Formula One: Sanitary towel is Nico Rosberg's fix for sweat

Heat and humidity are a perennial problem at the Malaysian Grand Prix but Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg has a unique solution -- wearing a sanitary towel inside his helmet.

The German revealed that he uses the absorbent towels as sweatbands to stop moisture trickling into his eyes, a special "trick" which could give him an edge this week.

"I have an issue with my eye when I sweat a lot so that is what the headband is for," Rosberg told Sky Sports.

"Actually I do have sort of a headband in my helmet, it is my trick, but I can tell you. I put a woman's... erm... what do you call them? The thing you put in your underwear."

When the interviewer suggests "Tights?", Rosberg replies, "No, inside the underwear", before the term "sanitary towel" is volunteered.

"Sanitary towel -- I put that on my forehead in my helmet to take up the sweat," confirmed the driver.

Temperatures upwards of 30 degrees Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) were no sweat for Rosberg as he timed quickest in first free practice on Friday.