Rosberg edges Hamilton in final practice

SEPANG: Nico Rosberg edged Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton in final free practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix as problems continued for the world champion on Saturday.
On a scorching day at the Sepang circuit, Rosberg led the way with a lap of 1min 39.690sec, two-tenths quicker than Hamilton who again struggled with his set-up.
"Man, the braking's all over the place," complained the Briton, after locking up on a hairpin. Mercedes said Hamilton also had problems with understeer.
The reigning drivers' champion defied mechanical difficulties to time quickest in both practice sessions on Friday, after dominating the season-opener in Australia.
But he is now under high pressure to find a solution and keep Rosberg, second in the nascent championship, in his rear-view when qualifying starts at 5:00pm (0900 GMT).
True to their early-season form, Ferrari drivers Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel occupied second and third spots followed by the Williams cars of Felipe Massa and Valtteri Bottas.
"This guy is trying to go outside of me when I passed him," grumbled Raikkonen, after encountering resistance from Lotus driver Romain Grosjean.
Two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, starting his season in Malaysia after he missed Australia following a crash in testing, managed 15th as McLaren crept up the standings.
Roberto Merhi took a trip into the gravel as new team Manor stayed stubbornly slowest in their first grand prix drive, after failing to make it out of the garage in Melbourne. – AFP