Monaco GP: Fernando Alonso fastest in rain-hit second practice

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso at the Monaco street circuit during the second practice yesterday. Pic/AFP

Monte Carlo (Monaco): Ferrari's Fernando Alonso topped the times in yesterday's rain-restricted second free practice ahead of Sunday's Monaco Grand Prix.


Ferrari's Fernando Alonso at the Monaco street circuit during the second practice yesterday. Pic/AFP

The 32-year-old Spaniard clocked a best lap of one minute and 18.482 seconds to finish fastest, in a brief flurry of 15 minutes' late 'dry weather' action, ahead of championship leader Lewis Hamilton of Mercedes.

But Hamilton was fastest overall for the day, having clocked a best lap of 1:18.271 in the morning when he and Mercedes teammate German Nico Rosberg dominated the session. Two-time champion Alonso recorded his best lap in the brief dry run in the afternoon with 1:18.482 ahead of Hamilton on 1:18.901.

They were the only two to dip below the 1:19 barrier in the afternoon session. Defending four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull was third ahead of Jean-Eric Vergne in his Toro Rosso car and Valtteri Bottas of Williams.

After a heavy downpour during the interval before second practice began, the track was left so wet that most of the field declined to venture out for 45 minutes or more.

Hamilton overall fastest
Hamilton, who was fastest ahead of Rosberg in the morning session, delayed his participation until 15 minutes from the end when he went out on intermediate tyres.

When a few drivers led the way only a handful followed and with 20 of the 90 minutes remaining, the action was limited to a few laps.