F1: Hamilton Quickest Out Of Gate In Malaysia

Formula 1

F1: Hamilton Quickest Out Of Gate In Malaysia

Lewis Hamilton's McLaren topped the time sheet in opening practice at Sepang International Circuit...

Jared Turner | Posted March 22, 2012 Sepang (MAS)

Lewis Hamilton is all smiles in Malaysia. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

McLaren appears poised for another stellar weekend after opening the 2012 Formula One campaign with a victory last Sunday in Australia.

Only this time, it might be a different McLaren driver who has the edge.

Lewis Hamilton, who won the pole but finished a distant third behind race-winning McLaren teammate Jenson Button in Melbourne, comfortably paced opening practice at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit.

Hamilton's top lap of 1:38:021 was more than half a second clear of Sebastian Vettel's second-quick Red Bull (1:38:535) and the Mercedes of Nico Rosberg (1:38:813).

The Mercedes of Michael Schumacher and the Lotus of Romain Grosjean completed the top five.

Positions six through 10 on the time sheet belonged to Red Bull's Mark Webber, Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen, Force India's Paul Di Resta, Button and Force India's Nico Hulkenberg.

Narain Karthikeyan, who along with teammate Pedro de la Rosa failed to qualify within the 107 percent window for the season opener in Melbourne, had his session cut short by a hydraulic issue with his HRT.

The 90-minute opening practice, held on a dry track, could prove especially pivotal if rain moves in for FP2 as expected.

Formula One drivers get a two-and-a-half hour break before returning to the track for Free Practice Two at 2 a.m. ET.

SPEED will carry the session live.

Jared Turner is an Associate Editor for SPEED.com, covering NASCAR and Formula One, and is an Editor for TruckSeries.com. His professional motorsports writing career began in 2005.