Feature: Star Drivers Of The Malaysian GP

Frances Fry (Assistant writer) - "My driver of the weekend has to be Sebastian Vettel. The race in Malaysia has proven to everyone that his move to Ferrari was worth while. Especially after the difficult season he had last year. Seeing him on the top of the podium was emotional for a lot of fans and viewers. In addition to this it was fantastic to see the Mercedes cars having to battle for their points with someone other than their teammate.

Sebastian Vettel has not only proven himself, he has also dragged Ferrari back to the top. If he's managed to win one he's capable of winning two. Who knows, maybe he'll even be a championship contender? It's only been the second race so it's a little too early to say. All I know for sure is Vettel is back and he's wearing red!

Amy Hawk (Main writer & editor) - "My driver of the weekend is Max Verstappen. This kid is a true talent and I find it thrilling to see how he does each race weekend. He's now the youngest points scorer in a debut season and I think's incredible.. You can tell he's really determined. He's very mature and well grounded, so I have a good feeling that he'll keep rising to the top. He has champion potential, no doubt."

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Feature: Malaysian GP - Our Post-Race Quotes

Amy Hawk (Lead writer & editor) - "For me, Malaysia is always an exciting race to watch.. Between the extreme temperatures and the tight turns, the circuit always offers up a great race. I'd like to congratulate Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel. It's great to see the team rising back to the top. It's also great to see Alonso and Bottas back on track. It's definitely a concern when a driver's been injured. Getting back into the car too soon can prove difficult and dangerous, but there were no issues for them which is great.

It was a real shame that Will (Stevens) wasn't able to race due to the fuel system issues, but I'm sure he's already focused and preparing for the Chinese GP which is next on the calendar. We're really looking forward to it. Cheers."

Frances Fry (Assistant writer) - "Malaysia, as per usual, did not fail to entertain. It offered up a perfect race, aside from the extreme temperatures which proved to be difficult to deal with for many drivers. As far as the race goes, it included everything a racing fan could want. Wheel-to-wheel racing wasn't short in supply which is always great to see. Between all of the mishaps you can often forget what lies in the heart of racing. Thrills and speed. They were in the race. I believe we saw Formula 1 as its always been. Classic racing.

The surprise of the race for me was seeing Sebastian Vettel overtake the Mercedes on track. After Vettel's win some people questioned if the victory was a one off. However, taking the overtake on track into account, I don't think it's logically possible to rule it off as such. Ferrari is back and Vettel is driving them forward."

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Malaysian GP: Race - Re-Cap & Results

We're hoping everyone enjoyed the second race week of the 2015 season. It was quite the race and it's time to jump into our re-cap.

It was an unfortunate start for Manor as Will Stevens was unable to start the race due to a fuel system issue that the team was unable to fix in time. However, Roberto Merhi was able to race, thus beginning Manor's first GP start this season.

When the lights went out, Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg were eager to gain a lead over Lewis Hamilton as fast as they could and it was Vettel who was able to complete the challenge, making an easy pass early on and taking the lead of the race.

On lap 2, the first retirement of the race was Marcus Ericsson, who'd had a good run in Australia. The Swedish driver spun off the track and got stuck in the gravel. Unfortunately for him, he was unable to get out and his Sauber had to be taken back to the pits.

Daniil Kvyat had a battle with Nico Hulkenberg that saw the Russian driver gaining some air. Nico Hulkenberg was later penalized for the accident, recieving a 10-Second penalty which he later served during a pit-stop. It was the same penalty that team-mate, Sergio Perez served for an accident involving him and Grosjean. Grosjean had tried to pass Perez and ended up spinning across the track after the two cars touched. Both were able to finish the race none the less.

Alonso was the second to retire, on lap 20 due to an ERS issue, leaving Button as the lone McLaren on track. But, unfortunately Button retired 20 laps later with a Turbo failure. It's been a bumpy start for McLaren-Honda, but the team is confident they can rise by mid-season.

The battle between Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel continued as the three switched positions between pit-stops and quick passes. By the late stages of the race, it was clear Vettel had the advantage and was about to take Ferrari to their first Victory in nearly two years.

Pastor Maldonado was forced to retire on lap 46 with a brake problem. His team-mate Grosjean finished 11th, missing the points by one position.

In the end, Sebastian Vettel brought home the win and an emotional one at that. Hamilton crossed the finish line in Second, with Rosberg following in a close third. Max Verstappen also became the youngest driver ever to score points in their rookie season, finishing in 7th place.

