Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team driver Nico Rosberg set the fastest lap time in the first practice session of the 2016 Petronas Malaysian F1 Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit here today.

The German, who had won the races in Belgium, Italy and Singapore, clocked one minute 35.227 seconds to complete the lap distance of 5.543km.

A mere 0.494 seconds behind him was team-mate Lewis Hamilton of Britain while Scuderia Ferrari driver Kimi Raikkonen of Finland clocked the third fastest time of 1:36.315s.

The lap record of 1:34.223s is held by Juan Pablo Montoya who set it in 2004.

Kevin Magnussen's Renault caught fire while being wheeled out of the garage for the first free practice this morning. - Bernama