2014 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIA GRAND PRIX

[Joey Zyla]

I'm looking forward to this one. I wonder if we'll have "Multi-31"-gate this year.

[phil1993]

FP2 report: http://www.f1zone.net/news/rosberg-tops ... sia/30509/

[iceman1]

Lotus did 20 laps

Why Maldonado is paying to driver this sh*t?

Ferrari and Red Bull seem stronger here

[tderias]

I think being a pay driver he deserves what he's going through. He bought out what was certain-to-be the Hulk's seat and look what it cost him, and where Nico is right now.

[jianh]

Just attended FP2 at Sepang this afternoon.

Here are my shots:

[phil1993]

News round-up from practice:

Vettel pleased with progress: http://www.f1zone.net/news/vettel-pleas ... ess/30529/
Alonso says Ferrari is learning: http://www.f1zone.net/news/alonso-says- ... rve/30522/
More struggles for Lotus: http://www.f1zone.net/news/more-frustra ... tus/30512/
Magnussen having rear tyre issues: http://www.f1zone.net/news/magnussen-st ... res/30513/
Sutil says the Sauber is difficult to control: http://www.f1zone.net/news/sutil-c33-st ... rol/30524/
Kobayashi is frustrated: http://www.f1zone.net/news/kobayashi-fr ... ing/30514/

[MGJohn]

James Allen is a vastly improved commentator since his ITV F1 days. For the past couple of seasons and currently, he commentates on all the GPs and a lot of the FPs and Qs for Radio5Live. Some enthusiasts turn off the TV commentators and use Radio5Live's instead because of Allen's improved style.

Malaysia: So hard to predict based on what is available to the enthusiasts so far.. Except of course for the obvious which is apparently the Mercedes-Benz cars. Over on other F1 discussions I use, prior to the first race most were predicting less than half the grid completing the race. I did not and had a bet that 13 or 14 would finish, plus a saver bet that 14 or more will finish at less odds. There were fourteen classified finishers so both my on-line bets won. I also had a small each way bet on Massa but he was taken out before the first bend so I lost that bet .... It's an ill wind as the old saying goes ... Had Massa finished even if last, that would mean fifteen classified cars so then only my smaller 'saver' bet would have been successful. Lady Luck was on my side after all but, she rarely looks after Massa. Has to be one of the most unlucky F1 drivers ever. He was actually WDC for a few minutes the year Hamilton was successful. He was very lucky but Massa rarely is. That suspension spring injury and being under the Ferrari No.1 driver's thumb for all those years was cruel luck. He must be due a change of luck for the better soon. I'll have a small each way bet on him again. Just in case. He is at BIG odds so a small each-way wager could pay off well.

Local weather conditions will be more severe than in Aus so maybe there will be more DNFs in the heat and humidity of Malaysia. Even so, I expect more than half the grid to finish again. Probably more than the fourteen in Aus as both teams and drivers come to terms with the new cars. Most bookies last time I checked have less than thirteen classified as favourite. We shall see.

Raikkonen appears to be settling in at Ferrari quite quickly. That driver pairing in the red cars will be interesting to see how things shape up over the season.

[tderias]

Kimi is doing a great job. It looks like it's going to be a Mercedes roadshow tomorrow unless other teams are able to preserve their tyres better. I love how we have so much higher top speed this year.

[iceman1]

The difference between Kimi and Fernando is half a second. It's time to show the magic

Anyway, Ferrari seems very good on the hard tyres.

Mercedes is the only top team who improved his times in FP3.

[Joey Zyla]

Just attended FP2 at Sepang this afternoon.

Here are my shots:

*snip*

Nice pictures!

[cformula1]

Currently bucketing down rain in Sepang

[iceman1]

15 minutes delay.

[phil1993]

'Damp'

[Joey Zyla]

I have a feeling this could be a while.

[iceman1]

It'll be delayed till tomorrow before the race