16:02 One light, two lights, three, four, five ... wait ... GO! 16:02 Vettel leads the cars back on to the grid and takes up his place on pole position ahead of Massa, Alonso and Hamilton 16:00 It's still wet in turn three, and through the whole first sector. Robert asks: "Who are you tipping to win? Do you think Massa could be the dark horse of this race?" I'm backing Alonso to win this one. After what Ferrari did again in Melbourne, I don't think Massa will be allowed to if Alonso stays close to him. I tipped Alonso in the preview, and also said the Toro Rosso's would be good and Bianchi is one to watch 15:59 It's intermediate tyres for the whole grid as we head away on the formation lap. The dry sections of the track will chew the tyres up, though, so wear will still be an issue 15:58 A lot will go on in this race, I can assure you. I'll try to keep you abreast of the gaps and happenings up and down the field, and I'm really interested to see what Jules Bianchi can do today. Another hugely impressive qualifying hints that he just might be able to tag on to the back of the midfield for a while 15:57 It's still dark around the circuit, and the threat of rain rarely disappears. Conditions are better than they were on the out laps already 15:55 Preetam emails in to ask "Whats wrong with force india..they are performing well in practice but not in qualifying???" The conditions caught Force India out yesterday. Di Resta spun off as rain fell having not set a time in Q2 and Sutil didn't have the pace in the wet. However, if it was dry the team thought it would have at least one car in the top six and both in Q3 15:53 The latest weather radar we have is suggesting that this rain will die out and that there's no more to come, which would mean a start on intermediate tyres and switching to slicks later. As if that prediction means anything! 15:50 Franz Tost tells Sky that Ricciardo's car is damaged after his trip through the gravel, with a broken diffuser and damaged floor. Ricciardo's looking for "a special one" today, but I think Vergne's the better of the two in these conditions 15:47 As Laurence points out, if the race is half as interesting as the out laps we'll be in for a cracker!
15:45 Carlos emails in from Portugal to ask: "under safety car start ,or not?" No the rain isn't falling heavily right now, it's just that turn three is very wet. Similar to last year, the opening part of the lap will be very tricky 15:44 Wow, turn three is wet. Chilton goes off, followed by Maldonado. Then Webber is next to run out on to the gravel before Bottas flies wide and does well to slow the car in the gravel. He's getting a new front wing on the grid. 15:42 Of course, we also want you to get in touch with us here at ESPN towers. You can send in your comments and questions to us using the link above or via Twitter @ESPNF1 15:40 I hope you're sitting comfortably, this is going to be busy even before the race starts! 15:38 Oooh dear. Ricciardo spins off in to the gravel on his lap to the grid. Gutierrez goes off too and Bottas is pushed down to his grid slot with grass on his front wing... 15:37 Lotus has its pop-up gazebos ready for on the grid, such is the potential intensity of the rain 15:35 Parts of the track are soaking and others are dry at present
15:32 A bank of very dark clouds has been heading towards the circuit during the last 45 minutes or so, and look like they're just starting to deposit their contents as the rain starts to fall 15:30 Hello and welcome to ESPN's live coverage of the Malaysian Grand Prix, or more specifically, half an hour of build-up looking to the skies... |
|
Lap 1 |
Vettel with a decent start and Alonso jumps Massa but then Alonso hits Vettel! Damaged front wing for Alonso who loses out to Webber but then retakes second. Hamilton holds off Rosberg and Button jumps up some places too. Alonso holds off Webber in the penultimate corner and stays out on track. Side-by-side |
Lap 2 |
ALONSO IS OUT! His front wing breaks as he approaches turn one and folds under his car. Alonso slides straight on in to the gravel and is out. Red Bull first and second now |
Lap 3 |
Button has Rosberg all over the back of him but defends through the first two corners. Still side-by-side until turn five - great racing. Rosberg makes it through in to fourth. DRS is enabled as Vettel leads Webber by 3.3s. Perez up to 7th has done well but Massa went back to sixth |
Lap 4 |
Replays of the start show Alonso just sliding gently in to the back of Vettel and damaging his front wing. Hulkenberg got a good start up to ninth and he just passed Sutil for P8. Raikkonen goes wide at turn one trying to pass Ricciardo for P10. Alonso walks through the paddock with his helmet still on. Vettel is told that the lap times are close to the crossover point |