Here are the final results -

RACE RESULTS:

1. Sebastian Vettel  / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany + 25 Points
2. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain / + 18 Points
3. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany / +15 Points
4. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland / + 12 Points
5. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland / + 10 Points
6. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil / + 8 Points
7. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands / + 6 Points
8. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain / + 4 Points
9. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia / + 2 Points
10. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia / + 1 Point
11. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France
12. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil
13. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico
14. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany
15. Roberto Merhi / Manor-Ferrari / Spain 
RETIRED - Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela / Brakes
RETIRED - Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain / Turbo Failure
RETIRED - Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain / ERS Issue
RETIRED - Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden / Spun-Off
DID NOT START - Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain / Fuel System

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk
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Malaysian GP: Qualifying - Results

It's race day at Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia and it's time to look at how the grid will line up just hours from now for the second race of the season.

Romain Grosjean was handed a 2-place-grid-penalty for a pit-lane infraction, so he'll now start 10th instead of 8th.

Manor-Ferrari was cleared to race by the FIA after neither driver set a time within 107% of the fastest time in Q1. Stevens was unable to set a time at all due to car issues.

GRID:

1. Lewis Hamilton / Mercedes-Mercedes / Great Britain

2. Sebastian Vettel / Ferrari-Ferrari / Germany

3. Nico Rosberg / Mercedes-Mercedes / Germany

4. Daniel Ricciardo / Red Bull-Renault / Australia

5. Daniil Kvyat / Red Bull-Renault / Russia

6. Max Verstappen / Toro Rosso-Renault / Netherlands

7. Felipe Massa / Williams-Mercedes / Brazil

8. Valtteri Bottas / Williams-Mercedes / Finland ^

9. Marcus Ericsson / Sauber-Ferrari / Sweden ^

10. Romain Grosjean / Lotus-Mercedes / France 

11. Kimi Raikkonen / Ferrari-Ferrari / Finland

12. Pastor Maldonado / Lotus-Mercedes / Venezuela

13. Nico Hulkenberg / Force India-Mercedes / Germany

14. Sergio Perez / Force India-Mercedes / Mexico

15. Carlos Sainz / Toro Rosso-Renault / Spain

16. Felipe Nasr / Sauber-Ferrari / Brazil

17. Jenson Button / McLaren-Honda / Great Britain

18. Fernando Alonso / McLaren-Honda / Spain

19. Roberto Merhi / Manor-Ferrari / Spain

20. Will Stevens / Manor-Ferrari / Great Britain

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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Malaysian GP: Free Practice 2 - Re-Cap & Results

Free Practice 2 is now done and complete and the teams will be preparing for tomorrow when the drivers go out for the last practice session before Qualifying.

Lewis Hamilton was able to get out in this session after engine issues hampered his running in FP1. He ended this session fastest, which is great result for him and the Mercedes team.

Grosjean was out early with mechanical issues, so he didn't get much running in, in this session. His team-mate Maldonado finished 11th.

There was a Red Flag in this session when Roberto Merhi spun out at Turn 11 and got stranded in the gravel trap. Merhi was not injured and was able to get out of the car on his own. The session was resumed after the Manor was returned to the pits. Sebastian Vettel had near-similar spin there awhile later but was able to restart his car and get back on track.

Here are the times from this session:

1. Lewis Hamilton - 1:39.790 / Mercedes-Mercedes

2. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:40.163 / Ferrari-Ferrari

3. Nico Rosberg - 1:40.218 / Mercedes-Mercedes

4. Daniil Kvyat - 1:40.346 / Red Bull-Renault

5. Valtteri Bottas - 1:40.450 / Williams-Mercedes

6. Felipe Massa - 1:40.560 / Williams-Mercedes

7. Sebastian Vettel - 1:40.652 / Ferrari-Ferrari

8. Max Verstappen - 1:41.220 / Toro Rosso-Renault

9. Marcus Ericsson - 1:41.261 / Sauber-Ferrari

10. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:41.799 / Red Bull-Renault

11. Pastor Maldonado - 1:41.877 / Lotus-Mercedes

12. Felipe Nasr - 1:41.988 / Sauber-Ferrari

13. Sergio Perez - 1:42.242 / Force India-Mercedes

14. Carlos Sainz - 1:42.291 / Toro Rosso-Renault

15. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:42.330 / Force India-Mercedes

16. Fernando Alonso - 1:42.506 / McLaren-Honda

17. Jenson Button - 1:42.637 / McLaren-Honda

18. Romain Grosjean - 1:42.948 / Lotus-Mercedes

19. Will Stevens - 1:45.704 / Manor-Ferrari

20. Roberto Merhi - 1:47.229 / Manor-Ferrari

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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Malaysian GP: Free Practice 1 - Re-Cap & Results

Not a bad first practice session at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Not many problems for the drivers, except for Lewis Hamilton, who was unable to get any proper running in due to an engine problem. He sat out the majority of the session and it is unknown at this point if he will be able to participate in FP2. It's looking like he might need an engine change, which is a shame as his current engine is fresh.

