Austrian Grand Prix 2016: Nico Rosberg gets the better of Lewis Hamilton after breaking Michael Schumacher record

Rosberg went nearly half-a-second faster than Schumacher's record lap, set in 2003, to top the timesheets in first practice

(Getty)

Lewis Hamilton was unable to prevent championship rival Nico Rosberg from sealing a practice double ahead of Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix.

Rosberg, a winner in Spielberg in each of the two races following Austria's return to the calendar in 2014, eclipsed Michael Schumacher's 13-year lap record on Friday morning, before leading the way once more in the afternoon.

Hamilton was just 0.019 seconds slower than his Mercedes team-mate in the second practice session - one which was heavily affected by a deluge of early rain - but Rosberg will now head into the weekend confident he can build on the 24-point lead he has established over his rival.

Rosberg set a new fastest lap around the Red Bull Ring (Getty)

Hamilton, the triple world champion, who on Thursday suggested that the mechanical woes which have blighted his season could cost him the title, endured a rather scruffy day by his normally high standards.

Not only was the 31-year-old Briton slower than Rosberg in both sessions, he was also among a number of high-profile spinners at a track which has been resurfaced for this year's event.

Hamilton spun on the exit of turn three on Friday morning, and was almost collected by the Haas of Romain Grosjean. The Frenchman, following Hamilton, also lost control of his car as he tried to avoid the Mercedes, and came within a matter of feet of a rather embarrassing collision.

Max Verstappen was in the wars, too, ending the first practice session beached in the gravel after running wide on the exit of turn five and breaking his front suspension.

Sebastian Vettel, who is facing a five-place grid penalty here for a gearbox change, spun out of the second session after losing control of his Ferrari at turn three.

"I don't know what happened there," said a bemused Vettel over the team radio. "I just completely lost the car as I hit the brakes."

While Vettel's spin came in the closing moments of the session, at one stage it did not look as though there would be any dry running on Friday afternoon after a heavy downpour.

The pit straight resembled something of a lake while the sparsely populated fans, spread out over the Red Bull Ring, looked to seek cover.

However, the rain shower passed as quickly as it arrived, and as the track began to dry, the drivers soon emerged from their respective garages, first on the wet tyre, and then the slick rubber.

While Mercedes led a practice one-two, Nico Hulkenberg was third for Force India - half-a-second off the pace - with Vettel fourth, and Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo fifth in the order. McLaren driver Jenson Button finished 10th with British rookie Jolyon Palmer 16th.

Final Positions after Second Practice:

1 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes GP 1min 07.967secs

2 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:07.986

3 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Force India 1:08.580

4 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari 1:08.589

5 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull 1:08.649

6 Carlos Sainz (Spa) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:08.713

7 Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull 1:08.761

8 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari 1:08.820

9 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Williams 1:08.941

10 Jenson Button (Gbr) McLaren 1:08.994

11 Fernando Alonso (Spa) McLaren 1:09.075

12 Felipe Massa (Bra) Williams 1:09.184

13 Daniil Kvyat (Rus) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:09.207

14 Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India 1:09.226

15 Kevin Magnussen (Den) Renault 1:09.525

16 Jolyon Palmer (Gbr) Renault 1:10.020

17 Pascal Wehrlein (Ger) Manor Racing 1:10.034

18 Esteban Gutierrez (Mex) Haas F1 1:10.138

19 Marcus Ericsson (Swe) Sauber-Ferrari 1:10.140

20 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Haas F1 1:10.400

21 Felipe Nasr (Bra) Sauber-Ferrari 1:10.444

22 Rio Haryanto (Ina) Manor Racing 1:11.328

PA