Lewis cuts loose in Malaysia but fears pacy rivals

LEWIS HAMILTON believes McLaren are improving race by race but feels it will still be difficult to challenge the pace of their rivals in today’s qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

The 25-year-old is looking to put behind him a frustrating weekend in Australia and was fastest in both practice sessions yesterday, clocking a time of one minute 34.175 seconds in the afternoon.

Sebastian Vettel – aiming for a third successive pole today – shook off an early concern with his Red Bull’s power steering to set the second fastest time and was just 0.266secs behind Hamilton.