Both Alonso and Bottas got on track after injuries kept them from racing in the Australian GP. Alonso also cleared up a lot of questions surrounding his accident in Barcelona, during the Drivers Press Conference yesterday.

Raffaele Marciello was in for Felipe Nasr in the Sauber for this session, racking up laps and experience with the Swiss Team. Nasr will be back for FP2.

Manor also made their track debut after being unable to do any running during the Australian GP weekend. Great to see them out on track and making good progress.

Here are the times from the Session:

1. Nico Rosberg - 1:40.124 / Mercedes-Mercedes
2. Kimi Raikkonen - 1:40.497 / Ferrari-Ferrari
3. Sebastian Vettel - 1:40.985 / Ferrari-Ferrari
4. Romain Grosjean - 1:41.543 / Lotus-Mercedes
5. Carlos Sainz - 1:41.596 / Toro Rosso-Renault
6. Daniel Ricciardo - 1:41.787 / Red Bull-Renault
7. Max Verstappen - 1:41.803 / Toro Rosso-Renault
8. Valtteri Bottas - 1:41.882 / Williams-Mercedes
9. Daniil Kvyat - 1:42.055 / Red Bull-Renault
10. Marcus Ericsson - 1:42.064 / Sauber-Ferrari
11. Felipe Massa - 1:42.103 / Williams-Mercedes
12. Pastor Maldonado - 1:42.567 / Lotus-Mercedes
13. Raffaele Marciello - 1:42.621 / Sauber-Ferrari
14. Fernando Alonso - 1:42.885 / McLaren-Honda
15. Nico Hulkenberg - 1:42.893 / Force India-Mercedes
16. Sergio Perez - 1:43.054 / Force India-Mercedes
17. Jenson Button - 1:43.100 / McLaren-Honda
18. Will Stevens - 1:46.686 / Manor-Ferrari
19. Roberto Merhi - 1:47.683 / Manor Ferrari
20. Lewis Hamilton - No Time Set / Mercedes-Mercedes

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended

Malaysian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Sauber

Preview Quotes: Sauber


Marcus Ericsson - “After the great result in Melbourne, it feels good going to Malaysia. I know the track quite well from GP2 and also from last year in Formula One. For me it is quite an interesting circuit with many medium and high-speed corners, which are quite demanding for the tyres. The Malaysian Grand Prix is one of the toughest on the calendar, because of the high humidity and heat. It means you need to be in good physical shape, and I am sure I am. I have been training very hard over the winter, and before the race in Sepang I have spent one week at a training camp in Thailand getting acclimatized to the humidity. I am sure I will be one hundred percent ready when I get to Malaysia. Another aspect which comes into play is that we often have the risk of heavy rain there, so the races are usually quite exciting. I hope we can build on the progress we have made in Melbourne, and have another good race weekend.”

Felipe Nasr - “I am really looking forward to the Malaysian Grand Prix. It will be easier for me to approach this race weekend, as I know the track quite well from previous racing series, which was not the case in Melbourne. Looking back to our winter tests, I am confident that the layout of the track in Malaysia can suit our car. After a successful season opener in Melbourne, I think the Malaysian Grand Prix can be one of the races we can look forward to. The track consists of some long straights and fasts corners, so I would expect a bigger tyre degradation. On the other hand, it is positive that our car seems to have a decent straight line speed, but I think some more down force could help us to gain time in the high-speed corners. Overall, I am looking forward to my second race of the 2015 FIA Formula One World Championship.”

