Practice 2 Report - The Russian Rain

Rain washed out Free Practice 2 for the Russian Grand Prix. Most drivers did not go out in the session, or if they did it was just for a lap or two. Only eight drivers set a time, and Felipe Massa went quickest in his Williams.

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 Roberto Merhi. Sauber - Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr.

A truck had leaked diesel fuel on the track just before FP1. And now it was starting to rain as FP2 started.

"Effects of diesel spillage is still in evidence: will be more slippery in the affected area. Probably we won't see that much running," Pirelli tweeted.

20 minutes into the session, Vettel was the first out on the soaked track. He did one lap and pitted. Next Alonso went out.

Vettel radioed: "From Turn 2 to 13 it's only damp; from 13 to 2 there's a lot of standing water. With these conditions I will destroy my rears."

36 minutes into the session, Alonso tried another lap on the extreme wet Pirelli tires. And on his first flying lap he clocked a 2:05.599.

41 minutes into the session, Bottas became the third driver to try out the rainy conditions. "Quite tricky conditions," he radioed. "Turns 12 to 1 are quite wet, as you can see."

Midway through FP2, only Alonso had set a time, getting down to a 2:01.077.

With 40 minutes remaining in the session, Rosberg took to the track.

With 30 minutes remaining in the session, Hamilton, Kvyat and Sainz has also been out.

With 27 minutes remaining in the session, Sainz set a time of 2:05.973, and Verstappen beat that with a 2:04.858. Sainz responded with a 2:03.558.

With 20 minutes remaining in the session, Verstappen was now quickest with a time of 2:00.806. He radioed: "The rain is definitely coming down again in places. Some bits of the track are very slippery."

With 15 minutes remaining in the session, several more drivers went out including Rosberg.

With 5 minutes remaining in the session, seven drivers had clocked a lap time.

Then, just before the checkered flag, Bottas did a time of 2:00.782, and then Massa beat that with a 2:00.458. Then Vettel popped up to second.

The session ended with eight drivers setting times: Massa, Vettel, Bottas, Verstappen, Alonso, Kvyat, Sainz and Button.