Hamilton sets pace before rain in Monaco

By on Thursday, May 21, 2015
Mercedes AMG Petronas

Mercedes AMG Petronas

Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time before heavy rain hit Monaco during the second practice session on Thursday afternoon.

Having topped the morning session, Hamilton went out early and posted a time of 1:17.192, 0.740s faster than Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.

The session was interrupted after 15 minutes when Manor Marussia driver Roberto Merhi lost control under braking for the Nouvelle Chicane and hit the barriers.

That caused a red flag and by the time Merhi’s car was cleared the rain had moved in. Lotus sent Pastor Maldonado out on Option tyres but conditions worsened and he crept back into the pits.

The circuit fell silent for just under an hour as no-one else ventured out due to the inclement weather.

Finally, with 10 minutes left to run, Fernando Alonso ended the silence and headed out on the Intermediate tyres, followed by several of his rivals.

None of the dry weather times were remotely challenged, meaning that the first 15 minutes decided the order, with Hamilton heading Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel – who had an off at Mirabeau – and Kimi Räikkönen, who ran wide at Sainte Devote.

Daniil Kvyat clocked the fifth quickest time, ahead of Toro Rosso pair Carlos Sainz Jr. and Max Verstappen.

Alonso was eighth while Nico Hülkenberg and Romain Grosjean rounded out the top 10.

PositionNumberDriverTeamTimeGapLaps
144Lewis HamiltonMercedes1:17.19211
26Nico RosbergMercedes1:17.932+0.74014
35Sebastian VettelFerrari1:18.295+1.10313
47Kimi RäikkönenFerrari1:18.543+1.35114
526Daniil KvyatRed Bull1:18.548+1.35616
655Carlos SainzToro Rosso1:18.659+1.46713
733Max VerstappenToro Rosso1:18.782+1.59011
814Fernando AlonsoMcLaren1:18.906+1.71417
927Nico HulkenbergForce India1:19.151+1.95912
108Romain GrosjeanLotus1:19.266+2.07412
1111Sergio PerezForce India1:19.300+2.10812
1219Felipe MassaWilliams1:19.560+2.36814
1377Valtteri BottasWilliams1:19.566+2.37413
1413Pastor MaldonadoLotus1:19.577+2.38512
1522Jenson ButtonMcLaren1:19.606+2.41413
163Daniel RicciardoRed Bull1:19.639+2.44713
1712Felipe NasrSauber1:20.263+3.07110
1898Roberto MerhiMarussia1:22.017+4.8259
1928Will StevensMarussia1:22.943+5.75112
209Marcus EricssonSauberNo time set0

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