Hamilton tops FP2!

Lewis Hamilton led a Mercedes 1-2 during second practice for the Russian Grand Prix in a session dominated by long run pace.

The fast times were all set in the first half hour of the session when team used the hypersoft tyres, with Sebastian Vettel continuing from his FP1 success by setting a good early lap.

However, he was soon eclipsed by Max Verstappen, who set quick lap after quick lap before Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas blew him away, going four tenths faster than the Dutchman.

From then onwards, the fast laps stopped as teams reverted to testing out their long run pace, with most using the ultrasoft for the rest of the session.

There seemed to be an unexpected pattern in pace, with the two Mercedes leading the session, followed by both Red Bulls ahead of Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen in the Ferraris.

Both Force India drivers made the top ten, as did Pierre Gasly and Marcus Ericsson, who is without a seat for next season after it was announced this week that Antonio Giovinazzi would be replacing him at Sauber for the 2019 campaign.

It was a poor session for McLaren however, Fernando Alonso and Stoffel Vandoorne ended up 17th and 18th respectively, ahead of only the Williams pair.