Oyama (Japan), Oct 10 (DPA) Lewis Hamilton, the leader in the Formula One standings, scored the fastest lap Friday in the first practice run ahead of the Japanese Grand Prix.With a time of 1 minute, 18.91 seconds on the 4.563-kilometre raceway, the McLaren-Mercedes driver from England beat out the man following him in the rankings, Brazilian and Ferrari pilot Felipe Massa, by 0.153 seconds.

In third place at the Fuji Speedway was Finn Heikki Kovalainen, also in a McLaren-Mercedes, with a time 0.369 seconds behind Hamilton, followed by his countryman and defending champion Kimi Raikkonen in a Ferrari at 0.489 seconds out of the top spot.

The practice run was held ahead of Sunday’s race at the foot of Mount Fuji.

With three races left in the season, Hamilton is at the top of the standings with 84 points and four wins. Massa follows seven points behind.

In the third spot is BMW-Sauber’s Robert Kubica from Poland ahead of Raikkonen in fourth.