Good morning and welcome to ESPNF1's live coverage of the final free practice session for the Malaysian Grand Prix. Lewis Hamilton topped the timesheets in both sessions on Friday, but can he maintain that form today?

Qualifying could be a much taller order for McLaren than it was in Australia where it locked out the front row. Red Bull is looking stronger in Malaysia and Mercedes - with its 'F-duct' - looks very quick on the long Sepang straights too

A few developments overnight since you may have last been with us, and both concern Lotus. Firstly, Kimi Raikkonen has had to have his gearbox changed and will take a five-place grid penalty after qualifying today, while the team has also had the added distraction of a fire in its hospitality building

The weather will be a talking point all weekend and we've got some rain in Malaysia as we speak. It was threatening throughout the GP2 race earlier and now it's started to come down a bit, as Mike Gascoyne confirms on Twitter: "25 mins to go and the rain starts, can't help but feel it's going to be a busy weekend on the pitwall and for the tyre guys"

It's only an hour-long session this morning, but we would love to hear from you during FP3 with your comments, opinions and questions. If you want to get in touch with us you can do so by email using the link above or via Twitter @ESPNF1

Trouble at Mercedes today too as a problem with Rosberg's engine means he is not yet ready to go in this session

With a damp track the session will start with drivers out on intermediate tyres

The green light is on and a number of cars stream out on intermediates. The rain is no longer falling so the track should dry quickly due to the heat

The track looks fairly dry, and Schumacher radios in to say exactly that. It won't be long until we see drivers out on slicks

I have some news for you. Bernie Ecclestone has made an announcement today regarding the Concorde Agreement which reads: "I am very pleased to announce that we have reached commercial agreements with the majority of the current Formula One teams, including Ferrari, McLaren and Red Bull Racing, about the terms on which they will continue competing in Formula One after the current Concorde Agreement expires at the end of this year."

Interesting that Ecclestone's statement points out that it's not all of the teams that have agreed, but naming McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull puts to bed the rumours that a special deal for RBR and Ferrari had been done last week

De la Rosa heads out which means only Rosberg is yet to take to the track. Rosberg is in his race suit and helmet though so seems hopeful that he'll be in the car soon

Sebastian emails in to ask: "In your opinion wich cars in the field is the strongest when it comes to traction? The last corner on the lap seems to be a good indicator."

Out of the last corner isn't a bad indicator, but also good is out of turn nine. The McLaren and Red Bull looks good as you'd expect - the Mercedes and Ferrari less so in that regard - while the Williams is also much improved on corner exit this year

Di Resta out for a second installation lap on intermediate tyres - I can't really see why he needs them though looking at the track and he pits

Nigel asks: "Why is the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix held during the rainy season? For example, it is the dry season still in Korea, unlike when the race is held there in the fall. Malaysia is in the drier seasons in the fall."

In short Nigel, I don't know. The slots are obviously done to ensure the most convenient possible calendar with groups of races taking place in certain regions, but the first Malaysian GP was held in October in 1999. I can't say I'm complaining though, the threat of rain adds to the drama in my opinion

Kalai emails in to ask: "Hi, I'm seeing a small air duct above the nose of Mercedes, which was not there last week. Is it a serious revision and how the team manage to get update with in a week?"

It's not a serious revision, just an additional driver cooling slot for the heat of Sepang. The car changes within such a short period of time though because the teams have development plans and will know which parts they are looking to bring to the car a number of months ahead

Speaking of Mercedes and Rosberg has been out on track for an installation lap now

Bruno Senna is the first man to head out on slick tyres and he's found the going a bit damp in the final sector. His first lap is a 1:43.721 on hard tyres

After the email about the timing of the race, Jack has emailed in to say: "I live in Malaysia most of the time, and I can tell you it is NOT rainy season yet. But after Chinese NewYear ( in January or February) it usually starts to rain more frequently.If they were going to have the Sepang race in December or January there almost certainly would not be rain because that is the socalled HOT season with clear skies and less humidity."

