The Official 2017 Malaysia Grand Prix Thread **Spoilers**

[Dr Z]

Go on then, I’ll start this one off.

Apparently it has ceased to be called the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Date(s): Friday 29 September - Sunday 01 October 2017

UK Broadcast Timings (and local time)

All sessions are live on Sky F1 & Channel 4.

Session	Day	Sky F1	Channel 4	Session Start	Local Time
Practice 1	Fri	0345	0355	0400	1100
Practice 2	Fri	0745	0755	0800	1500
Practice 3	Sat	0645	0655	0700	1400
Qualifying	Sat	0900	0900	1000	1700
Race	Sun	0630	0700	0800	1500

Sepang International Circuit



Live timing for all sessions available here:

http://www.formula1.com/content/fom-website/en/f1-...

Weather forecast:

http://www.myweather2.com/Motor-Racing/Malaysia/Se...

Event timings, steward decisions, technical reports and laptimes for the weekend will appear here:

https://www.fia.com/events/fia-formula-one-world-c...

The tyre choices:


Circuit/tyre info:





2016 Grand Prix

This happened.




And this happened too.

---

I’m expecting Merc to dominate, but you never know. Gasly in for Kvyat. And Ferrari might introduce their final PU spec. Merc customers get the final 2017 spec too.

Last race at Sepang. Some good races here in the past.

[NM62]

Sky are saying that Kvyat will be stood down so they can evaluate Gasly over a race weekend.

As are Autosport

ETA - sorry didn’t read your last bit Dr Z

Edited by NM62 on Tuesday 26th September 11:31

Edited by NM62 on Tuesday 26th September 11:33

[Derek Smith]

I like this circuit, but I'm not sure why. My friends criticise it for being antiseptic and typically Tilke, so I sit in one corner and don't speak when the subject comes up. There have been some fun races there though.

That said, this could well be a Merc booze-fast, but then that's only for the lead.

At the start of most races this season I've suggested that there might be a really entertaining, and long, battle between the two RBs. I've been wrong every race. So this time I predict that the RBs won't see one another after the first couple of corners.

Hamilton's to lose, so the pressure's on him.

[thegreenhell]

Rain please.

[M3ax]

Derek Smith said:

I like this circuit, but I'm not sure why. My friends criticise it for being antiseptic and typically Tilke, so I sit in one corner and don't speak when the subject comes up. There have been some fun races there though.

That said, this could well be a Merc booze-fast, but then that's only for the lead.

At the start of most races this season I've suggested that there might be a really entertaining, and long, battle between the two RBs. I've been wrong every race. So this time I predict that the RBs won't see one another after the first couple of corners.

Hamilton's to lose, so the pressure's on him.

I like this track also Derek. Not sure if the pressure is on Hamilton though. he seems to be in a good place right now. I'd suggest Vettel is the one who needs to go for it. It's a Mercedes stomping ground but I'd love to see 3 different teams on the podium and a battle between the 2 Red Bulls would be ideal. Verstappen needs a strong result but Ricciardo is proving consistent. I think the Ferraris will do ok.

I have to tip Hamilton though.

Qualifying:
HAM
BOT
KIMI

Race:
HAM
VET
BOT

Dream Race result:
RIC
HAM
KIMI

Although some may argue that a Vettel win would be ideal to keep things tight,

[M3ax]

thegreenhell said:

Rain please.

Rain is forecast for Sunday but not until late.

[Krikkit]

Derek Smith said:

I like this circuit, but I'm not sure why. My friends criticise it for being antiseptic and typically Tilke, so I sit in one corner and don't speak when the subject comes up. There have been some fun races there though.

Me too, I hated it for a long time, but curiously it was playing it on F1 2012 that gave me an appreciation for what an interesting track it was.

[thegreenhell]

Krikkit said:

Derek Smith said:

I like this circuit, but I'm not sure why. My friends criticise it for being antiseptic and typically Tilke, so I sit in one corner and don't speak when the subject comes up. There have been some fun races there though.

Me too, I hated it for a long time, but curiously it was playing it on F1 2012 that gave me an appreciation for what an interesting track it was.

I think the circuit has a good flow to it, with a nice mix of fast and slow sections that combine with the sheer width of the tarmac to create some interesting overtaking opportunities.

The problem when discussing Tilke is that he's had some absolute horrors in amongst some quite reasonable creations, and this tends to taint all of his work regardless. In the former category I'd firmly put the likes of Korea, Sochi, the Valencia street circuit, and his crimes against the original Hockenheim and Fuji Speedway. On the other hand, Sepang, Istanbul and COTA are fun to drive (only in a virtual environment for me) and have produced some interesting races.

