MONACO (AP) -- German driver Nico Rosberg posted the fastest time in both practice sessions for the Monaco Grand Prix on Thursday.

Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton was second fastest in the afternoon's second practice run ahead of the Ferrari pair of Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa.

Rosberg has taken pole position in the last two GPs, and Hamilton clinched pole position the race at the Chinese GP. Mercedes also secured a 1-2 in qualifying two weeks ago in Spain, but faded in the race itself, and neither driver has a GP win so far this season.

But Monaco is the hardest track to overtake on and a repeat front-row performance in Saturday's qualifying will set up Mercedes nicely to end that streak.