Formula One: Hamilton on top in both free practice sessions

Defending champion and current series leader Lewis Hamilton topped the times for Mercedes in both of Thursday's free practice sessions ahead of Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix.

The 30-year-old two-time world champion clocked a best lap of one minute and 17.192 before a rain shower – and a red flag -- interrupted the afternoon’s running to wind up seven-tenths of a second quicker than Mercedes team-mate and nearest title rival Nico Rosberg of Germany.

Rosberg, who is seeking to complete a rare hat-trick of three successive Monaco Grand Prix wins, had a 'moment' during the morning when he 'kissed' the barriers at Tabac corner and was unable to mount a serious challenge on the impressive Hamilton.

Another German, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari, was third fastest, 1.1 seconds off Hamilton's pace, but ahead of his team-mate Finn Kimi Raikkonen, Russian Daniil Kvyat of Red Bull and the talented young Spaniard Carlos Sainz in a Toro Rosso.

Dutch teenager Max Verstappen continued his extraordinary impact this season by taking seventh in the second Toro Rosso car ahead of a much-improved performance from two-time champion Fernando Alonso of Spain in the troublesome McLaren-Honda.

German Nico Hulkenberg was ninth for Force India and Frenchman Romain Grosjean 10th in the Lotus.