Australian Daniel Ricciardo has claimed victory in the Malaysian Grand Prix.
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Out of the frying pan and into the fire we go for Round 16 of the Formula One world championship, with the Malaysian Grand Prix. Join The Roar for a live blog of the race from 6pm (AEDT).
An event typically staged at the top of the schedule, in 2016 the race at Sepang finds itself now in the crux part of the season – as the championship continues to ebb and flow.
The 5.5km circuit has seen a variety of changes for this season, predominantly being a number of alterations to the corner kerbs, as well as a complete resurfacing of the tarmac itself.
This doesn’t change however the demanding nature of Sepang in the heat, especially on the tyres. Of which the hard, medium and soft compounds are available.
New surface or not, it was still the Silver Arrows who were on the money during qualifying and especially Lewis Hamilton, who claimed pole position with a record lap time in what is a crucial weekend for the reigning world champion.
His teammate Nico Rosberg who re-assumed the lead of the standings in Singapore has been nowhere near the Briton in terms of pace. However second on the grid gives him the best chance for a fourth consecutive win.
Sebastian Vettel stands as the driver with the most wins at this venue, including his acrimonious victory in 2013 for Red Bull and the epic, maiden triumph for Ferrari in 2015.
Unfortunately for the German, he and his Ferrari teammate Kimi Räikkönen must start the race behind the Red Bulls on the second row of the grid. They are led by the newly turned 19-year old Max Verstappen.
In the mid-field, Force India stand as the team to beat for points. Their ding-dong battle with Williams for fourth in the constructor’s standings is only separated by a solitary point and with Sergio Perez and Nico Hulkenberg starting from seventh and eighth, the opportunity is there for more points.
McLaren have opted for short-term pain for long-term gain, with Fernando Alonso opting to introduce an upgraded Honda power-unit into his pool. As a result, he will start from the rear of the grid, whilst Jenson Button in his milestone 300th grand prix starts from inside the top ten.
Hamilton so far has been on song in Malaysia. Could this be his race to lose?
Join The Roar for a live blog of the race from 6pm (AEDT).
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
What an amazing race that was! And surely there is plenty of fallout to be discussed and argued in the coming days, following short turnaround to the Japanese Grand Prix in seven days time. It's time then to go and enjoy the remainder of the NRL Grand Final, but until Suzuka - thanks for joining me here on The Roar and good night!
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
The dramatic Malaysian Grand Prix was won then by Daniel Ricciardo, who led his Red Bull teammate Max Verstappen to the team's first 1-2 finish in the hybrid-turbo era. The result for Red Bull also denied Mercedes AMG the chance to clinch their third consecutive constructor's championship, which will now have to wait till the next race in Japan. Following that Turn 1 clash with Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg recovered to finish a handsome third to gift him a 23 point lead in the standings. Despite leading the majority of the race, an engine blowout for Lewis Hamilton saw his race end in a blaze of fire. The German also copped a 10-second time penalty for a late touch with Kimi Räikkönen in their battle for third, but Rosberg was able to extract enough of a gap to nullify that contentious penalty. Solid finish too for Valtteri Bottas in fifth, having one-stopped to the checquered flag. Despite this result, the double points finish for Force India meant that they continue to lead Williams in the constructor's championship. Both McLarens also scored points, with Jenson Button celebrating his 300th grand prix with a ninth place finish. His compatriot in Jolyon Palmer also gets the monkey off his back and scores his first points in Formula One.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Couldn't have coined it better mate!
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
-------- DRIVER'S -------- 288 - Nico Rosberg 265 - Lewis Hamilton 204 - Daniel Ricciardo 160 - Kimi Räikkönen 153 - Sebastian Vettel 147 - Max Verstappen 80 -- Valtteri Bottas 74 -- Sergio Perez 50 -- Nico Hulkenberg 42 -- Fernando Alonso 41 -- Felipe Massa 30 -- Carlos Sainz 28 -- Romain Grosjean 25 -- Daniil Kvyat 19 -- Jenson Button 7 --- Kevin Magnussen 1 --- Jolyon Palmer 1 --- Pascal Wehrlein 1 --- Stoffel Vandoorne 0 --- Esteban Gutierrez 0 --- Marcus Ericsson 0 --- Felipe Nasr 0 --- Rio Haryanto 0 --- Esteban Ocon
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
----- CONSTRUCTOR'S ----- 553 - Mercedes AMG 359 - Red Bull Racing 313 - Scuderia Ferrari 124 - Force India Mercedes 121 - Williams Mercedes 62 -- McLaren Honda 47 -- Scuderia Toro Rosso 28 -- Haas Ferrari 8 --- Renault Sport 1 --- Manor Mercedes 0 --- Sauber Ferrari
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
This is when F1 is at its' sexiest. The outcome and the camaraderie with the 'shoey', we need these scenes all of the time, every time! Perhaps wishful thinking, though every other time at least!
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Standby for the updated standings
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
PODIUM INTERVIEWS - Hosted by Mark Webber: RICCIARDO - "A race of challenges." "I'll take this today, with hard feelings toward Lewis." VERSTAPPEN - "Daniel and I were pushing each other the whole race." ROSBERG - "Turn 1 I thought it was all over." "It's a good moment in general and looking forward to the next one."
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Not to mention Mr Halliwell!
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Dan's even got Verstappen and Rosberg drinking out of his boot! Unbelievable scenes on the Malaysian podium.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
One shoey! As promised by the man himself.
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Dan breaking the notional 'fourth wall' there was great stuff!
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
The top three drivers in the cool down room visibly exhausted! This race perhaps more demanding than Singapore. Always good to hear them conversing, especially Rosberg and Verstappen who were discussing the first corner contact with Vettel.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Here are the provisional results following the 56 lap Malaysia Grand Prix. 1 D. Ricciardo 2 M. Verstappen 3 N. Rosberg 4 K. Räikkönen 5 V. Bottas 6 S. Perez 7 F. Alonso 8 N. Hulkenberg 9 J. Button 10 J. Palmer 11 C. Sainz 12 M. Ericsson 13 F. Massa 14 D. Kvyat 15 P. Wehrlein 16 E. Ocon RET F. Nasr RET L. Hamilton RET E. Gutierrez RET K. Magnussen RET R. Grosjean RET S. Vettel
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Regardless of orders to hold station, Dan is a deserving victor!
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 56/56: FINAL LAP What a race and what a result, as DANIEL RICCIARDO wins the Malaysian Grand Prix! His teammate MAX VERSTAPPEN completes Red Bull's first 1-2 finish since Brazil 2013 in second. And damage limitation for NICO ROSBERG sees him finish third, but crucially gets a 23 point lead with Lewis Hamilton out of the race.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 55/56: Red Bull set to hold formation then. It's 2.8 seconds between Ricciardo and Verstappen at the front.
Simoc
Guest
Great racing from the Red Bulls. Hopeless call by the pom Blundell on Rosberg.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Lap 54/56: Rosberg told to put the engine setting back down again, with the gap sufficient over the Ferrari to keep third. The Williams-Force India squabble continues then with Bottas ahead of Perez and Hulkenberg in P5. Solid drive from the Finn who has only stopped once.
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Great to see Palmer on course for a deserved maiden point. Consecutive points' hauls for Renault for what it's worth.