Rosberg leads the way in practice

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On Melbourne's Albert Park circuit where his world title-winning season began with a victory last year, Lewis Hamilton was down among the also-rans. After finishing 16th in the first 90-minute session, Hamilton then ended the second 1.5 seconds faster - but down in 18th.

Williams' Nico Rosberg topped the timesheets at the end of both sessions, with his best lap timed at one minute 26.053secs.

It did not go unnoticed that six of the top seven places in second practice were occupied by the cars that have been embroiled in the diffuser row this week.

It was not until midnight local time on Thursday that the issue was finally resolved as the stewards presiding over the race threw out a protest which had been launched by Ferrari, Renault and Red Bull.

There is still the threat of an appeal, and those three teams will hope the international panel of judges that sits on these matters ultimately side with them, otherwise they face a struggle.

Rosberg was closely followed by the Brawn GP of Rubens Barrichello and Jarno Trulli in his Toyota, with only Mark Webber breaking the stranglehold of the 'diffuser three' by taking fourth for Red Bull.

Brawn's Jenson Button, the Toyota of Timo Glock and Williams of Kazuki Nakajima were fifth, sixth and seventh, the latter half a second down on his team-mate.

In the first session, Rosberg topped the timesheets ahead of Nakajima.