Nico Rosberg rounded out free practice at Sepang by going quickest of all ahead of qualifying as Mercedes completed a full house of topping practice sessions.
The German managed to return to the top of the timesheets with a 1:39.650 on the white-marked mediums during the qualifying simulations, just under two tenths quicker than team-mate Lewis Hamilton, who was among various drivers continuing to battle with the tricky track conditions in the Malaysian heat.
Ferrari once again lead the chase after the Silver Arrows albeit half a second adrift. Kimi Raikkonen lead Sebastian Vettel as best of the rest in third and fourth respectively, although Raikkonen lost out on significant running having picked up a rear puncture in the early stages of the final hour. The Williams pair followed, with Felipe Massa in sixth and Valtteri Bottas in seventh.
Daniel Ricciardo, Carlos Sainz Jr and Max Verstappen were around a second off Rosberg’s benchmark in their respective order as the two Red Bull teams flirted at the outskirts of the top ten. Marcus Ericsson in his Sauber completed the top ten.
Image courtesy of Mercedes AMG Petronas
