Nico Roseberg led the opening two practice sessions of the Australian grand prix this morning, just ahead of Mercedes team-mate and reigning champion Lewis Hamilton.

Like last year, Mercedes dominated proceedings.

However while Valtteri Bottas of Williams was third in the first practise session in Melbourne this morning, it was the Ferrari's Sebastial Vettel who was third in the second session, with team-mate Kimi Raikkonen fourth.

Bottas was fifth.

Mclaren, now using Honda engines, could only manage 15 laps with two cars before air vent trouble forced their retirement in the first session. Kevin Magnussen, sitting in for Fernando Alonso, crashed early in the second session apparently after pilot error.

Jenson Button raked up 20 laps but but was near the bottom of the timesheets.

The race on Sunday is at 6am.

SECOND SESSION TIMES

1.  Nico Rosberg (Germany)       Mercedes          1:27.697  
2.  Lewis Hamilton (Britain)     Mercedes             1:27.797  
3.  Sebastian Vettel (Germany)   Ferrari              1:28.412  
4.  Kimi Raikkonen (Finland)     Ferrari                 1:28.842  
5.  Valtteri Bottas (Finland)    Williams-Mercedes      1:29.265  
6.  Daniil Kvyat (Russia)        RedBull - Renault         1:30.016  
7.  Carlos Sainz Jr (Spain)     Toro Rosso - Renault   1:30.071  
8.  Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Lotus - Mercedes    1:30.104  
9.  Romain Grosjean (France)     Lotus - Mercedes       1:30.205  
10. Nico Huelkenberg (Germany)   Force India - Mercedes 1:30.473  
11. Felipe Nasr (Brazil)         Sauber - Ferrari       1:30.755  
12. Sergio Perez (Mexico)        Force India - Mercedes 1:30.980  
13. Jenson Button (Britain)      McLaren                1:31.387  
14. Max Verstappen (Netherlands) Toro Rosso - Renault   1:31.395  
15. Marcus Ericsson (Sweden)     Sauber - Ferrari       1:32.303  
16. Kevin Magnussen (Denmark)    McLaren                1:33.289  
17. Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) RedBull - Renault      No Time   
18. Felipe Massa (Brazil)        Williams-Mercedes      No Time   
19. Will Stevens (Britain)       Marussia - Ferrari     No Time   
20. Roberto Merhi (Spain)        Marussia - Ferrari     No Time

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