Nico Hulkenberg emerged quickest in a highly eventful Friday practice ahead of Sunday’s Russian Grand Prix.

The Force India driver clocked a 1:44.355s in opening practice at the Sochi Autodrom which proved to be the best time of the day as heavy rain interrupted the second 90 minute session.

Opening practice was delayed by 30 minutes due to a diesel spillage on the circuit which forced officials to wash down the affected Turn 8 and Turn 9 section.

The spillage was caused by a track sweeper which was on the circuit prior to practice.

As a result, teams fitted intermediate tyres to cars in bid to deal with the wet area of the track.

Hulkenberg coped with the unusual conditions the best with the German 0.052s quicker than Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel was third fastest with the four-time world champion 0.6s adrift of Hulkenberg.

Force India confirmed its pace with Sergio Perez in fourth just a fraction ahead of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo and Toro Rosso’s Carlos Sainz.

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton could only manage a time good enough for seventh, 1.3s off the pace.

Williams’ Valtteri Bottas was eighth with Toro Rosso’s Max Verstappen and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen rounding out the top 10.

Jenson Button showed encouraging form for McLaren in 11th, while team-mate Fernando Alonso, who will incur a 25 place grid penalty for a change of power unit elements, ended the day in 14th spot.

Only eight drivers posted times in the rain hit Practice 2 with Williams’ Felipe Massa topping the charts with a 2:00.458s effort.

Result: Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix Practice 1

Result: Formula 1 Russian Grand Prix Practice 2