Alonso fastest in 2nd practice for Monaco Grand Prix

Fernando Alonso took a liking to the Pirelli supersoft tires by posting the quickest time in Thursday's second practice session for the Monaco Grand Prix, with Lewis Hamilton just behind him.

Alonso had been second behind defending F1 champion Sebastian Vettel in the first practice, but the Ferrari driver shaved more than a second off his morning session time as drivers tried the supersoft optional tires under a hot afternoon sun.

Alonso had a best lap of 1 minute, 15.123 seconds, with Hamilton clocking 1:15.228 in his McLaren, and Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg again third in 1:15.321.

McLaren's Jenson Button was fourth ahead of Vettel's Red Bull.

Alonso's form will give Ferrari confidence it can challenge the dominant Red Bulls in Saturday's qualifying.