Malaysian GP, ​​Free Practice 1: Hamilton in the lead

Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in the first free practice session of the Malaysian Grand Prix. Nico Rosberg with a run in the final minutes of the session denied McLaren a double by finishing second fastest ahead of Jenson Button. The session was initially dominated by the small teams and the McLaren duo took the lead towards the halfway point of practice. Fourth time for Michael Schumacher in the other Mercedes. The seven-time world champion only ran after the first hour after a problem with the rear of his car.

Robert Kubica was briefly in the lead before the McLarens but finished in fifth place ahead of Mark Webber's Red Bull, Sutil's Force India and Fernando Alonso's Ferrari, eighth in the morning.

Vettel was only ninth with the other Red Bull. The German reported a problem that slowed down his car. Buemi completes the top 10 with Toro Rosso.

Pos Driver Team Lap Time
 1. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:34.921 19 
 2. Rosberg Mercedes 1:35.106 + 0.185 19
 3. Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:35.207 + 0.286 25
 4. Schumacher Mercedes 1:35.225 + 0.304 14
 5. Kubica Renault 1:35.402 + 0.481 22
 6. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:35.479 + 0.558 22
 7. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:35.955 + 1.034 20 
 8. Alonso Ferrari 1:35.959 + 1.038 20
 9. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:35.043 + 1.122 19
10. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:36.100 + 1.179 20
11. Massa Ferrari 1:36.451 + 1.530 22
12. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:36.503 + 1.582 28
13. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:36.645 + 1.724 18
14. Petrov Renault 1:36.712 + 1.791 9
15. di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1:36.891 + 1.970 25
16. de la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 1:36.899 + 1.978 24
17. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1:37.802 + 2.881 27
18. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1:38.278 + 3.357 18
19. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1:39.460 + 4.539 21
20. Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1:39.755 + 4.834 17
21. di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1:40.159 + 5.238 25
22. Fauzy Lotus-Cosworth 1:40.721 + 5.800 19
23. Senna HRT-Cosworth 1:41.832 + 6.911 27
24. Chandhok HRT-Cosworth 1:41.966 + 7.045 24