Max Verstappen led a Red Bull 1-2 during a shortened wet opening practice session for the Malaysian Grand Prix.
The start of the session was delayed by half an hour due to heavy and persistent rainfall, limiting the drivers to just an hour of running, which took place solely in wet conditions at Sepang.
Following initial installation laps on Wet tyres, Intermediates were used for the quickest times, with Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo trading places at the head of the standings.
Verstappen wound up with a 1:48.962, 0.757s clear of Ricciardo, with McLaren-Honda’s Fernando Alonso putting in a lap during the closing moments to move into third, 1.6s behind.
Ferrari claimed fourth and fifth, Kimi Räikkönen and Sebastian Vettel setting their best times on their last lap, as the German recovered from an off-track excursion at Turn 9.
Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas placed sixth and seventh for Mercedes, in front of Williams’ Lance Stroll and Toro Rosso debutant Pierre Gasly.
Renault reserve driver Sergey Sirotkin replaced Nico Hülkenberg for his fourth session of the season and survived a spin at the entry to Turn 2 to round out the top 10.
Jolyon Palmer placed 11th for Renault, ahead of McLaren's Stoffel Vandoorne, Force India's Esteban Ocon and Toro Rosso practice runner Sean Gelael.
Sergio Pérez was 15th for Force India, while Formula 2 title leader Charles Leclerc made his first appearance in Sauber colours as he edged Pascal Wehrlein, who spun at Turn 9, for 16th spot, the pair at points both running an unusual device on the side of the C36.
Haas’ Romain Grosjean and Friday runner Antonio Giovinazzi were 18th and 19th, as Felipe Massa finished without a timed effort after a hydraulic issue stranded his Williams FW40.
