Practice 2 Report - The Kvyat Reign

Daniil Kvyat reigned in the rain during Free Practice 2 as he clocked the fastest lap time in his Red Bull. Mercedes teammates Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton wound up second and third, and Daniel Ricciardo rounded out the top four in his Red Bull.

The ambient temperature at the start of the 90-minute session was 72 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Centigrade) and the track temperature was 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 degrees Centigrade).

The line-up for the weekend was: Mercedes - Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. Red Bull Renault - Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat. Williams Mercedes - Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas. Ferrari - Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen. McLaren Honda - Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button. Force India Mercedes - Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez. Toro Rosso Renault - Max Verstappen and Carlos Sainz. Lotus Mercedes - Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado. Marussia Ferrari - Will Stevens and Alexander Rossi. Sauber - Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr.

The rain had stopped other than a light drizzle here or there, but the track surface was still wet as FP2 began with Kvyat being the first driver on the track. Using the intermediate tires, he set a time of 1:49.374.

15 minutes into the session, Rosberg topped that with a 1:48.300 and Ricciardo moved into second place. Alonso, dressed in street clothes, watched the action from the McLaren hospitality unit.

18 minutes into the session, Grosjean slid off on the grass at Turn 12. Meanwhile Hamilton was up to second place with a time of 1:48.853. Then Vettel went off at Turn 1.

30 minutes into the session, the top 10 were: Rosberg, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Vettel, Raikkonen, Sainz, Nasr, Maldonado and Hulkenberg.

34 minutes into the session, Verstappen slid across the chicane and said his car had massive understeer.

35 minutes into the session, Kvyat went ahead with a lap of 1:48.277.

40 minutes into the session, the rain increased.

Halfway through FP2 the order was: Kvyat, Rosberg, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Vettel, Raikkonen, Sainz, Verstappen, Nasr and Maldonado.

With 42 minutes remaining in the session, Alonso headed out as the mechanics had completed his engine change.

Vettel had been the only driver on the track, but with 37 minutes remaining in the session, he pitted.

With 35 minutes remaining in the session, Ericsson broke the silence in his Sauber that was fitted with extreme wet weather tires. He did a few laps and then said there was too much rain and the team told him to come in. Next Alonso went out to put some laps on the new Honda engine.

With 16 minutes remaining in the session, Alonso was back in the pits and Hamilton and Rosberg were leaving the pits.

With 10 minutes remaining in the session, Vettel radioed in that he was aquaplaning on the straights. His lap times were 11 seconds slower than Kvyat's best.

The order at the end of FP2 was: Kvyat, Rosberg, Hamilton, Ricciardo, Vettel, Raikkonen, Sainz, Verstappen, Nasr, Maldonado, Hulkenberg, Button, Ericsson, Perez, Grosjean, Massa, Alonso, Stevens, Rossi and Bottas.