F1: Rosberg Leaps Ahead In Final Malaysia Practice

Formula 1

F1: Rosberg Leaps Ahead In Final Malaysia Practice

Nico Rosberg took Mercedes to the top of the time sheets in Free Practice Three in Sepang...

Jared Turner | Posted March 24, 2012 Sepang (MAS)

Degradation has been a problem for Mercedes' tires in 2012. (Photo: LAT Photographic)

This could be the day that Mercedes really lives up to its preseason billing.

After a strong series of winter tests, the Brackley-based team was expected to come out of the gate swinging last weekend in Australia.

But while Michael Schumacher qualified a solid fourth, the team failed to place one of its drivers in the top five on race day.

That could all change this weekend at Malaysia's Sepang International Circuit, however, as Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg clearly proved in Saturday's final practice ahead of knockout qualifying.

Moving to the top of the time sheet in the final minutes of the one-hour session, Rosberg led the way with a lap of 1:36:877 that was more than fourth tenths of a second quicker than reigning World Champion Sebastian Vettel's second-place Red Bull (1:37:320).

Red Bull's Mark Webber, Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen and Lotus' Romain Grosjean completed the top five, followed in positions six through 10 by McLaren's Jenson Button, Williams' Pastor Maldonado, Mercedes' Michael Schumacher, McLaren's Lewis Hamilton and Sauber's Kamui Kobayashi.

Button is the early World Championship leader after winning the season opener in Australia.

Hamilton paced both of Friday's two dry practices but finished Saturday's damp session .899 off the leading Mercedes' time.

The 2008 World Champion and Australia pole winner lost significant track time when he ran wide at the bend entering the back straight, damaging a set of tires and possibly inflicting other damage that kept him in the garage until the final 10 minutes.

On-track proceedings get back under way with SPEED's live coverage of all three rounds of knockout qualifying beginning at 4 a.m. ET.

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.