switching off the engine.

Force India’s Sergio Perez clocked the third fastest time and Daniel Ricciardo was fourth quickest in his Red Bull. Full standings:

1. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes)

2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes)

3. Sergio Perez (Force India)

4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)

5. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari)

6. Daniil Kvyat (Red Bull)

7. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)

8. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India)

9. Fernando Alonso (McLaren)

10. Pastor Maldonado (Lotus)

11. Valtteri Bottas (Williams)

12. Felipe Massa (Williams)

13. Max Verstappen (Toro Rosso)

14. Carlos Sainz Jr (Toro Rosso)

15. Romain Grosjean (Lotus)

16. Jenson Button (McLaren)

17. Felipe Nasr (Sauber)

18. Marcus Ericsson (Sauber)

19. Will Stevens (Manor)

20. Roberto Merhi (Manor)