02/10/2016
NEWS STORY
In 1999, the Sepang International Circuit, hosting its inaugural Grand Prix, witnessed the return of Michael Schumacher, several months after the accident at Silverstone in which he broke his leg.
2016, the Sepang International Circuit, hosting the Malaysia Grand Prix for the eighteenth time, witnessed the return of Lewis Hamilton's mojo.
It's fair to say that Lewis' pole-winning lap was quite sublime, right up there with the like of his hero Ayrton Senna, a lap worthy of one of the sport's true greats.
Of course, Nico Rosberg did well to take second, though, following a nervous weekend, the German almost fluffed that as well.
Check any of the major sport websites, even some of the F1 specialists, and in the days heading up to this event they were warning of a new Nico, a re-born Nico, a more determined Nico.
Sadly, the Rosberg we have witnessed for much of this weekend is the old Nico, the one so easily overawed by his teammate's talent. Suddenly it is the German who is on the back foot.
However, having started from pole on seven occasions previously this year, due to a number of reasons, he has only converted this into a win three times. Fact is, as witnessed in Italy, and talking of feet, starts are currently Lewis' Achilles heel.
With Rosberg clearly rattled by Hamilton's rediscovery of his mojo, this could be a crucial point in the 2016 season, for we know that once the German's head lowers it remains there for some time. Now, more than ever, Rosberg must show his mettle, and not rely on his teammate poor starts, over enthusiasm or poor reliability.
Behind the Mercedes, Jenson Button, about to take part in his 300th Grand Prix, spoils what would have seen perfect symmetry in the first six or seven rows - or maybe the blame lies with Honda and its decision to give Alonso a new engine and thereby consign him to the back of the grid.
Anyway, other than Jenson, who starts ninth, behind the Silver Arrows we have Red Bull, Ferrari, Force India, Williams, Haas, Toro Rosso, Sauber and Manor, only the McLaren and Renault duos not starting side-by-side.
While not wanting to resort to the usual broadcaster hyperbole of promising that anything might still happen, the fact is that while Mercedes has strong single lap pace here, over long runs the Red Bulls have looked stronger this weekend.
Therefore this is not a race simply about the silver cars, the Red Bulls, and to a lesser extent the Ferraris, are still in it.
Despite his 'collapse' on Friday, young Max Verstappen has been looking very good this weekend, and certainly had the edge over his teammate Daniel Ricciardo in qualifying. However, being the veteran that he is, and having the benefit of an extra set of softs, we wouldn't write off the Australian's chances. Both drivers look capable of pulling off something special today.
Eighteen months ago, Sepang saw Ferrari pull off a shock win, the first of three that year. Hard to believe that currently the Maranello team has yet to open its 2016 win account. For much of the weekend Kimi Raikkonen has been the quicker of the two, however Sebastian dug deep yesterday. Nonetheless, all that the Italian team can really count on today is the weakness of its rivals and the hope that its tyre strategy is better.
As ever, Force India remains the dark horse, and while we don't expect to see either Nico or Sergio on the top step of the podium this afternoon, the team looks likely to extend its lead over Williams in the battle for fourth in the team standings.
With the McLaren drivers starting ninth and last, we can expect some fun and games this afternoon, even if Honda's mind is on next week's home race. Fernando Alonso appears delighted with the latest upgrade and is talking of a good point finish - and who are we to doubt him - while JB would dearly love to mark this personally historic event with a decent points haul.
Be it engine mode settings or seatbelts, Williams is having a torrid time of it of late. Nonetheless, it has two strong drivers and a decent car and should be able to leave here without allowing Force India to extend the gap too much.
What with Romain Grosjean's incessant moaning it's hard to believe that the Haas duo is as high as 12th and 13th on the grid. However, while Honda looks ahead to Suzuka, so Haas is anticipating Austin, aware that the last time it scored points was Austria. Whatever the issues are, and they appear to be many, the team must knuckle down and deal with them.
Renault's weekend got off to a fiery start, literally, and in many ways that's been the main excitement here for the French outfit. If Honda is looking ahead to Japan, and Haas Austin, Renault can only be dreaming of Melbourne 2017 and the hope that things are better.
Toro Rosso's chief race engineer, Phil Charles, summed up the situation perfectly when he said last night: "A very difficult day today unfortunately. P15 and P16 in qualifying is a big jolt back down to earth from the P6 and P7 we had in Singapore." Fact is, the Faenza team is struggling here, and both Carlos Sainz and Daniil Kvyat will need to dig deep today.
Whether Sauber can finally open its points account here today remains to be seen, but in all honesty that would take something out of the ordinary, and at this stage it doesn't look as though the weather gods will be intervening.
Finally Manor, and both Pascal Wehrlein and Esteban Ocon can expect another long, hot unrewarding afternoon. Unless the same act of god that might benefit Sauber intercedes on them also.
