Hamilton fastest in F1 Malaysian GP practice

McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton set the fastest time in Fridays opening practice for the Malaysian Grand Prix, boosting expectations he will make back-to-back pole positions to open the new Formula One season.Hamilton was a half second faster than reigning world champion Sebastian Vettel of Red Bull, with Mercedes pair Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher third and fourth respectively on the timesheets.Most drivers set their best lap times relatively early in the session, as they sought to preserve tires at a Sepang track where the rubber quickly degrades on the hot surface.Lotus Romain Grosjean was fifth fastest and teammate Kimi Raikkonen seventh, separated by the Red Bull of Mark Webber. Ferraris Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso were 13th and 15th.