SHANGHAI - GERMANY'S Nick Heidfeld posted a late flying lap on Saturday to edge championship leader Lewis Hamilton in final practice for the potentially title-deciding Chinese Grand Prix.

The BMW Sauber driver clocked one minute 36.061 seconds around the Shanghai International Circuit to end British driver Hamilton's domination of the practice sessions.

Hamilton was just 0.074 sec slower, having set the pace in his McLaren until Heidfeld's flyer with just over one minute left in the hour-long session.

Title contender Robert Kubica of BMW Sauber was third quickest but Ferrari's Felipe Massa, Hamilton's closest rival who is just five points behind in the standings, was 12th.

Hamilton, 23, will become the youngest champion in F1 history Sunday if he finishes six points ahead of Massa and Kubica does not win the 17th round of the 18-race season.

Hamilton did have one moment of drama when he overshot the entry to the pit lane and had to reverse to get back on course.

In last year's race Hamilton's title hopes suffered a severe setback when he slid into the gravel coming into the pits on worn tyres.

Kubica, who is 12 points off the championship lead, was just fractions slower than Hamilton while Massa was almost 0.8sec off the pace. -- AFP