SAKHIR, Bahrain – Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg set the fastest times in Friday's opening practice session for the Bahrain Grand Prix, making them once again the team to beat in Sunday's race.
Hamilton set a best time of 1 minute, 37.502 seconds around the Bahrain International Circuit, a quarter of a second ahead of Rosberg. Fernando Alonso was third fastest in his Ferrari, half a second off Hamilton's time.
Mercedes has won the opening two races of the Formula One season and could make it three straight in Bahrain, where the race will be held at night for the first time.
Force India driver Nico Hulkenberg was fourth quickest, while four-time defending world champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull was 10th.
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