Kuala Lumpur
In the mid 1990s, Malaysia was undergoing a huge change. Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's Prime Minister was determined that by 2020, the country would be a fully industrialised nation. The best way to do this, it was thought, was through the auto trade.
The nation's number one oil company, Petronas, began investing heavily in Formula One with Sauber, and Malaysia's national car company, Proton, bought Lotus Engineering. The most extravagant part of the plan however was the building of a multimedia 'supercorridor', linking Kuala Lumpur's new international airport with the capital city itself.
Mahathir ordered that a Grand Prix track be constructed too, and not just any track. He wanted to create a track that would be the envy of the world in terms of its facilities and technology. What he got was the Sepang International Circuit, and on its 1999 debut it did not disappoint.
Designed by Hermann Tilke, Sepang is one of the most technical circuits in Formula One. The combination of long high-speed straights, and tight twisting complexes make the track very complicated, but also perfect for overtaking as the track itself is very wide. The drivers love it and, along with Malaysia's distinct atmosphere, it makes for an experience unique in Formula One.
Session Times
Fri 23 March 2012
Practice 1 02:00 - 03:30
Practice 2 06:00 - 07:30
Sat 24 March 2012
Practice 3 05:00 - 06:00
Qualifying 08:00
Sun 25 March 2012
Race 09:00
All live on Sky Sports F1. For BBC times and info see here - http://forums.overclockers.co.uk/showthread.php?t=18378942
Track:
Track Diagram
Track DRS
One DRS zone - detection on back straight with activation on main straight.
Circuit information
Circuit Name: Sepang International Circuit
Number of Laps: 56
Circuit Length: 5.543 km
Race Distance: 310.408 km
Lap Record: 1:34.223 - JP Montoya (2004)
2011 Race Edit - http://www.formula1.com/video/race_edits/
Current Standings
Team Preview
Pirelli - http://pitpass.com/45824-Malaysia-GP-Preview-Pirelli
Lotus -
Williams - http://pitpass.com/45835-Malaysia-GP-Preview-Williams
HRT - http://pitpass.com/45823-Malaysia-GP-Preview-HRT
Mclaren - http://pitpass.com/45839-Malaysia-GP-Preview-McLaren
Mercedes - http://pitpass.com/45831-Malaysia-GP-Preview-Mercedes
Ferrari -
Caterham - http://pitpass.com/45832-Malaysia-GP-Preview-Caterham
Marussia - http://pitpass.com/45834-Malaysia-GP-Preview-Marussia
Red Bull -
Toro Rosso -
Sauber - http://pitpass.com/45822-Malaysia-GP-Preview-Sauber
Force India - http://pitpass.com/45833-Malaysia-GP-Preview-Force-India
Technical Changes
http://www.formula1.com/news/technical/
Weather Forecast
News
- Pirelli invites F1 teams to send observers to first running of test car in Jerez - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98199
- Kimi Raikkonen sets sights on Sepang podium for Lotus - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98198
- Red Bull against FIA intervention in cost control talks - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/17432432
- McLaren expects its car to be faster still in Malaysian Grand Prix - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98204
- Horner rejects Ferrari links - http://www1.skysports.com/formula-1/news/12475/7616548/Horner-rejects-Ferrari-link
Driver Changes
None
Photos from the event
Thursday - http://www.formula1.com/gallery/race/2012/865/general/thursday.html
Friday - http://www.formula1.com/gallery/race/2012/865/general/friday.html
Saturday - http://www.formula1.com/gallery/race/2012/865/general/saturday.html
Sunday - http://www.formula1.com/gallery/race/2012/865/general/sunday.html
FIA Press Conference
Thursday - http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/98251
Friday - http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/3/13152.html
Saturday - http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/3/13159.html
Sunday - http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/3/13168.html
Practice 1
Code:
[b]Pos Driver Team Time Laps[/b]
1. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m38.021s 19
2. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m38.535s + 0.514 21
3. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m38.813s + 0.792 21
4. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m38.826s + 0.805 19
5. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m38.919s + 0.898 17
6. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m39.092s + 1.071 20
7. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m39.128s + 1.107 22
8. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m39.298s + 1.277 23
9. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m39.323s + 1.302 15
10. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m39.440s + 1.419 19
11. Valterri Bottas Williams-Renault 1m39.724s + 1.703 23
12. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m39.783s + 1.762 23
13. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m39.896s + 1.875 16
14. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m39.910s + 1.889 21
15. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m39.980s + 1.959 23
16. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m40.099s + 2.078 23
17. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m40.247s + 2.226 19
18. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m40.469s + 2.448 23
19. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m40.857s + 2.836 25
20. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m41.085s + 3.064 23
21. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m43.170s + 5.149 18
22. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m44.580s + 6.559 14
23. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m45.360s + 7.339 8
24. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m45.528s + 7.507 18Practice 2
Code:
[b]Pos Driver Team Time Laps[/b]
1. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m38.172 28
2. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m38.533s + 0.361 34
3. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m38.535s + 0.363 29
4. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m38.696s + 0.524 34
5. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m38.853s + 0.681 33
6. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m38.891s + 0.719 27
7. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m39.133s + 0.961 29
8. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m39.297s + 1.125 33
9. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m39.311s + 1.139 22
10. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m39.402s + 1.230 25
11. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m39.444s + 1.272 35
12. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m39.464s + 1.292 26
13. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m39.625s + 1.453 20
14. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m39.687s + 1.515 16
15. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m39.696s + 1.524 29
16. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m40.271s + 2.099 27
17. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m40.678s + 2.506 34
18. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m40.947s + 2.775 33
19. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m41.464s + 3.292 25
20. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m41.681s + 3.509 20
21. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m42.594s + 4.422 18
22. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m42.874s + 4.702 24
23. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m43.658s + 5.486 18
24. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m43.283s + 5.561 22Practice 3
Code:
[b]Pos Driver Team Time Laps[/b]
1. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m36.877 16
2. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m37.320s + 0.443 15
3. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m37.338s + 0.461 12
4. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m37.356s + 0.479 13
5. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m37.382s + 0.505 13
6. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m37.404s + 0.527 12
7. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m37.455s + 0.578 13
8. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m37.663s + 0.786 15
9. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m37.776s + 0.899 8
10. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m37.977s + 1.100 17
11. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m38.091s + 1.214 20
12. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m38.178s + 1.301 15
13. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m38.246s + 1.369 17
14. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m38.285s + 1.408 16
15. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m38.423s + 1.546 13
16. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m38.640s + 1.763 11
17. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m38.794s + 1.917 18
18. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m39.20$s + 2.332 16
19. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m39.704s + 2.827 15
20. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m40.189s + 3.312 14
21. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m41.901s + 5.024 14
22. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m42.007s + 5.130 14
23. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m42.464s + 5.587 14
24. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m43.378s + 6.501 17Qualifying
Code:
[b]Pos Driver Team Time Gap [/b]
1. Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1m36.219s
2. Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1m36.368s + 0.149
3. Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1m36.391s + 0.172
4. Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1m36.461s + 0.242
5. Kimi Raikkonen Lotus-Renault 1m36.461s + 0.242
6. Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1m36.634s + 0.415
7. Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1m36.658s + 0.439
8. Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1m36.664s + 0.445
9. Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1m37.566s + 1.347
10. Sergio Perez Sauber-Ferrari 1m37.698s + 1.479
Q2 cut-off time: 1m37.477s Gap **
11. Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1m37.589s + 0.874
12. Felipe Massa Ferrari 1m37.731s + 1.016
13. Bruno Senna Williams-Renault 1m37.841s + 1.126
14. Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1m37.877s + 1.162
15. Daniel Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m37.883s + 1.168
16. Nico Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes 1m37.890s + 1.175
17. Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1m38.069s + 1.354
Q1 cut-off time: 1m38.437s Gap *
18. Jean-Eric Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1m39.077s + 1.905
19. Heikki Kovalainen Caterham-Renault 1m39.306s + 2.134
20. Vitaly Petrov Caterham-Renault 1m39.567s + 2.395
21. Timo Glock Marussia-Cosworth 1m40.903s + 3.731
22. Charles Pic Marussia-Cosworth 1m41.250s + 4.078
23. Pedro de la Rosa HRT-Cosworth 1m42.914s + 5.742
24. Narain Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth 1m43.655s + 6.483
107% time: 1m43.974s
* Gap to quickest in Q1 ** Gap to quickest in Q2Race
Code:
[b]Pos Driver Team Time[/b]
1. Alonso Ferrari 2h44:51.812
2. Perez Sauber-Ferrari + 2.263
3. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes + 14.591
4. Webber Red Bull-Renault + 17.688
5. Raikkonen Lotus-Renault + 29.456
6. Senna Williams-Renault + 37.667
7. Di Resta Force India-Mercedes + 44.412
8. Vergne Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 46.985
9. Hulkenberg Force India-Mercedes + 47.892
10. Schumacher Mercedes + 49.996
11. Vettel Red Bull-Renault + 1:15.527
12. Ricciardo Toro Rosso-Ferrari + 1:16.826
13. Rosberg Mercedes + 1:18.593
14. Button McLaren-Mercedes + 1:19.719
15. Massa Ferrari + 1:37.319
16. Petrov Caterham-Renault + 1 lap
17. Glock Marussia-Cosworth + 1 lap
18. Kovalainen Caterham-Renault + 1 lap
19. Maldonado Williams-Renault + 2 laps
20. Pic Marussia-Cosworth + 2 laps
21. Karthikeyan HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps
22. De la Rosa HRT-Cosworth + 2 laps
Fastest lap: Raikkonen, 1:40.722
Not classified/retirements:
Driver Team On lap
Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 47
Grosjean Lotus-Renault 4World Championship standings, round 2:
Code:
[b]Drivers: Constructors: [/b]
1. Alonso 35 1. McLaren-Mercedes 55
2. Hamilton 30 2. Red Bull-Renault 42
3. Button 25 3. Ferrari 35
4. Webber 24 4. Sauber-Ferrari 30
5. Perez 22 5. Lotus-Renault 16
6. Vettel 18 6. Force India-Mercedes 9
7. Raikkonen 16 7. Williams-Renault 8
8. Senna 8 8. Toro Rosso-Ferrari 6
9. Kobayashi 8 9. Mercedes 1
10. Di Resta 7
11. Vergne 4
12. Hulkenberg 2
13. Ricciardo 2
14. Schumacher 1
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