Other than Magnussen's fire, we've seen a number of incident this weekend, most the result of the changes made to the circuit, changes which include a new track surface and the re-profiling of a number of corners. T15 is proving particularly difficult, witness Rosberg's mistake on his final Q3 run yesterday. And let's not forget, Hamilton has had his fair of moments here also.
Two stops is likely to be the optimal strategy, with wear and degradation reduced compared to previous years as a result of the new track surface.
Much is being made of the fact that Mercedes CAN secure the constructors' title today, though with a 222 point advantage does it really matter when it happens, surely it's a forgone conclusion and a mark of the marque's total dominance.
The pitlane opens and the drivers begin making their way to the grid.
Raikkonen and Hamilton both query a sign that states the pitlane speed limit is 60 km/h as opposed to 80. Both are told that this is "left over from the GP2 race".
The air temperature is 33 degrees C, while the track temperature is 52 degrees. There is a 20% chance of rain.
And in case you are wondering - and if you don't listen to our podcasts you won't have a clue what we are talking about - the shortbread biscuits are sitting here unopened.
The field heads off on the warm-up lap. All are on softs bar Bottas, Magnussen and Nasr who are on mediums and Palmer on hards. Sadly, Massa doesn't get away; "the throttle is not working, it's not working," he urges. His crew rushes to his aid, the Williams pushed back to the pitlane.
As the field makes its way down the back straight, Massa gets going and heads to the end of the pitlane from where he will start.
Palmer complains that his is losing power.
The grid forms... very, very slowly.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Sepang, here.
Finally, they're away... including Sainz, who moments earlier complained his engine had switched off.
Hamilton holds his lead following a strong start, while Rosberg slips in behind for the slipstream and Vettel makes a superb start splitting the Red Bulls. Into T1 and Vettel attempts to go down the inside of Verstappen who is right behind Rosberg. Vettel and Verstappen touch, while Rosberg, who is not even involved in their squabble is hit from behind by his countryman and spins as the Ferrari and Red Bull head off track... the after effect rippling back through the field.
"I made contact with the Mercedes, I had nowhere to go," sighs Vettel sighs. "I think that's it, the front suspension is damaged" Indeed it is, his left front wheel is totally askew.
"Sebastian is crazy," Verstappen tells his team, the Red Bull driver clearly seeing things slightly differently.
The VSC is deployed as Hamilton leads Ricciardo, Perez, Button, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Hulkenberg, Bottas, Grosjean and Ocon. Alonso is up to twelfth while Rosberg is seventeenth.
At the end of lap 1, Massa, Kvyat, Magnussen and Gutierrez all pit.
As the VSC is withdrawn, Verstappen catches Button and Raikkonen asleep, soon nailing Perez also to take third. Raikkonen subsequently makes a bold move on the Mexican in T2 to take fourth.
Rosberg passes Palmer to take 14th, the German clearly a man on a mission. He needs to be. Further up the road Alonso is battling Grosjean for 9th.
Just under a second behind Hamilton, Ricciardo posts a new fastest lap (40.462), as Perez queries Verstappen's move on Raikkonen at the re-start.
Raikkonen is warned that his rear calliper is very warm and he's about to get 'the alarm'.
Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (40.346) as he extends his lead to 1.889, as Massa is told he has a left-front puncture and needs to pit. He rejoins in last.
Ocon is the latest driver to be passed by Rosberg, the German now up to 12th, 18.161s down on his teammate.
Having got the better of Grosjean, Alonso sets his sights on Bottas, who is just 0.6s ahead.
As he closes on his teammate, Verstappen urges that he's got the pace to take on Hamilton. And Ricciardo hasn't?
"It's very difficult to stay behind, I'm getting closer," says the Dutch youngster.
The stewards are to investigate the first corner incident involving Vettel.
Grosjean is off and in the kitty litter at T15 after what appears to be a brake issue. As the Frenchman trudges through the gravel the VSC is deployed.
"Keep an eye on my front left, I drove over some debris," says Rosberg. "Just keep an eye on the delta," he is told "Yeah, yeah, yeah" he responds.
Behind the VSC, Verstappen, Perez, Button, Hulkenberg, Alonso, Rosberg and Wehrlein all pit.
As the VSC is withdrawn, it's Hamilton, Ricciardo, Raikkonen, Verstappen, Bottas, Sainz and Ocon.
Rosberg passes Hulkenberg and Nasr in subsequent moves, the championship leader now back up to 12th.
A new fastest lap from Hamilton on lap 11 (39.643) as he build a 3.012s lead over Ricciardo.
Rosberg continues his storm through the field passing Button and then Palmer to take 9th.
"Due to the damage we're missing downforce," Magnussen is told, the Dane currently 19th.
Ocon pits from 9th and rejoins the race in a more familiar 17th.
