Lewis Hamilton controls rain-hit practice

World champion Lewis Hamilton dominated the opening free practice sessions of the new Formula One season yesterday as his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg hit early trouble at the Australian Grand Prix.

Hamilton made only a cameo appearance in the rain-hit second session but still reeled off the fastest lap, in an ominous sign for his rivals at the season-opener.

Hamilton, who also set the pace in first practice, clocked a best lap time of one minute 38.841 seconds in the slippery afternoon track conditions to prove his early superiority ahead of today’s qualifying.