[HustleRussell]

The last Malaysian Grand Prix?

[Europa1]

M3ax said:

Dream Race result:
RIC
HAM
KIMI

Why not RAI for third?

[Derek Smith]

Europa1 said:

M3ax said:

Dream Race result:
RIC
HAM
KIMI

Why not RAI for third?

He's not fast enough.

[Derek Smith]

M3ax said:

I like this track also Derek. Not sure if the pressure is on Hamilton though. he seems to be in a good place right now. I'd suggest Vettel is the one who needs to go for it. It's a Mercedes stomping ground but I'd love to see 3 different teams on the podium and a battle between the 2 Red Bulls would be ideal. Verstappen needs a strong result but Ricciardo is proving consistent. I think the Ferraris will do ok.

I have to tip Hamilton though.

Qualifying:
HAM
BOT
KIMI

Race:
HAM
VET
BOT

Dream Race result:
RIC
HAM
KIMI

Although some may argue that a Vettel win would be ideal to keep things tight,

I think the pressure's on Hamilton because of expectations. We all favour him to win and there can be few who would bet against him. It is his to lose. However, there's many a slip . . .

For evidence to support my point of view, may I refer to the previous race? Vettel was about as hyped as I have ever seen him after his superb qualifying laps, and quite rightly so. He destroyed the opposition. It was one of those laps which anyone there would refer to in years to come. I only saw it on TV and I was in awe of him.

Once the red lights went out it all went bent. I put his poorish start down to a little bit of doubt creeping in, perhaps on the formation lap, perhaps overnight.

For Hamilton, he'll probably ace the qually but on the grid will the memory of Vettel's start haunt him?

Even so, I would not bet against this being a Hamilton benefit from start to finish. We can hope he fluffs it, just for the excitement, but I don't want another first corner crash.

As you say, I want Vettel to keep the WDC alive. I think a second would do this. I would imagine Botas' job is to ensure he finishes third.

[M3ax]

Europa1 said:

Why not RAI for third?

I had brain fade. Like when you forget the PIN you use everyday

[NoddyonNitrous]

Derek Smith said:

He's not fast enough.

[DanielSan]

A Vettel win and a repeat of the Merc engine going bang would be great for the championship. We can but hope...

[Andy S15]

I reckon Hammo will be in a good position going into this one. We all know his performance is often affected by his current mental state and I'd say he must be feeling fairly comfortable right now. He's won the last couple of races on the bounce so has good momentum, his car should be solid around Sepang and knowing he can actually afford a retirement and still be leading the WDC no matter what Seb does must be somewhat comforting at this point.

I'd personally quite like a Ferrari 1-2 here to keep things interesting and it's been a few races now since the Scuderia have put in a really good performance this season. They certainly need one if they're gonna take the fight back to Merc.

Hoping for a solid performance from the Mclarens (I so desperately want some sort of decent result out of Honda before the divorce) & Red Bulls too. We were robbed of a good race at Singapore due to Max's DNF and Danny Ric's gearbox issues when they should be been fighting at the front.

[iandc]

DanielSan said:

A Vettel win and a repeat of the Merc engine going bang would be great for the championship. We can but hope...

So you don't want a proper race with the Ferraris and Mercs drivers battling it out on track? Better to have a DNF and a coast home for the winner then?

[Derek Smith]

Andy S15 said:

I reckon Hammo will be in a good position going into this one. We all know his performance is often affected by his current mental state and I'd say he must be feeling fairly comfortable right now. He's won the last couple of races on the bounce so has good momentum, his car should be solid around Sepang and knowing he can actually afford a retirement and still be leading the WDC no matter what Seb does must be somewhat comforting at this point.

I'd personally quite like a Ferrari 1-2 here to keep things interesting and it's been a few races now since the Scuderia have put in a really good performance this season. They certainly need one if they're gonna take the fight back to Merc.

Hoping for a solid performance from the Mclarens (I so desperately want some sort of decent result out of Honda before the divorce) & Red Bulls too. We were robbed of a good race at Singapore due to Max's DNF and Danny Ric's gearbox issues when they should be been fighting at the front.

Agreed more or less. I don't want a Ferrari 1-2 because they'd be unbearable and I'm watching the race with some mates, one of whom is a rabid Ferrari nerd. He'll be impossible and he'll bring up all the things I said about his team from years back.

Perhaps and RB, then Ferrari and third LH. That'll keep things interesting.

I certainly would not want and DNFs, at least until the last three or four laps.

[sandman77]

I would be happy to see a pass for the lead at this grand prix. Don't care who does it but that is something that has been missing this season.

[Drive Blind]

i hope to see some max v seb action again