Theeban asks: "How will the weather be in qualifying? if it rains they still have to qualify using the wet tyres right?"

You are right Theeban, they will, which could mix the grid up. We have no idea what the weather will do yet though - sometimes showers form directly around the circuit!

Senna improves to a 1:42.276. A few cars on track now and they're all on slick tyres, though Alonso's on-board camera shows water on the lens

Michael asks: "Do you think Massa will see out the full year at Ferrari?"

I do Michael, because replacing a driver mid-season rarely works well, especially when you consider Ferrari doesn't have a designated third driver. But I'm less confident than I was a week ago. Pressure is growing from the Italian press, and if Massa has another couple of races as far off Alonso's pace as he was in Australia then his seat could be in real jeopardy

Pic runs wide at turn 12 as he finds the track a bit slippery still

Senna now down to a 1:40.482. Alonso is second, 3.4s further back

Krishna says: "I agree that the Malaysia F1 GP is the most interesting due the weather and track heat, its show how a team switch strategies to match the tyre rather then the car itself."

Grosjean goes quickest on his first flying lap with a 1:40.239

Raikkonen goes second, just 0.08s slower than his team-mate

Anthony asks about our Friday pace-setter: "Is Lewis too hard on himself for coming 3rd in Aus.? Given any other driver would have been happy with points let alone a podium. I think sometimes no matter how competitive you are , you need to give yourself a break and accept it was still an amazing result regardless where you start on the grid."

You could argue that Anthony, but what really annoyed Hamilton was the fact that McLaren had the fastest car and he lost out to both his team-mate in terms of performance and Vettel in terms of luck. At the time after the race Hamilton couldn't work out why Button had beaten him so easily - hence his disappointed attitude - but he's a lot more positive at Sepang now he believes he's found the reasons

Senna goes top with a 1:39.622, just 0.1s quicker than Grosjean

Button on a lap on hard tyres - everyone's been on hards that I've seen so far - and he's easing his way in to this run

Button revealed yesterday that he wanted to focus on his qualifying pace because he believes it will be easier for him if he can control the race from the front

Vettel goes fastest with a 1:38.888 while Kimi Raikkonen improves to a 1:39.234 and second place

Button improves to third, but Grosjean is on a quick lap behind...

Webber goes fastest on hard tyres with a fastest final sector, a 1:38.518

Grosjean can only go second, just 0.058s off Webber's pace

Gino asks about a potential driver cooling solution: "The astronauts that went to the moon had in there suits a system of tubes with water cooling, this system is also used by deep sea divers. Has this ever been considered for F1 Drivers?"

It may have been considered, Gino, but it wouldn't be effective because it would be a lot of extra weight that the teams won't want to carry around in their cars

Hamilton's gone off but has managed to rejoin the track

A big moment for Hamilton, the car snapping away from him at high speed in turn 13 and he slid off in to the gravel. That will have flat-spotted his tyres but no other real damage

Webber has improved to a 1:38.145 ahead of Maldonado on a 1:38.538

A flat spot for Schumacher too as he locks up in to the final corner. He's seventh at the moment, 0.666s off the pace

Ashwin asks: "Who do you think would be the ideal replacement for massa? perez or kubica?? Cheers!"

From those two drivers, definitely Perez. Kubica is a long way off being able to think about a Formula One return

Theeban asks: "Did most teams bring it update for this race after last weeks Australian gp, and regarding the Fduct on those Mercedes its considered legal right?"

Most teams don't have updates, although some have different cooling systems. The only updates I'm aware of are some aero parts on the Toro Rosso, new front wings at Caterham and Ferrari and a new rear floor at Marussia.