As Button passes Palmer to take 10th, Verstappen posts a new fastest lap (39.217) as he hunts down Raikkonen who is 7.4s ahead.
Hulkenberg complains of "massive understeer", but doesn't let it prevent him passing palmer to take 11th.
Ocon is under investigation for speeding in the pitlane.
Rosberg closes on Perez, but the Mexican is unlikely to be as obliging as some of the others the German has disposed of this afternoon.
As Ocon is handed a 5s time penalty, Rosberg makes surprisingly short work of Perez, passing the Mexican in T9.
Ricciardo is told that the team is looking to fit the hards for his next stint. The Australian is currently 5.3s down on Hamilton and 5.6s ahead of Raikkonen who is 5.2s ahead of Verstappen.
As Rosberg passes Ericsson on the pit straight, Magnussen is told that the team is retiring his car. A lousy weekend for the Dane who was clouted by Kvyat in the first corner melee.
Sainz is the latest 'victim' of Rosberg, the German passing the Spaniard in the infamous T15.
In no doubt as to where the blame lies for his first lap retirement, Vettel watches on as Verstappen closes in on Raikkonen. However, we're robbed of a fight as Raikkonen dives into the pits, as does Hamilton. They rejoin in third (Hamilton) and fourth (Raikkonen), both on hards, just ahead of Rosberg.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Sepang, here.
Ricciardo leads, though he has yet to stop.
That said, next time around he pits, rejoining in third on hards. Ericsson also stops.
Following those stops, Verstappen leads Hamilton by 8.215s, then Ricciardo (+8.6s), Raikkonen (+7.8s), Rosberg (+1.6s) and Bottas (+3s). Alonso is currently tenth.
"You can start to push a little more at this stage," Verstappen is told, Red Bull seeking to make the most of its alternative strategy.
"We may be seeing some people trying a one-stopper here," says Pirelli, "stints will lengthen as fuel load goes down".
Great move by Ericsson on his teammate in T15 to take 13th.
Told that the team is changing his strategy to 'Plan A plus 5", Alonso is having none of it. "No way," he shouts, "too much degradation".
After 25 laps, Bottas (6th), Palmer (11th) and Nasr (14th) have yet to stop.
"I'm losing grip," replies Verstappen, when asked about balance.
"That gap will come down" Hamilton is told as he closes to within 6s of Verstappen, at which point the Red Bull driver pits, rejoining in third on hards, 6sc down on his teammate. Alonso also pits, rejoining in 14th.
After 28 laps, half-distance, it's: Hamilton, Ricciardo, Verstappen, Raikkonen, Rosberg, Bottas, Perez, Button, Hulkenberg and Palmer, though the German force India driver subsequently pits, rejoining in 13th just behind Alonso.
In clear air, Hamilton posts a new fastest lap (39.135), as he extends his lead over Ricciardo et al to 12.357s.
After 29 laps on his mediums, Bottas finally pits.
"Let's see if Verstappen can make the new tyres count," says Pirelli. "If Hamilton pulls a big enough gap, he can stop again without losing lead."
Another fastest lap from Hamilton (38.595), as Mercedes urges; "we need everything you've got now Lewis".
At the end of lap 31 Rosberg and palmer both pit, as do Ocon and Massa, the Mercedes driver rejoins in 6th behind Perez.
Next time around Raikkonen pits, as does Perez. The Finn, now on hards, rejoins in fourth just ahead of Rosberg, while Perez is 8th.
Alonso nails Sainz in T15 having had two previous assaults fended off. The McLaren driver is now up to 9th.
As Hulkenberg passes Ericsson for 11th, Hamilton warns; "tyres are starting to drop a bit".
Ocon is under investigation again, for speeding in the pitlane.
As Hulkenberg sees off Sainz, Hamilton shouts "blue flag" at Palmer.
Rosberg closes in on Raikkonen, the Finn just 0.8s ahead now. The Ferrari driver calls for more power. "Come on we need all the power we have," he urges.
"These are great lap times," Hamilton is told, "just keep your head down, you're doing a great job." Elsewhere, Verstappen closes on his Red Bull teammate.
Rosberg makes a bold move on Raikkonen, indeed he clouts the Ferrari as he barges his way through in T2 to take fourth. In the Mercedes garage applause, in the Ferrari garage not so.
Verstappen makes his move on his teammate but Ricciardo is having none of it. The pair duel corner after corner, side-by-side, the Australian not giving an inch.
Meanwhile the Rosberg/Raikkonen incident is under investigation.
Bulls continue to battle, all of which is playing into Hamilton's hands.
Disaster for Hamilton, as he heads down the pit straight flames leap from the back of his car. As he pulls to the side of the track he screams in frustration; "no, no," he wails.
The VSC is deployed
Meanwhile, Raikkonen and Gutierrez both pit.
