The exhausting heat marked the day of Friday, in a circuit which greeted the pilots with a new asphalt and changes in the slopes of some curves. The Mercedes returned to dominate a day, with Ferrari, Red Bull, Sergio Perez and Fernando Alonso as the most prominent drivers in Sepang.
The sabbath, Lewis Hamilton regained the good feelings to prevail with a lot of clarity to a Nico Rosberg who could only manage fifth with his first attempt at fast lap in Q3, but later managed to rise up to second place. Finally, the Red Bull were faster than Ferrari and the Force India were imposed upon the McLaren of Button and the Williams in the fight for leading the intermediate group.
below, we review a pilot to pilot the highlight of your weekend.
Mercedes
Lewis Hamilton
Friday: A day without complications and with all the program expected completed.
Saturday: Very comfortable in the car, “it’s like night and day compared to Singapore.” Crashed in the first corner, but that doesn’t stop him from getting the pole position with much margin over his team-mate.
Nico Rosberg
Friday: Very satisfied with the new asphalt of the circuit, that provides a lot of grip. the curve 15 allows new drawn. The tires have behaved well, even the composite is more soft.
Saturday: Ruled in the curve 15 in his two attempts in Q3. In the first output and the second brake.
| Pilot | Free 1 | Free 2 | Rows L1+L2 | Free 3 | Vtas | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HAM | 1:35.721 (2nd) | 1:34.944 (1) | 25+35 | 1:34.434 (1) | 16 | 1:34.444 (1) | 1:33.046 (1) | 1:32.850 (1) |
| ROS | 1:35.227 (1) | 1:35.177 (2nd) | 25+36 | 1:35.053 (3rd) | 16 | 1:34.460 (2nd) | 1:33.609 (2nd) | 1:33.264 (2nd) |
Ferrari
Sebastian Vettel
Friday: Very happy with the pace of the car in short runs. Have not used the hardest compound.
Saturday: I Thought that may surpass the Red Bull, expected to recover with the strategy during the race.
Kimi Räikkönen
Friday: did Not feel comfortable with the car, despite the good time he achieved.
Saturday: Had traffic on the turn-out in his last attempt and had problems with the temperature of the tires in the first two curves. Very satisfied with the handling of the car, in any case.
| Pilot | Free 1 | Free 2 | Rows L1+L2 | Free 3 | Vtas | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VET | 1:36.331 (4th) | 1:35.605 (3rd) | 18+37 | 1:35.170 (5th) | 14 | 1:34.557 (4th) | 1:33.972 (6th) | 1:33.584 (5th) |
| RAI | 1:36.315 (3rd) | 1:35.842 (4th) | 16+31 | 1:35.150 (4th) | 15 | 1:34.556 (3rd) | 1:33.903 (5th) | 1:33.632 (6º) |
Williams
Valtteri Bottas
Friday: Was spent to gather information to compare the new asphalt with the old. The current provides more grip and is more smooth. The tires behave in a way more consistent, although he needs to improve to a return.
Saturday: Dissatisfaction with the front axle of the car, it behaved better in the free 3, especially in the fast corners. Objective remains to overcome the Force India.
Felipe Massa
Friday: A problem with the tire prevented him from using the hard tyres.
Saturday: Your lap of Q3 was bad, he set a time two tenths slower than in Q2.
| Pilot | Free 1 | Free 2 | Rows L1+L2 | Free 3 | Vtas | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOT | 1:37.861 (12th) | 1:37.016 (13th) | 17+37 | 1:35.902 (8th) | 17 | 1:35.166 (8th) | 1:34.577 (11th) | – |
| MORE | 1:38.339 (18th) | 1:37.110 (15th) | 24+19 | 1:36.227 (10th) | 20 | 1:35.267 (9th) | 1:34.422 (7th) | 1:34.671 (10th) |
Red Bull
Daniel Ricciardo
Friday: Need to find more grip, both in terms of race as a classification. The curve 15 has complicated a lot with the camber negative and it is difficult to use the inner half of the same.
Saturday: Very happy with the lap, especially in the first two sectors. In the last was something with the traction.
Max Verstappen
Friday: He liked the new asphalt, but needs to improve in short runs. The performance in race conditions is very good.
Saturday: Changed several things after Singapore and have worked well, finding himself very comfortable. Very optimistic with their choices in career.
| Pilot | Free 1 | Free 2 | Rows L1+L2 | Free 3 | Vtas | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIC | 1:36.753 (6th) | 1:36.337 (8th) | 27+30 | 1:35.461 (6th) | 22 | 1:35.079 (7th) | 1:33.888 (4th) | 1:33.467 (4th) |
| SEE | 1:36.973 (7th) | 1:36.037 (5th) | 26+29 | 1:34.879 (2nd) | 14 | 1:35.443 (12th) | 1:33.775 (3rd) | 1:33.420 (3rd) |
Force India
Sergio Perez
Friday: promising Start that has been especially good over a lap.
Saturday: Very happy with the car and with the greater part of its turns.
Nico Hülkenberg
Friday: a Day without complications, and the pleasant surprise of the new asphalt, much smoother than the previous one.
Saturday: Was found more comfortable in the Q2 than in the session short, but very happy with the overall result.
| Pilot | Free 1 | Free 2 | Rows L1+L2 | Free 3 | Vtas | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PER | 1:37.601 (9th) | 1:36.284 (6th) | 27+33 | 1:36.259 (11th) | 15 | 1:35.068 (6th) | 1:34.538 (10th) | 1:34.319 (7th) |
| HUL | 1:37.513 (8th) | 1:36.390 (9th) | 26+37 | 1:35.776 (7th) | 16 | 1:34.827 (5th) | 1:34.441 (9th) | 1:34.489 (8º) |
Renault
Kevin Magnussen
Friday: Suffered a fire at the exit of the pits in the first session, but was able to complete a good part of the second.
