Bahrain Grand Prix: Championship leader Nico Rosberg tops both Friday sessions​

New Delhi: Nico Rosberg carried his season opening Grand Prix win form to Manama on Friday to dominate the both the practice sessions of Bahrain Grand Prix on Friday.

The German, who won the pipped his Mercedes team-mate and defending champion Lewis Hamilton to the Australian GP title, produced the best lap of one minute 31.001 seconds.

His effort also also reduced Hamilton's 2015 pole of 1.32.671 to second best at the Sakhir circuit. Hamilton won the last two races in Bahrain.

Rosberg is chasing his fifth victory in a row after winning in Australia and the last three races of 2015.

After leading the first session by over half a second, the German also topped the time-sheet in the evening. He also gained an improved timing of 0.241s over his closest rival Hamilton.

But the surprise of the day was Jenson Button setting the third fastest time in the McLaren, 1.280s off Rosberg's best effort. Max Verstappen was fourth fastest in Scuderia Toro Rosso, 1.405s slower than the lead Mercedes.

However, Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel pulled off the track and stopped late in the second session with a loose wheel.

Meanwhile, reports suggested that Fernando Alonso, who has already been ruled out of the race, could also miss the following race in China on April 17.

The Spaniard failed to pass a medical following his big crash in Australia.