"Lewis is out of the race," Rosberg is told, "the two Red Bulls are leading. Possible oil at Turn 1"
Check out our Sunday gallery from Sepang, here.
Under the VSC, Red Bull pits both its drivers, with Rosberg also stopping.
More drama as Gutierrez parts company with his left-front wheel.
Behind the VSC, Ricciardo leads his teammate by 2.249s, with Rosberg a further 29.017s behind. However, it remains to be seen if the German will be clashed for the Raikkonen move. Talking of whom, the Finn is fourth, ahead of Bottas, Perez, Alonso, Button, Hulkenberg and Palmer.
At the end of lap 42 the VSC is withdrawn.
"Rosberg is about thirty seconds behind," Ricciardo is told, "should be plain-sailing until the end."
In fact Rosberg is 20s behind, but has been handed a 10s penalty for the Raikkonen incident. However, does the "plain sailing" comment mean that Verstappen has been told to back off? And if so, will he obey?
With the penalty, this puts Raikkonen back in third.
Rosberg hasn't given up however he posts a new fastest lap (36.424) as he closes to within 19.491s of Verstappen.
"Have a drink," Ricciardo is told, "eleven laps to go." Elsewhere, Verstappen loses time behind Nasr but appears to be holding station anyway. At least for now.
Great scrap for tenth between Palmer and Sainz, the Briton seeking his first points finish.
Wehrlein passes his Manor teammate for 16th, the two almost touching. Elsewhere, Nasr pits with what appears to be a terminal issue.
Raikkonen is apprised of Rosberg's penalty and told what he has to do in order to keep third. The gap is currently 9.5s.
The stewards will investigate Gutierrez' errant wheel after the race.
Verstappen maintains a steady 1.4s gap to his teammate.
A couple of minor slides from Verstappen, most likely due to the fact his tyres are suffering from being in Ricciardo's slipstream.
Perez closes on Bottas as the fight for fourth in the team standings continues.
"The brakes are going to ****!" warns Kvyat, the Russian currently 14th.
In his 'street clothes', smiles and waves to the fans.
Now 12.4s down on Rosberg, Raikkonen is told to up his pace.
Verstappen is now 3s down on his teammate, who appears to be 'plain sailing' towards his first win of the year.
Ricciardo begins his final lap, the Australian now 3.061s ahead of his precocious young teammate.
He takes the flag, his first win since Spa 2014, ahead of Verstappen, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Bottas, Perez, Alonso, Hulkenberg, Button and Palmer, who scores his first world championship point.
Sainz is eleventh, ahead of Ericsson, Massa, Kvyat, Wehrlein and Ocon.
The 2016 rollercoaster continues as the season is effectively encapsulated in one race. First appearing to favour one driver, then swinging completely in favour of the other.
By all accounts, Hamilton was looking likely to leave here having closed the gap on his teammate, perhaps, even overhauling him, only to leave empty handed and further adrift.
In the podium ante-room, as Rosberg and Verstappen discuss the first corner, Ricciardo turns to the camera and says "I told you I would win one. Sometimes you just need things to swing a little bit, it goes both ways."
Christian Horner thanks his drivers for the entertainment and keeping it clean.
As the three gather on the podium Ricciardo punches the air. Members of his crew hold shoes aloft, the message is clear.
The traditional spraying done, Ricciardo sits down and removes his shoes. He drinks from the 'cup', which is then proffered to Horner, Verstappen and Rosberg. All accept.
A technical failure with Hamilton sums up Hamilton's afternoon. "I'm just going to move on," he says. "The guys did a fantastic job this weekend, they did everything they could, I did everything I could.
"There are eight Mercedes (engines) on the grid, I just can't believe that only my engines have been going this year," he adds. "something just doesn't feel right, but there's nothing I can do about it. It's a brand new engine out of the three that I had. There's been forty-there engines and only mine have blown."
Sadly, this will only play into the hands of the keyboard warriors, and conspiracy theorists.
"Wow, I need a drink," says Ricciardo as he climbs from his car. "Thanks guys, a bit of luck, but we've seen that before. I think we did bloody good, we deserve this.
"Firstly I'm a bit exhausted," the Australian tells countryman and podium interviewer Mark Webber. "It was a race of challenges. Lewis had the lead and got his problem. Obviously it went the other way in Monaco, so I'll take this today.
"It's been pretty emotional," he adds, "two years since the last win. I said we'd win one this year, and here we go."
"Turn One I thought it was all over," admits Rosberg, "so I'm really happy to fight back all the way to the podium. "I wished for a better day today, but that's the way it is sometimes. It's a good moment, and looking forward to the next one. Full attack."
Clearly tired the drivers sweat profusely in the energy-sapping heat, meanwhile, following Hamilton's comments there's a chill blowing through the paddock.