Dominant Hamilton seeks Malaysian Grand Prix win

World champion Lewis Hamilton will try to maintain a 100 percent record in the nascent Formula One series with victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix on Sunday. Torrential rain failed to derail Hamilton in qualifying on Saturday, when he shot to pole position despite suggestions of a block by his team-mate Nico Rosberg. Ferrari's four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel will start from second after sneaking between the Mercedes drivers in qualifying, a result he celebrated wildly. And Max Verstappen, 17, is in line to become F1's youngest ever points-scorer after qualifying in sixth, matching his father Jos's best performance in just his second race. All eyes will be on the start at 3:00 pm (0700 GMT) at the Sepang circuit, where Hamilton will try to hold off Vettel and Rosberg will aim to pounce on his fellow German. Hamilton easily won this month's season-opener in Australia from Rosberg, and another victory would expand his lead over a driver he has been battling since they were teenagers. After a tropical downpour halted qualifying for more than half an hour, more rain is forecast but the earlier start time is seen as easing the chances of another interruption. Rain has played spoiler in Malaysia before. In 2012, the race was halted for nearly an hour, and in 2009 it lasted just 31 laps before being stopped and awarded to Button. Whatever the conditions, the race will be demanding with high humidity and temperatures above 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) at the former jungle site. Drivers train in saunas for the Malaysian race, and Rosberg will use a sanitary towel inside his helmet to absorb sweat and stop it dripping into his eyes. The heat also plays havoc with the cars' tyres, prompting much deliberating among teams whether to use a two- or three-stop strategy. "Last year we had a three-stop, it's very, very tough on the tyres here, particularly with these hot temperatures," Hamilton said. "Yeah, it's going to be a real challenge for everyone including the car but also with the tyres and the strategy." Rosberg dismissed claims he impeded Hamilton in qualifying, an incident which recalls his block at Monaco last year, and said he hoped to get the jump on Vettel straight away. "An important one will be the start and I'll try to get it done there. I'm confident with my starts," he said. Meanwhile Vettel is hoping to shake up the Mercedes, who finished first and second by a distance in Australia and are widely expected to run away with the championship once again. "We know that they are difficult to beat, ultimately that's why everyone turns up, trying to win and we'll see what we can do tomorrow," said the German.