Lap 5 |
Hulkenberg on the move - good pass on Perez for P7 round the outside of turn one and inside of turn two. Grosjean has jumped Raikkonen and Ricciardo after his team-mate ran off track at turn 13. Vettel leads by 3.5s, with Hamilton 2.5s behind Webber. Hulkenberg now stalking Massa and Button holding station well. Vettel pits for medium tyres! First man in - Massa follows him |
Lap 6 |
Vettel the firs to blink and he's struggling in turn three and losing places hand over fist! Vettel drops behind Perez, Sutil and Grosjean all in the first sector. Vettel attacks Grosjean and gets him back in the middle sector but Sutil holds him off well in to turn 13. Webber is told to stay out as Sutil pits |
Lap 7 |
A lot of drivers in the pits for slicks but Sutil is the highest man and he has a slow stop. That hurts di Resta too who was stacked behind his team-mate. Vettel passes Perez and is quicker now. The leaders HAVE to pit. In come Webber and Hamilton. Rosberg has to stay out for Mercedes |
Lap 8 |
Hamilton pulls in to the McLaren pit! Oh dear! McLaren was ready for Button and Hamilton just headed for that pit first. That's left Hulkenberg right behind him as Massa sets the fastest lap. Crash in the pits! Vergne released in to the path of Pic and both need new front wings! |
Lap 9 |
Phew. After all that WEBBER LEADS THE RACE. Vettel does the fastest lap but is 1.5s behind his team-mate. Hamilton third. Grosjean passes Ricciardo for ninth with Raikkonen right behind. Everyone has pit for slick tyres now, so we can actually see a race settle down. Perhaps. Raikkonen attacks Ricciardo through turn nine but can't find a way through. He manages to clear the Toro Rosso with DRS in to the final corner |
Lap 10 |
Hamilton told he needs to do 11 laps on these laps and he's catching the Red Bull's ahead. Webber extends his lead to 2.9s over Vettel and Webber is on hard tyres |
Lap 11 |
Hulkenberg is all over the back of Button in the battle for fifth. Grosjean passes Perez using DRS for P8 and di Resta does the same in to turn one on Sutil. Fastest laps tumbling at the front... |
Lap 12 |
Webber leads Vettel by 2.9s. Hamilton closes to within 3.7s of Vettel and Rosberg is 4.2s behind his team-mate. Grosjean with the fastest lap and Perez holds off Raikkonen through turns one and two. Everyone from Hamilton in third back to Grosjean in eighth is quicker than the leading two Red Bulls... |
Lap 13 |
Everyone closing in on the leaders. Webber leads by 2.4s while Hamilton is 2.9s behind Vettel. Rosberg with the fastest lap and he's 3.8s behind Hamilton. Raikkonen is still struggling to pass Perez. The incident between Vergne and Pic in the pit lane will be investigated after the race |
Lap 14 |
Maldonado has gone off and lost half of his front wing. He went off at turn 10 all on his own. He's got back to the pits though. Di Resta with the fastest lap now he's in clear air. Webber leads by 2.2s with Hamilton the same gap behind Vettel and catching at over 0.5s per lap. Rosberg closing in too and even Button is fast |
Lap 15 |
7.9s covers the top four as Webber and Vettel appear to respond. Rosberg with the fastest lap - 0.5s quicker than all those ahead. Massa starting to come back at Hulkenberg and bringing Grosjean with him. The radar says no rain detected on the track path at the moment |
Lap 16 |
Webber with the fastest lap but it's only 0.1s quicker than those behind. Still 7.9s between the top four while Hulkenberg complains his tyres are starting to go off. Raikkonen is through on on Perez using DRS in to turn one, while Gutierrez runs wide at turn eight and Sutil is through in to 13th |
Lap 17 |
Webber again edges away from those behind as Rosberg sets the fastest lap. Nobody within two seconds of each other in the top four. Raikkonen with the fastest lap down in ninth - almost 30s off the lead. Massa quickly catching Hulkenberg |
Lap 18 |
Right now Webber is doing a good job on the hard tyres. He's 2.5s clear of Vettel and just edging away, while Hamilton has dropped 2.7s behind Vettel. Rosberg just about staying with hem so it's eight seconds between the top four. Button now nine seconds behind Rosberg. Raikkonen with another fastest lap and he's reeling in everyone ahead of him, now 28s off the lead |
Lap 19 |
Just as I praise Webber he is 0.4s slower than Vettel and the gap is 2.1s. Top four covered by 7.5s. Di Resta all over the back of Riccardo for 11th and he uses DRS to sprint by before turn one. Van der Garde pits for a second time from 17th, with Bianchi already having done so behind him looking for the undercut. Webber pits. |
Lap 20 |
