Felipe Massa [Images] and Kimi Raikkonen [Images] topped the timesheets in first free practice at the Malaysian Grand Prix on Friday, restoring pride for Ferrari [Images] fans after a turbulent week.

Massa ended the opening practice session at Sepang with the fastest time of 1:35.392, followed by world champion Raikkonen 1.067 seconds behind.

• Images: Hamilton hoping good times roll

Neither driver reached the chequered flag at the season-opening grand prix in Australia last week as Ferrari suffered their worst start to a Formula One campaign since 1992.

McLaren's Heikki Kovalainen was third quickest while the Williams of Nico Rosberg, who earned a career-best third place in Australia last week, was fourth fastest.

Britain's Lewis Hamilton [Images] finished 1.234 seconds off Brazilian Massa's pace as the fifth quickest with double world champion Fernando Alonso [Images] sixth fastest around the 5.543km circuit.

The second free practice session begins later on Friday.

(Editing by Ed Osmond)