Raffaele Marciello (Test & Reserve Driver - Driving in FP#1) - “It will be exciting to drive the Sauber C34-Ferrari for the first time (in FP1). That will also be the same for the Italians, as we have not had an Italian driver in Formula One for quite a few years. I will definitely enjoy the experience, and I am really looking forward to it. I am confident I can do a good job as well as supporting the team in order to find a set-up for the car which suits the track. I have never been to Malaysia before, but I know the track quite well from the Ferrari simulator in Maranello, and I am sure I can get to learn it fast once I drive there. As the circuit has some fast corners, I think the car’s down force will be crucial. Another important aspect will be the weather, as the humidity, along with the temperatures, is quite high. From a driver’s perspective it will be a challenge, but this is the same for everyone. Together with my trainer, I am getting well prepared for this weekend.“

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
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Quotes belong to drivers

Malaysian GP: Driver Preview Quotes - Force India

Preview Quotes: Force India


Nico Hulkenberg - "I am really looking forward to getting back to action in Sepang after a fairly positive start of the season. We knew the VJM08's reliability was one of our strong points and we were able to play that card well. We didn't make any mistakes and we had a good strategy, and that helped us capitalize on a day when others ran into trouble. We need to keep our feet on the ground, however, because we know the circumstances in which we got this result and we know the next races will be tough. The track in Sepang is quite challenging and is very different compared to Melbourne. The various sectors have unique characteristics: there is a nice variation of high and low-speed corners and two very long straights. You need to balance your setup between top speed and down force to make the most of your car in each of them. The high temperatures and humidity add to the challenges of this track, and you always have a threat of rain, especially at the start of the race."

Sergio Perez - "Malaysia is a very special place for me. It is where I got my first podium in Formula One, in one of the best races of my career in 2012, so I will always have happy memories about this circuit. The track is really interesting and the three sectors each have their own character. The track is physical but it has some very technical parts as well. You also have some very long straights at the end of the lap that offer a lot of opportunities for overtaking. The weather always makes it interesting. When you are racing in Sepang it is something that is always in the back of your mind, because you know a sudden rainstorm can throw up some unexpected strategies and opportunities you can exploit. The heat and the humidity are a big challenge, but as a driver you are prepared for this. You work really hard during the pre-season and every day with your trainer to be at your best in these circumstances, so I know I am ready.

I am looking forward to going racing again after our first run in Melbourne. We are still learning a lot about the full potential of the VJM08 and every time we hit the track we are going to find some improvements. We are aware of the work needed to make our car more competitive, but we also know it is going to take time. The car feels really promising but it needs development and I look forward to getting some upgrades soon."

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Article Posted By: Amy Hawk
No copyright infringement intended
Quotes belong to Drivers 

Malaysian GP: Circuit Preview

(Image belongs to: travelcie.com - All rights belong to owner)

It's almost time for the second GP weekend of the 2015 F1 season and it's time to take a look at the next location.

"Sepang International Circuit" is located in Sepang, Selangor, Malaysia and currently hosts the Malaysian GP. The circuit opened March 7th 1999.

The circuit has a capacity of 80,000 and is 3.444 miles in length. The current style has 15 turns and runs Clockwise. The race consists of 56 laps.

In 2014, it was Lewis Hamilton who started on Pole Position and and also went on to win the race. His team-mate, Nico Rosberg, came in second and Sebastian Vettel in 3rd. One of his last podiums with Infiniti Red Bull Racing.

Retirements included: Sergio Perez (Did Not Start - Gearbox), Pastor Maldonado (Power Unit), Jules Bianchi (Brakes), Jean-Eric Vergne (Turbo), Adrian Sutil (Power Unit), Esteban Gutierrez (Gearbox), and Daniel Ricciardo (Wing Damage)

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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Photo belongs to: travelcie.com

Malaysian GP: Schedule

It's almost time for the second race weekend of the season and the teams are packing up and heading to Malaysia. 

SCHEDULE:

March 26th / Thursday

15:00 - Drivers Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

March 27th / Friday

09:00 - 09:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

10:00 - 11:30 - Free Practice #1

13:05 - 13:45 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

14:00 - 15:30 - Free Practice #2

16:00 - 17:00 - Principals Press Conference (Located in the Press Room)

March 28th / Saturday

10:35 - 11:20 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

10:40 - 11:20 - Team Pit-Stop Practice

14:00 - 15:00 - Free Practice #3

17:00 - Qualifying

March 29th / Sunday

11:00 - 12:00 - Driver Autograph Signing 

13:05 - 14:10 - Paddock Club Pit-Lane Walk

13:30 - Drivers Track Parade

13:45 - 14:15 - Starting Grid Presentation

14:46 - National Anthem

15:00 - Race

(Times are subject to change)

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Article Written By: Amy Hawk

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