Good job from Red Bull, but interesting to see Webber in so soon. He switches to the medium tyre and comes out in fifth behind Button. Ricciardo put further down the field too after dropping back. Massa defending from Grosjean, while Raikkonen is catching both for P7 quickly. Vettel puts the hammer down and pulls away at the front. He's told for "another lap like this" |
Lap 21 |
Great lap from Vettel and he's 4.2s clear of Hamilton. Rosberg is now just 1.4s behind his team-mate and looks happier at this stage of the race. Massa and Grosjean pit together and rejoin behind Sutil. Button calls "box this lap" while di Resta with a really long stop due to a problem with the left front. He's STILL stationary. Hamilton and Button pit, as does Hulkenberg and Raikkonen |
Lap 22 |
Hulkenberg overcooks it out of the pits and loses out to Massa in turn two. Grosjean all over the back of him too and Grosjean goes through on the inside of turn five - great move. Vettel still yet to pit... now he's in. Is that enough to jump Webber? No. |
Lap 23 |
Webber retains his lead and Rosberg pits but rejoins in fourth. As you were between the front four. Raikkonen challenging Hulkenberg for ninth now. Di Resta was sent back out but Sutil has pit and has the same problem with the front left. We're talking stops of a minute here. Disaster for Force India |
Lap 24 |
Vettel is told "same strategy as the previous stint, three second gap, save your tyres" but Hamilton does the fastest lap and is just 2.1s behind Vettel... Di Resta retires from the race as he brings the car back in to the garage. A shame as he was performing very well against Sutil - who is back on track |
Lap 25 |
Slow lap from Webber - very slow. Vettel is 1.2s behind now and Hamilton just 1.8s behind Vettel. Battle has been joined as Rosberg is only 5.8s off the lead now in fourth place. Vettel is NOT easing off here, he's right on the back of his team-mate. Vettel is on hard tyres while the other three are on mediums. Vettel uses DRS and the gap is now half a second... |
Lap 26 |
Webber knows Vettel is going to have a go here. Hamilton 2.2s off the lead and Rosberg 4.6s off the lead. Button is 14.4s behind Webber in fifth place. Vettel in DRS territory and he's told to "try to look after your tyres, you're getting too close in the fast corners"... |
Lap 27 |
The gap is 0.4s between the Red Bulls but Vettel doesn't attack too hard. Backmarkers ahead and the top three now covered by 1.8s. Pic dives out of the way and the top three are line astern - I think Hamilton is in DRS range... not quite |
Lap 28 |
Hamilton gets DRS but also gets Max Chilton in his way briefly. A little bit of breathing space for Vettel. Vettel's radio message: "Mark is too slow, get him out of the way. He is too slow". And it was said in a resigned manner, almost with a sigh. Rosberg is 3.8s off the lead in fourth and Button is slowly edging towards the leaders too... |
Lap 29 |
Vettel's race engineer says "Sebastian, be patient, it's only half race yet". Webber responds with a new personal best lap and he's 1.3s ahead of Vettel now. It looks like Vettel might have heeded the message... Raikkonen runs wide at turn 12 again, while Sutil retires as well. Dismal weekend for Force India due to a wheel nut problem |
Lap 30 |
Webber pulls 1.7s ahead of Vettel, while Hamilton is again edging to the back of the second Red Bull. Perez attacking Raikkonen for ninth place. Rosberg is quick in the middle sector and Hamilton pits from third place... interesting. This might be an attempt to get the undercut on the Red Bulls... |
Lap 31 |
Solid stop for Mercedes but not amazing. Hamilton got very close to Vettel when entering the pits, and now Rosberg is right behind Vettel. Hamilton has clear air - can he do the sector times? Webber pit for a new set of hard tyres. Rosberg in too. |
Lap 32 |
Slower stop for Rosberg than his team-mate, and it looks like Hamilton was slowed slightly by a squabbling Marussia and Caterham. Hamilton is behind Webber. Webber on hards, Hamilton mediums and Rosberg hards. If Vettel pits now, Hamilton might just jump him... and Vettel does pit. He'll either lead or be third. Good stop |
Lap 33 |
And it's THIRD for Vettel! Rosberg all over the back of Vettel out of the pits but he can't get through. Hard tyres for Vettel too. Make that fourth for Vettel as Button has yet to pit and is leading. |
Lap 34 |
Massa pits from sixth. Button's lap times aren't great and he's only 1.1s ahead of Webber. Button radios in to say of his tyres "these don't feel too bad" and could be in the mix to affect the race here... |
Lap 35 |
Webber attacks in to the last corner but it doesn't stick. Then Webber outbrakes him self in to turn one but makes the move stick and is back in the lead. Raikkonen and Hulkenberg released together in the pit lane and Hulkenberg wins the race to turn one. He then holds the Lotus off in to turn three. Button loses out to Hamilton using DRS but then the McLaren pits and there's a problem! Button has stopped! |
