Hamilton weathers technical storm in Malaysia

Engine problems kept him out of first practice session, but British driver roared back to record fastest lap

Lewis Hamilton
NOVEMBER, ABU DHABI: British Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the F1 championship. Hamilton won a remarkable 11 Grand Prix during the season and held off the challenge of team-mate Nico Rosberg to become only the fourth Briton to win two
(Image credit: Clive Mason/Getty Images)

The Malaysian Grand Prix has always been a happy hunting ground for Lewis Hamilton who has never finished outside the top eight drivers. On Friday, the defending champion set the fastest time in second practice, overcoming a session that was blighted by technical difficulties.

The Mercedes driver missed the first session with engine problems and was also absent from the start of the second, but class will out and Hamilton managed to overcome the setbacks to lap the 5.543km track in a time of 1:39.790, 0.373s faster than Ferrari's Kimi Raikkonen.

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