Nico Rosberg bounced back from his disappointment in Texas to top the times in Friday’s second free practice for this weekend’s Formula One Mexican Grand Prix, the first in the city for 23 years.
Rosberg clocked a fastest lap of one minute and 21.531 seconds to outpace nearest rival Daniil Kvyat of Red Bull by two-tenths of a second in a busy session that saw many drivers struggling for grip and spinning on the high-altitude, low-grip surface of the Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez.
“It is great to be here and to learn a new track and visit a new country,” said Rosberg.
“They have done a really good job and today was a good day for me. It was fun.
“I love the section with the stadium and, actually, I just paid real attention to it on my in-lap.
“It is nice to see so many people there and close and tight to the track. I think it is a great layout.” Asked if he was motivated to make sure he finished second in the championship, Rosberg then narrowed his eyes.
“No, my motivation is to beat the guy next to me,” said Rosberg. That guy, of course, is Hamilton whose success in Texas left Rosberg feeling bitter disappointment and anger, an emotion he has struggled to shake off as his teammate revelled in his celebrations.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo was third in the second Renault-powered Red Bull ahead of Hamilton, in the second Mercedes, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel and his Ferrari teammate Kimi Raikkonen.
Valtteri Bottas, who smashed the front wing off his Williams in a high-speed off-track excursion, was seventh ahead of two-time world champion Fernando Alonso and his McLaren teammate, 2009 champion Jenson Button of McLaren. — AFP