Heavy tyre degradation caused by the searing Sepang temperatures has limited Mercedes’ advantage over their Formula One rivals at the Malaysian Grand Prix, according to cham-pionship leader Nico Rosberg.

Rosberg was still quickest in practice but only 0.2 seconds separated the top six at the Sepang circuit yesterday where track temperatures peaked at over 50 Celsius causing havoc to the tyres and leading to a number of uncharacteristic spins.

Lewis Hamilton, who was quickest in the opening session, spun in both 90-minute runs and compared the circuit to “driving on marbles”, while the normally unflappable Fernando Alonso also had trouble controlling his Ferrari.

Rosberg said the team had been taken by surprise at how much the tyres had suffered on the demanding circuit, where heavy breaking areas and long straights played their part in his best time of one minute, 39.909 seconds.

“It was a decent day, tough conditions out there really, very, very hot and tough for the car, tough for the tyres even, we never expected so much tyre degradation,” the Australian Grand Prix winner told reporters.

“It’s just massive degradation out there which is a big challenge.”

Rosberg had sauntered to a 25-second win in the opening race in Melbourne two weeks ago and although he was again quickest in Malaysia practice, the difference was a mere 0.035 seconds over Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen.

Melbourne pole-sitter Hamilton said the tyre troubles had not come as a surprise to him.

In a guarded discussion with reporters, the Mercedes driver said he was more focused on getting his car around all 56 laps of tomorrow’s race having been forced to quit after only three at Albert Park.

“It’s the same every time I come here... it was hot for the tyres, they are not working well. Even though we have got the hard tyre, the tyres do not feel great but that’s the same for everyone.”

Hamilton was fourth quickest overall yesterday with world champion Sebastian Vettel ahead of him after completing 30 laps, despite concerns about a faulty fuel sensor and requiring a new electronic power supply for the weekend.

Alonso was fifth and his former team-mate at Ferrari Felipe Massa, of Brazil, was sixth for Williams.

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