Lap 36 |
The front right wasn't on properly at Mclaren and that's ruined Button's race. Button is wheeled back to the McLaren pits... Webber leads Hamilton by 2.6s and Vettel is right behind the Mercedes |
Lap 37 |
Hamilton responds and the gap is now a second between him and Vettel. Rosberg just a second behind Vettel. Button rejoins after that problem all the way down in 14th place ahead of Bianchi |
Lap 38 |
Webber with the fastest lap and it's another slow one from Hamilton. He's got Vettel right behind him and Rosberg is close too. Webber has opened up a 3.6s lead on the hard tyres. Hamilton radios in to say "I can't catch Webber" and he's having to save fuel |
Lap 39 |
Vettel's going to get him here... and Vettel uses DRS to pass Hamilton. Webber is 4.8s ahead of Vettel now. Raikkonen is unhappy with a tiny bit of contact between him and Hulkenberg out of turn four. |
Lap 40 |
Hamilton told he needs two more laps on these tyres. He's keeping Rosberg behind him, while Button is directly behind but a lap down now after his problems. Bottas has got himself up to 10th place but has only made two stops. The same for Vergne who is 6.5s behind him in 11th |
Lap 41 |
Vettel told to "Open up the gap to Hamilton, 1:42.0 should do it" - Vettel does a 1:41.1 and is 4.6s behind Webber. Raikkonen finally passes Hulkenberg through turns one and two. Hulkenberg had locked up in to the final corner to open up the chance |
Lap 42 |
Hamilton pits as Rosberg locks his front left. Old set of medium tyres go on for Hamilton, but he's too far behind Vettel to make the undercut work even if he had enough fuel to do so. Vettel slowly catching Webber and now 4.2s behind his team-mate. Vettel pits. |
Lap 43 |
Medium tyres for Vettel, like clockwork. Rosberg pits too and it's as you were once again. Hamilton if anything has just pulled away from Rosberg slightly. John emails in: "Aren't there any stewards today? A lot of unsafe pit release and no penalties!" We heard Perez and Massa got close in the pits too as Massa was released, but no message from the FIA. Webber pits. |
Lap 44 |
This is close! Webber v Vettel side-by-side! Brilliant racing! Webber has to defend for his life and manages to do so. Vettel is told on the radio "Careful!" - DRS open down to the final corner... |
Lap 45 |
Webber is just 0.5s ahead of his team-mate across the line but holds on. It was a great battle through the first sector. Hamilton loses out to Rosberg in to the final corner, then regains the place in to turn one. Battles of the team-mates once again |
Lap 46 |
WHAT A RACE! Vettel attacks using DRS and is pushed right across to the pit wall. Awesome side-by-side racing between the two of them! A battle through the first sector once again and VETTEL LEADS THE RACE! He got the move done around the outside of turn four Horner on the radio "Come on Seb, this is silly". It was brilliant racing but I wonder if Vettel was told not to pass... |
Lap 47 |
Hamilton and Rosberg continue to squabble and they can't keep up with the front two. Brawn on the radio to his drivers, with them swapping places once again. Webber attacks in to turn one but Vettel defends. Breathless stuff. |
Lap 48 |
Vettel has pulled out a 1.3s gap and broken the DRS zone Massa pits for a fourth time. Grosjean up to fifth, wile Perez has Raikkonen all over the back of him for sixth. |
Lap 49 |
I'm sad to report Webber is now 2.7s behind Vettel. Raikkonen passes Perez around the outside of the hairpin, and then Massa gets Perez around the outside of turn one despite Perez having used DRS to attack the Lotus. Raikkonen has Massa - on fresher rubber - right behind him and Massa uses DRS to pass before the final corner |
Lap 50 |
Vettel now leads by 3.7s and Webber is slower than Hamilton and Rosberg behind. Massa now up to sixth and 10 seconds behind Grosjean. Raikkonen lost a bit of front wing on the kerbs as Massa passed him |
Lap 51 |
Rosberg radios in: "I can go much faster, just let me drive past". Brawn replies "Negative." As Rosberg protests: "Negative Nico". Hamilton and Rosberg 0.7s slower than the Red Bulls on that last lap and separated by 0.7s. Sensible explanation from Brawn: "Nico, Lewis's pace is what we're asking him to do, he's being controlled. He can go much faster as well." |
Lap 52 |
Hearing Hamilton lift in to turns 14 and turn one, I'm not convinced he has the fuel to go faster. Vettel leads by four seconds. Massa is flying on his new tyres. He's just 4.6s behind Grosjean and lapping two seconds a lap faster than everyone ahead of him |
Lap 53 |
