Nico Rosberg takes practice double over Lewis Hamilton

Nico Rosberg completed a practice double in Bahrain yesterday as he bids to stamp his authority on the new Formula One season.

Rosberg, winner of the Australian Grand Prix a fortnight ago, finished the day-and-night sessions at the Sakhir Circuit comfortably ahead of his Formula Oneteam-mate Lewis Hamilton.

The Silver Arrows appear to hold an ominous advantage over the rest of the field with McLaren’s Jenson Button - the surprise next-best placed driver - 1.2 seconds slower than Rosberg’s best lap of one minute and 31.001 seconds.