Hamilton on pole, Vettel to start at back following engine problem
Raikkonen 2nd, Verstappen 3rd
Hamilton leads title race by 28 points
Race on 5 live and sport website - coverage from 06:30 BST
Here's how the top 10 looks with 15 minutes gone:
1) Hamilton 1:32.650
2) Raikkonen +0.015
3) Vettel +0.036
4) Verstappen +0.442
5) Bottas +0.444
6) Ricciardo +0.782
7) Perez +0.822
8) Ocon +.0897
9) Sainz +1.388
10) Hulkenberg +1.511
And even more encouraging is that Lewis Hamilton goes quickest of all! The Briton does a 1:32.650, 0.015s quicker than Kimi Raikkonen.
Hamilton is running the old aero package.
If it ain't broke...
Image source, Getty ImagesThis is more encouraging for Mercedes, though.
Valtteri Bottas, running the team's aerodynamic upgrade, goes third quickest with 1:33.094, cutting the gap to Ferrari down to four tenths.
Lewis Hamilton goes fifth quickest after a 1:33.370 - that's seven tenths off the Ferraris...
Image source, Getty ImagesWe've got a few times coming in now as Kimi Raikkonen goes quickest with a 1:32.665. Sebastian Vettel is bang on two tenths slower in P2.
The Mercedes duo are out now, so let's see where they are.
Image source, Getty ImagesJeremiah Kariuki: Looking at how Bottas is struggling, it seems like he is driving a tractor! That Mercedes is willing to perform.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer
If it’s wet for qualifying and race this weekend - and it very well could be; it is the tropics, after all - then Red Bull look like being the team to beat. Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo were comfortably quickest in first practice on Friday, held in conditions suitable for intermediate tyres once it got going after a half-hour delay for heavy rain.
Image source, EPARicciardo, third quickest in the dry behind the Ferraris in the second session, left no doubt about the team’s confidence if it does rain. “We are close,” the Australian said. “We are not quite there. If it rains, we are there.”
Romain Grosjean's concerns are allayed.
"Just checking the drain, is it OK" he asks.
"Drain all good," is the reply.
Image source, Getty ImagesDebutant Pierre Gasly is one of the first out on the track, quickly followed by Fernando Alonso.
Gasly has just skipped over the kerb where the drain cover came off yesterday, dramatically shredding Romain Grosjean's tyre.
The cover has since been welded down.
Image source, Getty ImagesThis is how it was a couple of hours ago but things change quickly in Malaysia.
It's cloudy now but no rain... yet.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
It was chucking it down when fans, drivers and team personnel arrived at the Sepang circuit but what's it like today?
Final practice is under way!
Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer
Image source, Getty ImagesAfter their troubles on Friday, Mercedes have decided on a split approach for this final practice session, with Valtteri Bottas running the aerodynamic upgrade for this race on his car and Lewis Hamilton not.
Mercedes say this is “to confirm our confidence in the new kit”. They point out that this was the same approach they used in the last race in Singapore.
What do you think is wrong with Mercedes?
Send us your thoughts via #bbcf1, text in on 81111 (UK only) or post a comment on the BBC Sport Facebook page.
Keith Murphy: Ferrari look very strong this weekend. What's up with Mercedes?
You are most definitely NOT getting old, Max.
Allow Twitter content?
This article contains content provided by Twitter. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read Twitter’s cookie policy, external and privacy policy, external before accepting. To view this content choose ‘accept and continue’.
App users may need to click on the above to view the tweet.
Final practice gets under way at 07:00 BST and you can listen to commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra. Click the play icon at the top of the page to listen.
Full coverage details for across the weekend are available here.
Andrew Benson
BBC Sport’s chief F1 writer
Is there an upset on the cards?
Of the six races remaining this season, the first three were expected to slightly favour Mercedes, and the next three Ferrari. So what on earth happened on Friday, when Lewis Hamilton was 1.4 seconds slower than his title rival Sebastian Vettel in the Ferrari in the dry and even slower in the wet?
“Difficult day with the car,” Hamilton said. “Definitely unusual; unexpected, and we are a long way off.” Team boss Toto Wolff said: “The car seems to be unbalanced and that triggers an awful lot of consequences and it was certainly one of the worst Fridays I can remember.”
Was it related to the aerodynamic upgrades introduced at this race? Can Mercedes turn it around?
Image source, Getty ImagesFastest in first practice, Max Verstappen certainly looks like he might have a chance of pinching pole position in qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix later today.
But then, so do Ferrari. Sebastian Vettel was fastest in second practice with Mercedes nowhere near. Strange on a circuit that is supposed to favour their car.
It promises to be an intriguing day ahead.
Image source, Getty Images