Saturday: he Felt he could have come to the Q3, but crashed in turn 1 on his final attempt and lost the opportunity.
Jolyon Palmer
Friday: Was spent to learn the track and to advance in the tuning of the car.
Saturday: Made changes to the set-point after the first attempt and the car got worse.
| Pilot | Free 1 | Free 2 | Rows L1+L2 | Free 3 | Vtas | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAG | – | 1:37.664 (19th) | 2+19 | 1:36.741 (16th) | 19 | 1:35.593 (13th) | 1:35.277 (14th) | – |
| PAL | 1:39.148 (19th) | 1:36.940 (12th) | 23+36 | 1:36.604 (14th) | 20 | 1:35.999 (19th) | – | – |
Toro Rosso
Daniil Kvyat
Friday: Dedicated to complete a lot of laps to have enough information in order to assimilate the changes made in the circuit.
Saturday: Sorting out very complicated by traffic and the lack of top-end speed.
Carlos Sainz
Friday: The car behaves very well and is a pleasure to use in this circuit. Even so, not expected to be as strong as in Singapore.
Saturday: Discontent, I expected a lot more of the car.
| Pilot | Free 1 | Free 2 | Rows L1+L2 | Free 3 | Vtas | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KVY | 1:37.847 (11th) | 1:37.297 (16th) | 29+29 | 1:36.752 (17th) | 20 | 1:35.695 (16th) | 1:35.369 (15th) | – |
| UPS | 1:38.055 (15th) | 1:36.836 (11th) | 25+30 | 1:36.222 (9th) | 18 | 1:35.605 (14th) | 1:35.374 (16º) | – |
Sauber
Marcus Ericsson
Friday: Did the plan work that is typical of Friday without any problems.
Saturday: Happy with the performance and with the changes made after the third practice session.
Felipe Nasr
Friday: Had cooling problems in the long run, having to reduce the number of turns.
Saturday: he Began his last attempt in Q1 with cold tyres, losing time in the first sector.
| Pilot | Free 1 | Free 2 | Rows L1+L2 | Free 3 | Vtas | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ERI | 1:38.313 (17th) | 1:37.449 (17th) | 20+28 | 1:36.765 (18th) | 19 | 1:35.816 (17º) | – | – |
| NAS | 1:38.184 (16th) | 1:37.547 (18th) | 18+26 | 1:37.106 (19th) | 18 | 1:35.949 (18º) | – | – |
McLaren
Fernando Alonso
Friday: Tested the new engine with modifications to improve reliability, as well as new pieces for the coming year. It all worked correctly. You have to face a penalty by replacement of different components of the engine.
Saturday: With the penalty in mind, is dedicated to preparing the race, both in the free practice, as in classification.
Jenson Button
Friday: His time was not of the best because it coincided with the long runs of many drivers. Magnussen he slowed down on the curve 10 and made him lose time. Still need to improve, both on short runs as long and the new asphalt, it seems strange, leading to sudden loss of grip.
Saturday: The work done on the car paid off and finally felt comfortable in the car, that had given him many balance problems in free practice.
| Pilot | Free 1 | Free 2 | Rows L1+L2 | Free 3 | Vtas | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ALO | 1:36.510 (5th) | 1:36.296 (7th) | 18+27 | 1:41.199 (22nd) | 15 | 1:37.155 (22º) | – | – |
| BUT | 1:37.613 (10th) | 1:36.715 (10th) | 20+22 | 1:36.363 (12th) | 11 | 1:35.267 (10th) | 1:34.431 (8th) | 1:34.518 (9th) |
Manor
Pascal Wehrlein
Friday: Have to improve the set-point to try not to suffer so much with the tires.
Saturday: Disappointed after the electrical problem in free practice, which prevented him from preparing the classification as I would have liked. could not improve on his second attempt due to traffic.
Esteban Ocon
Friday: Very satisfied with the work done and happy with the circuit, that seems challenging and interesting.
Saturday: Very pleased with the rating, in which he beat his teammate.
| Pilot | Free 1 | Free 2 | Rows L1+L2 | Free 3 | Vtas | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WEH | 1:40.627 (21st) | 1:37.878 (21st) | 26+34 | 1:38.089 (21st) | 13 | 1:36.587 (21º) | – | – |
| OCO | 1:40.036 (20th) | 1:37.990 (22nd) | 28+36 | 1:37.961 (20th) | 17 | 1:36.451 (20º) | – | – |
Haas
Romain Grosjean
Friday: You are not happy with the car and has been frustrated a lot by not being able to get balance in your behavior.
Saturday: in the end the car behaved reasonably well in the rankings.
Esteban Gutierrez
Friday: The day has passed without problems and the car has improved progressively throughout the day.
Saturday: Your last attempt was very risky and skidded on the curve 14, not being able to improve on his first round.
| Pilot | Free 1 | Free 2 | Rows L1+L2 | Free 3 | Vtas | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRO | 1:37.886 (13th) | 1:37.789 (20th) | 22+25 | 1:36.687 (15th) | 15 | 1:35.400 (11th) | 1:35.001 (12th) | – |
| GUT | 1:37.921 (14th) | 1:37.148 (14th) | 20+28 | 1:36.553 (13th) | 14 | 1:35.658 (15th) | 1:35.097 (13th) | – |
The decisions of the commissioners
- Fernando Alonso is punished with 45 positions on the grid by replacing ICE), turbocharger (two times), MGU-H (two times), batteries, and electronic control unit.
The tyres available for the race
photos
The chronicles of the Grand Prize
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