2014 Malaysian GP Thread

[steveaki13]

Well it was an eventful opening race of the championship in Oz and now F1 circus rolls into Kuala Lumpar for Round 2.

We wonder if it will settle down for Race 2, I personally hope not.

Drivers Championship standings after 1 Round
1. Nico Rosberg - 25 pts
2. Kev Magnussen - 18 pts
3. Jenson Button - 15 pts
4. Fernando Alonso - 12 pts
5. Valteri Bottas - 10 pts
6. Nico Hulkenberg- 8 pts
7. Kimi Raikkonen - 6 pts
8. JE Vergne - 4 pts
9. Danii Kyvat - 2 pts
10. Sergio Perez - 1 pt

Constructors Standings after 1 Round
1. McLaren - 33 pts
2. Mercedes - 25 pts
3. Ferrari - 18 pts
4. Williams - 10 pts
5. Force India - 9 pts
6. Toro Rosso - 6 pts

2014 Malaysian Grand Prix, Sepang, Kuala Lumpar.

Times are Local and (UK times). (Sorry about that )
FP1: 28th March -10:00am -11:30am - (2am-3:30am)
FP2: 28th March -14:00pm - 15:30pm - (6am-7:30am)

FP3: 29th March - 13:00pm - 14:00pm - (5am-6am)
Quali: 29th March - 16:00pm- (8am)

Race: 30th March - 16:00pm - (9am)

Race Length: 56 Laps

Previous Winners at Sepang.
1999: Eddie Irvine - Ferrari
2000: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2001: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2002: Ralf Schumacher - Williams
2003: Kimi Raikkonen - Mclaren
2004: Michael Schumacher - Ferrari
2005: Fernando Alonso - Renault
2006: Giancarlo Fisichella - Renault
2007: Fernando Alonso - Mclaren
2008: Kimi Raikkonen - Ferrari
2009: Jenson Button - Brawn
2010: Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull
2011: Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull
2012: Fernando Alonso - Ferrari
2013: Sebastian Vettel - Red Bull

Michael Schumacher - 3 wins
Fernando Alonso - 3 wins
Sebastian Vettel - 3 wins
Kimi Raikkonen - 2 wins
Eddie Irvine - 1 win
Ralf Schumacher - 1 win
Giancarlo Fisichella - 1 win
Jenson Button - 1 win

*Alonso or Vettel could become most successful driver around here if they wins.

Ferrari - 6 wins
Red Bull - 3 wins
Renault - 2 wins
Mclaren - 2 wins
Williams - 1 win
Brawn - 1 win

* Ferrari are the masters around Sepang.

So there we go.


Another weekend of wondering if the race will have to be abandoned due to a monsoon.

[jens]

Several questions before this race weekend. The matters, which were left open after Australia.

More specifically: How fast can Vettel go in that Red Bull? Because in Australia we didn't get any answer to that.
Also, how far up can Williams get? Because in Australia they had a compromised weekend, starting with midfield grid positions in wet qualifying. Wet conditions could be their weakness, like it was for Lotus last year. But if conditions are perfect, can Williams get a podium?

Other than that. How consistent is Magnussen? Can he fight against Button on a regular basis across all circuits on the calendar? Can he do it in Malaysia?

Can Lotus run more properly and a bit better now?

Ferrari was struggling with electrical issues in Australia. Can they run better now and prove that they are actually more competitive? Can Räikkönen find a better setup this time around? I remember 2012. He was a bit invisibile in Australia, but suddenly up there in the Malaysian GP qualifying. Similar thing in 2008 in the Ferrari.

Hamilton is desperate for 25 points here to make up for the lost ground in Oz and capitalize on Mercedes early-season pace advantage. Just noticed he is yet to win a race in Malaysia. How can Rosberg stack up against him? Last year they had an uncomfortable team order situation, but now Ross Brawn isn't there any more to give the calls.

What if it rains? It is certainly a possibility, either in qualifying or in the race. And if that's the case, you may want to watch out for Renault-powered teams, because they seem to go pretty well in the wet. Perhaps it is because the HP deficiency doesn't matter so much in the wet and general drivability (Renault's strength) matters more. So if it is wet, maybe Red Bull can threaten the general favourite Mercedes themselves for the win?

[AndyL]

Might want to check those UK times Steve, don't forget the clocks go forward this weekend Wouldn't want to get up an unnecessary hour early on Sunday!

[henners88]

Its the first race of the season on live television in Britain so Malaysia is effectively the season opener! Looking forward to this one and hopefully the FIA have worked out how to turn on the Ferrari KERS and Kimi's DRS at this round lol. Would be nice to have a battle at the front. It would also be nice to have two Merc's in the race too as with the pace they have we could see two very comparable drivers fighting it out. Australia looked all too easy for Nico with no challenge, this era was supposed to stop that.

[AndyL]

Australia looked all too easy for Nico with no challenge, this era was supposed to stop that.

No it was supposed to stop Vettel having it easy with no challenge, so the changes were quite successful

[henners88]

No it was supposed to stop Vettel having it easy with no challenge, so the changes were quite successful

It would have been cheaper to give Mercedes the Red Bull car and vice versa. I've waited 6 years for Lewis to have another shot at the championship and I'll be damned if it turns into a walk with a brief team mate tussle! I want a championship and a fight!

[steveaki13]

Might want to check those UK times Steve, don't forget the clocks go forward this weekend Wouldn't want to get up an unnecessary hour early on Sunday!

As James May would say..... Oh Cock

Have altered Sundays race time for UK. Cheers Andy

[moto99]

apparently they forced families of people from the missing boeing form the hotels to make room for the F1 circus...

[henners88]

apparently they forced families of people from the missing boeing form the hotels to make room for the F1 circus...

Hotel's can't turn away Ferrari and other team personnel who have had long term reservations. The families were moved elsewhere.

[moto99]

they have to move them far away from circut to not spoil the fiesta