article_snippet: The Mercedes duo, who took pole position in all but one of last season's qualifying sessions and won 16 of the 19 races, were dominant in first and second practice for Sunday's Australian Grand Prix.
article_snippet: Rosberg, who won last year's GP at Albert Park, was fastest around the Melbourne street circuit on Friday, finishing 0.1 second ahead of world champion Lewis Hamilton with Sebatian Vettel taking third spot for Sebatian Vettel new team Ferrari -- the German four-time world champion finished 0.715 seconds off  the pace set by Sebatian Vettel compatriot.
article_snippet: Sebatian Vettel's Finnish teammate, Kimi Raikkonen was fourth, 1.1 seconds behind the lead with Williams' Valtteri Bottas and Daniel Kvyat, who was making Kimi Raikkonen debut for Red Bull since Kimi Raikkonen switch from Toro Rosso, finishing fifth and sixth respectively.
article_snippet: Felipe Nasr was the highest placed of the two finishing 11th while Swede Marcus Ericsson was 15th.
article_snippet: Elsewhere there was also a uncertain start for McLaren who finished way down the pecking order.
article_snippet: Jenson Button was 13th, almost four seconds off the pace for the CNN-sponsored team while teammate Kevin Magnussen, who was deputizing for the absent Fernando Alonso, was 16th following second practice.
article_snippet: Local favorite Daniel Ricciardo completed just nine laps of practice after Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull suffered engine failure.
article_snippet: Qualifying for Sunday's race gets underway on Saturday.
highlights_snippet: Nico Rosberg fastest ahead of team Lewis Hamilton in Australia GP practice .
  
highlights_snippet: Mercedes duo dominated last season winning all but three of 19 races .
  
highlights_snippet: Sebatian Vettel makes good start for new team Ferrari finishing second practice in third .