Hamilton tops Malaysian Grand Prix practice

Summary

Hamilton fastest in second practice, Raikkonen 2nd
Hamilton experienced engine and telemetry trouble
Champion completed few laps
Merhi and Vettel spin, Kvyat has engine trouble
Relive both P1 & P2 in 'Live Coverage' tab

Live Reporting

Gary Rose

Postpublished at 08:01 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Right, I'm on the verge of having to reach for matchsticks to prop my eyes open so time to bring our live coverage to a close.
We'll be back at 05:30 GMT tomorrow morning for coverage of third and final practice. Join us again then.
Postpublished at 07:54 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
The report on second practice by chief F1 writer Andrew Benson is in, so head on over and have a read, especially if you are just waking up and catching up on how things panned out.
Postpublished at 07:51 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Image source, Getty Images
Lewis Hamilton was dominant in Malaysia last year, securing pole and then winning the race with ease. History to repeat? Or could some of the problems that hampered his time on the circuit today have a say on how things pan out this weekend?
Postpublished at 07:48 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Image source, Mercedes
Postpublished at 07:44 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
A great effort from Manor as their first bit of track time in 2015 saw them complete 34 laps, with the team reporting "a reliable and solid first day".
Postpublished at 07:43 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Despite problems ruling him out of most of first practice and over 30 minutes of second, Lewis Hamilton ensured he finished Friday on top but, even so, he was not completely happy with his car.
Hamilton, though, was not alone in having issues, with fair number of drivers reporting poor grip levels.
Second practice resultspublished at 07:39 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
1) Hamilton 2) Raikkonen 3) Rosberg 4) Kvyat 5) Bottas 6) Massa 7) Vettel 8) Verstappen 9) Ericsson 10) Ricciardo
11) Maldonado 12) Nasr 13) Perez 14) Sainz 15) Hulkenberg 16) Alonso 17) Button 18) Grosjean 19) Stevens 20) Merhi
Postpublished at 07:32 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
LEWIS HAMILTON FINISHES FASTEST IN SECOND PRACTICE FOR THE MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX
Chequered flagpublished at 07:31 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
The chequered flag is waved with Lewis Hamilton top of the timesheet...
Postpublished at 07:29 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Into the closing stages of second practice and Daniil Kvyat reports an issue and has to bring his Red Bull back into the pits. A frustrating day once again for Red Bull and a concerned-looking Christian Horner watches Kvyat's return.
Postpublished at 07:25 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Image source, Mercedes
Mercedes: Prime (hard) tyres forNico Rosberg with a live pit stop - he's back out and underway once more... Keen eyes will have noticed a slightly unusual stop there - rehearsing the 10sec stop & go routine before the tyre change. All very slick!
Team radiopublished at 07:22 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Force India's Sergio Perez: "The rears are really bad. I cannot go much faster than this."
Postpublished at 07:18 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Plenty of the drivers have been struggling with grip, particularly on the longer runs. Valtteri Bottas is the latest to report an issue, saying over team radio: "The rear is very snappy."
Postpublished at 07:15 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Image source, Ferrari
Postpublished at 07:12 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Fastest of all so far today and Lewis Hamilton is still not completely happy with that run. Worrying times for the rest of the field...
Team radiopublished at 07:10 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Lewis Hamilton: "Can you here me? I'm having down-graded shifts everywhere."
Postpublished at 07:10 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Image source, Mercedes
Postpublished at 07:09 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Kimi Raikkonen passes Lewis Hamilton and the latter slows right down to give himself some clear track. He then embarks on his first timed effort on the medium compound and it is a cracker, a 1:39.790 sending him straight to the top of the timesheet.
Postpublished at 07:04 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Marcus Ericsson was alone on the circuit for a short while but there is a burst of activity as Nico Rosberg, Valtteri Bottas and Felipe Nasr head out to join him. Lewis Hamilton also heads back out, medium tyres strapped on.
Postpublished at 07:01 Greenwich Mean Time 27 March 2015
Tom Clarkson
BBC F1 pit-lane reporter
"Lewis Hamilton is back in his car. He hopped out and they took the seat out to get to the electronics but he is back in the car and about to head back out."