Phil emails in to ask about fuel saving: "Since cars must not be below minimum weight at end of the race why do they not save a bit of weight elsewhere and carry a bit more fuel?" Teams don't want to carry any extra weight! The fuel is always a bit lower in case it can be saved behind a safety car or in wet conditions. Vettel told to think about brake bias as his front right tyre wear is bad. Webber takes 0.3s out of his lead... Ricciardo retires |
Lap 54 |
Tony emails in: "Hi going by the commentary its seems Sebastian gained around 4 seconds to get right up behind mark, obviously he was faster do. you think it right that a team-mate should try to stop the faster one getting through, it seems the pass was inevitable was just a matter of time" Similar to the Mercedes issue just then, Webber will have had a target lap time too. The gap at the front is now 4.6s. Massa passes Grosjean in to the final corner for fifth place. Rosberg still complaining on the radio that Hamilton is too slow, but Brawn says: "Please drop back, there's a massive gap behind and nothing to gain in front. I want to bring these cars home" |
Lap 55 |
Two laps to go and Vettel leads by 5.7s. Button retires from 12th place, while Hulkenberg passes Perez for 8th place and then pits. Perez needed new tyres. Perez had a huge gap on Vergne though so retains his ninth place. |
Lap 56 |
On to the last lap and Hamilton is asked for "Maximum fuel saving" on this lap. Rosberg is right behind him and could stroll past right now if he needed to but has so far obeyed the call. Vettel's starting the final sector... SEBASTIAN VETTEL WINS THE MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX Something tells me there won't be handshakes between Webber and Vettel... Webber is second and Hamilton third with Rosberg right behind him. Rocky on the radio to Vettel: "Great job Sebastian, it looked like you wanted it more. But still there'll be some explaining to do." Webber is silent on his radio. Ross Brawn walks back in to the Mercedes garage and probably needs to have a word with both his drivers as well. Hamilton's first podium for Mercedes. Brawn says on the radio "We'll discuss the last stint later" and Rosberg replies "Remember this one". The drama isn't over... Vettel gets out of his car but Webber is already away from Parc Ferme. Vettel celebrates and then heads for the weighbridge... |
Hamilton takes a while to get out of his car. He will know Rosberg could have passed him and there's still a handshake between the two Mercedes drivers out of the car. Admittedly, that issues wasn't personal between the drivers but a team call. Whereas I sense Vettel ignored team orders to pass Webber. It's a very quiet room with only Vettel and Newey talking. Hamilton looks unhappy, and there's no sign of Webber yet... here he comes... This is so tense. Vettel says "Mark...." and Webber sits down looking very angry. Webber is absolutely livid with his team-mate, saying something like "Multi 21, Seb. Multi 21." Any ideas? I believe it is team orders for hold station... To add to the pain for Webber he has to stand on the podium while the German national anthem rings out for Vettel. I'll stick with you a little while longer for the reaction on the podium. The trophies are held aloft and Hamilton thanks his team. This is the unhappiest podium I have seen in a long time. Vettel tries to talk to Webber on the way off the podium but it doesn't look good. They're meant to be interviewed now... and they're back. Brundle asking the questions. Here we go... Vettel says "I probably was a little bit too keen too soon ... it's hot now and we should talk internally" Webber: "After the last stop the team told me the race was over and we turned the engine down ... Seb made his own decision and we know he'll get protection" Hamilton: "The team did a fantastic job ... to be honest I really feel Nico should be stood up here. He had the better pace today ... I can't say it's the best feeling being up here. [On the McLaren pit stop] I just did a Jenson!" That is a ridiculously sombre podium. Off they all go, but make sure you don't go anywhere. We'll have all the reaction and I bet Laurence can't wait to get in to the driver press conference. Dave emails in: "Bad day for Formula 1, the politics have always appeared just below the surface, but today they were the main feature" I must admit this has split you all, and Hamilton seems unhappy to have had the benefit of team orders. It looks like letting the drivers race is what we all want to see, but having drivers hold station after the final stop is a very normal situation with the teams. This will run and run. Thanks for following and for all of your comments. The race might be over, but the story certainly isn't. See you for the Chinese Grand Prix! I wish it was tomorrow... |