Malaysian Grand Prix 2015, Kuala Lumpur - Race 2/19

[Shimmy]

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.

TV Times

Sky:

BBC:

Track Diagram & Information

Weather Forecast

2014 Onboard Lap

http://www.formula1.com/content/fom...ysia_2014_-_Sebastian_Vettel_onboard_lap.html


2014 Race Edit

Malaysia Preview Quotes

http://www.formula1.com/content/fom...alaysia-preview-quotes---lotus-on-sepang.html


WDC Standings

Constructors' Championship Standings

Practice 1

Practice 2

Practice 3

Qualifying

Race

 

[Shimmy]

If all things go well, we should see Alonso and Bottas back in action here. Hopefully Manor on track too.

Bit OT, but not really a fan of the changes on the revamped formula1 website.

 

[Guerrilla]

Cheers Shimmy

A nice bit of rain and heat to hopefully mix things up a bit.

 

[smr]

Woohoooo Formula 1 weekend

Love this track and the racing here. Hopefully the rain isn't too much to cause a red flag but mixes the grid up a bit

Cheers Shimmy.

 

[MooMoo444]

My favourite turn 1 of the calendar

 

[Skeeter]

So, who will come last this race, McLaren or Manor?

 

[Shimmy]

My favourite turn 1 of the calendar

First few corners are conducive to very good racing, especially at the start.

And it has a couple of other decent passing points on the track too.


McLaren should beat Manor if they manage to make it all the way round

 

[Trying]

Nice well laid out and informative post Shimmy

Out of interest, are those weather times in local Sepang time or UTC?

 

[timmeh]

I do like this track

It'd be nice if we could have a mixed weather race, not looking at all likely though.

 

[Shimmy]

Nice well laid out and informative post Shimmy

Out of interest, are those weather times in local Sepang time or UTC?

Cheers, weather times are UTC.

So currently looks like we might have damp/dry Practice sessions, dry Quali and potentially wet/drying Race. All a bit of a guesstimate this far out though.

 

[Kulealshi]

I like this track also, but I prefer watching the bikes on it rather than F1, last few races here have been dull.

 

[Twirlywoos]

It's raining, Hallelujah

 

[Malt_Vinegar]

Heading down to Williams HQ with a mate to see this one
Come on Williams!

 

[steve45]

Damn thats one way to watch a race!
Looking forward to this a little bit more than Aus, but i get the feeling most teams will be turning down engines as soon as possible due to it being another "hot" race and the 4 engine limit.
However hopefully the weather and reliability will throw up a few surprises, I'd like to see a lot more scraps through the field this time round and it will be interesting to see if saubers genuinely do have a turn of pace in them or if Aus was just a flook.

 

[The_Abyss]

I don't think I'd fancy driving a Red Bull in the wet if the engine power is as unpredictable as Ricciardo said it was in Melbourne. Recipe for a spin.

 

[deuse]

So, who will come last this race, McLaren or Manor?

And how many times will both of them get lapped?

Hoping for another Hamilton 1st or 2nd

 

[FrankJH]

Heading down to Williams HQ with a mate to see this one
Come on Williams!

Thats one way to make the most boring race possible very exciting

 

[Skeeter]

And how many times will both of them get lapped?

Hoping for another Hamilton 1st or 2nd

If McLaren are going to need to turn the engines down as much as they did in Melbourne, if not even more, then the long straights here are going to be rather embarrassing .

Although some articles suggested their power deficit affects acceleration out of corners more than top speed.

 

[JRS]

Hoping for enough rain to make things interesting, but not enough to panic the race stewards into putting the safety car out for half the race.