And yes, the Mercedes 'F-duct' remains legal as far as the FIA is concerned

Speaking of the 'F-duct', Schumacher goes fifth with a 1:38.346. Vettel now quickest on a 1:38.024, less than 0.1s ahead of Maldonado

Pratik emails in: "I am a huge kimi raikkonen fan and i want to know his chances of getting a podium in tomorrows race.. also pls tell me how competitive Force India Car looks compared to other midfield teams on the track"

Unfortunately for all the Kimi fans his chances have lessened considerably with the grid penalty he will take for the race. Force India looks very much in a midfield battle with Toro Rosso and Massa, with Sauber and Williams potentially a bit ahead

More Malaysian weather info from Richard: in Hong Kong who used to live in Kuala Lumpur: "East Coast Monsoon is November through January and pours rain on the East coast and Singapore, but not Kuala Lumpur; West Coast Monsoon in June and July pours rain on KL as it is in the west of the Malaysian peninsula. However, for much of the year you can expect rain in the late afternoon in KL. Pick a date and take your chance!"

Maldonado has jumped quickest with a 1:37.455. Over half a second faster than anyone else on the medium tyres

Hamilton still in the garage and yet to set a time - three laps completed due to that off

Les asks: "So, has Hamilton let slip the reasons for his Melbourne disappointment?"

Only that it was a clutch issue that caused his poor start and that he was unhappy with his setup. Nothing more specific than that I'm afraid

Chris (great name) asks: "How much of an advantage will the Merc F-duct be worth in quali in Mayaysia?"

It's all relative against other temas, but if it's as strong as suggested then the difference between a Mercedes lap with and without DRS is likely to be upwards of a second

Adam asks: "If Kubica wasnt injured who would be better kubica or perez or would you say someone even better?"

I'd plump for Kubica as he was in 2010 out of those two, but unfortunately for everyone in Formula One that's a hypothetical question!

A little apology to Williams - Maldonado actually set his lap on hard tyres. An impressive time.

Hamilton is now back out on medium tyres

Loggie had just asked about Maldonado on email - he's shaking off the pay driver tag very quickly at the moment, it's just a shame he stuck it in the wall having looked so impressive in Melbourne

Hamilton 0.1s down through the first two sectors

Hamilton went second with a 1:37.766

Button goes quickest with a 1:37.404 on medium tyres

Webber then beats Button's time, before Vettel does too. Vettel top on a 1:37.320

Webber second, 0.018s back, while Kimi goes third with a 1:37.356

Times are tumbling! Rosberg suddenly with a very quick lap, a 1:36.877 putting him top on medium tyres

Rosberg set the fastest times in sectors one and three on that lap as the effect of the DRS was made clear

2 minutes left - Vettel in 2nd to Maldonado in 7th covered by 0.135s

Mirko wants to know about Ferrari: Alonso is 13th and Massa 18th for now. Though it may not have done a qualifying-type lap yet, Ferrari doesn't expect to be as strong here as it was in Australia

Schumacher is the first man to cross the line as the flag falls. He's 0.9s off with his final lap

Button and Maldonado improving at the moment...

Button seems to have puushed a bit too hard in the middle sector and can't improve

Neither can Maldonado - both had been out for a while and probably had used the best of the tyres. Maldonado matched Button on that last lap though, Williams looking like a dark horse here...

So Rosberg ends the session on top ahead of Vettel, Webber, Raikkonen, Grosjean, Button and Maldonado

Benjamin asks about the weather, and the answer is it's changeable!

Paul asks: "Do you think there's any chance we'll see Webber in a red car next year?"

I think there is a chance if he feels he can win the championship there next season and a younger driver isn't ready for the seat. He's previously stated his wish to exit on a high

Mick asks: "Could this track be right for a Merc 1-2 on the grid? I suspect MS has it in him"

Yes it could be Mick, the DRS seems to be working very well here. How much more in hand McLaren and Red Bull has remains to be seen, however

Thank you all so much for your feedback, I'm sorry I couldn't publish them all but we will endeavour to respond to your questions in the build up to qualifying in about an hour or so. Keep them coming in and make sure you join us ahead of what promises to be a fascinating qualifying session. Can Mercedes take its first pole since its return? Does McLaren have enough in hand? Will Red Bull return to the front and what of the dark horses at Lotus and Williams? I can't wait...