Nico Rosberg sets the pace at Formula One

Abu Dhabi - German lays down early marker by topping timesheets in Abu Dhabi

The World Championship may have been put to bed but Nico Rosberg ensured that he intends to deny his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton a happy ending and wrap this season on a high.
Video by James Jose (Senior Reporter)
The German laid down an early marker in the final race weekend of 2015 by topping the timesheets in the second free practice of the Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Friday night.
Rosberg, eyeing hat trick of race wins after landing the spoils in Mexico and Brazil, swapped places with teammate in the second session of the day, after he had finished second in first practice.
The 30-year-old felt at home at the 5.554km Yas Marina Circuit to log a best time of 1:41.983s, 0.138 seconds quicker than the Briton.
As it has been over the past two seasons, it was a dominant Mercedes once again with both their drivers perched at the top, leaving the rest of the field behind.
"I would say it has been a good start to the weekend, for me" Rosberg said after practice on Friday night
Rosberg improved on his time set in the first session where he had a 1:43.895, 0.141 seconds adrift of pace setter Hamilton.
Sahara Force India's Sergio Perez put aside brake issues to finish third quickest in the second free practice after an eighth best time in the first. The Mexican had a time of 1:42.610 seconds, a gap of 0.627 behind the Mercedes.
Red Bull Racing's Daniel Ricciardo, who reverted to an old-spec Renault engine this weekend after upgrades failed in Brazil last time out, was fourth quickest and registered a time of 1:42.647 seconds. The Australian was down in seventh in the first session. Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, who was the first to go out in the second practice and sang "Happy Birthday" in Italian on the team radio to wish his race engineer Riccardo Adami, as he took in the corners, completed the top five.
The German logged a best time of 1:42.717 seconds. He had also finished fifth in the first session.
Russian Dani Kvyat split the Ferraris of Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen by placing himself sixth. 'Ice Man' Raikkonen, a winner here in 2012, was down in seventh after an impressive run in the first session where he had finished third behind the Mercedes duo. Sahara Force India's Nico Hulkenberg was eighth fastest, while McLaren-Honda's Fernando Alonso was ninth.
LotusF1, who endured a troubled time and a nervous wait to make it to the grid in Abu Dhabi, rounded out the top 10. The team, facing financial problems and in the midst of a takeover by Renault, were bailed out by F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone, who paid the bills to allow the team to unpack their gear on Thursday.
Despite all those troubles, their driver Pastor Maldonado gave them something to cheer about with by finishing 10th.
The second session had begun in a light-hearted way with Vettel out of the pits before radioing back saying: "I think I forgot something this morning." His race engineer Adami asked: "Can you be more specific?"
And Vettel then broke into Happy Birthday in Italian as former Ferrari driver Giancarlo Fisichella watched on in the team garage.
Vettel logged the first time of the second session with a 1:45.009 seconds, despite sparks flying from his car and also an error approaching the Yas Viceroy Hotel section.
But that didn't last long with teammate and friend Raikkonen upstaging him with a time of 1:44.237 seconds. Vettel had dropped to third behind Perez, before slipping to fourth behind Hulkenberg.
Vettel though bounced back and slotted in between Raikkonen and Perez. And though Hamilton went top with a 1:42.524 and swapped places with Rosberg, the latter was not bested on the night.
james@khaleejtimes.com