SEPANG: Mercedes’ early season strength was again evident with Briton Lewis Hamilton going fastest in Friday’s first practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix in a session where many cars struggled for grip.
The 2008 world champion clocked a best time of one minute 40.691 seconds at the Sepang Circuit on a scorching hot Friday where track temperatures reached 44 Celsius (111 Fahrenheit).
However, Hamilton was one of many drivers who encountered the Malaysian gravel after locking his wheels and the Briton said over the team radio the Sepang track was “like driving on marbles”.
Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen was second quickest in a promising session for the Finn who clocked a best time of 1:40.843 just ahead of Hamilton’s team mate Nico Rosberg, who won the season opener in Australia two weeks ago.
Jenson Button was fourth quickest ahead of McLaren team mate Kevin Magnussen, whose car stopped on the track at turn 15 and needed a push from the marshals to get back to the pits with 30 minutes remaining.
However, there was plenty of concern in the Lotus garage with neither Romain Grosjean or Pastor Maldonado able to complete a timed lap as both encountered issues.
World champion Sebastian Vettel was seventh quickest, almost a second behind Hamilton, after managing only nine laps, while team mate Daniel Ricciardo managed to clock 20 laps and finished 12th. (Reuters)
