LEW HOT TO TROT

Hamilton turns up heat on Nico

LEWIS HAMILTON has warned Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg that he has far more to lose in the run-in to the title.

Hamilton edged Rosberg by 0.25 of a second in yesterday’s practice sessions for tomorrow’s Malaysian Grand Prix, with Ferrari pair Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen third and fourth quickest.

Harder

The German has won the last three races to take an eight-point lead in the championship race with only six races left.

But triple champion Hamilton believes Rosberg will be hit far harder if he fails to prevent him making it a hat-trick of titles.

Rosberg has won eight races this season to Hamilton’s six and no driver has ever won as many without claiming the crown.

“Perhaps when you are in the lead it can be more positive, but the downfall can be bigger,” said Hamilton. “When you are behind you have ® from JAMES MURRAY in Sepang less to lose, so the hunt is potentially more exciting.”

Hamilton was asked if the team would relax their no-collision policy after he and Rosberg crashed for a second time this season in Austria.

But Hamilton said: “I don’t think anything is going to change if we seal the title for them this weekend. We can still go out and race – but just not collide.”

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen, 19 yesterday, collapsed with dehydration after the opening session but was soon back on his feet before posting the fifth best time in the afternoon.

Kevin Magnussen was also feeling the heat when his Renault racer caught fire in the pit lane following a fuel leak.

The Dane leapt out of his car and mechanics put out the flames before anybody was injured.

Britain’s 2009 world champion Jenson Button was 10th fastest yesterday, two ahead of British rookie Jolyon Palmer’s Renault.