Round two of the Formula 1 championship is set to kick off this weekend in Malaysia. For McLaren fans expectations are low but hopes are still high after what has been a rough start to the season. During the Australian Grand Prix Kevin Magnussen didn’t get the opportunity to race due to [presumably] a failed turbo on the formation lap and Jenson Button was forced to treat most of the race as a testing/practice session at the back of the pack. Careful analysis reveals that there are positives to be gleaned. Given that the MP4-30 is running de-tuned, Button was able to put in a competitive last two laps despite that and a post-race cornering analysis shows the MP4-30 isn’t far off-the-mark. Going into Malaysia McLaren Honda says they now have a complete understanding of the issue with their Power Unit (which is centered around overheating of the MGU-K ) but the question is: Can they make any progress towards a fix in the hot conditions at Sepang?
US TV SCHEDULE:
Practice: Friday March 27th, 02:00,
NBCSN
Qualifying: Saturday March 28th, 05:00,
NBCSN
Race: Sunday March 29th, 02:30,
NBCSN
CIRCUIT
INFO:
Lap Data
Lap length: 5.543km (3.444 miles)
Race laps: 56
Race distance: 310.408km (192.879 miles)
Pole position: Right-hand side of the track
Lap record*: 1’34.223 (211.783 kph) by Juan Pablo Montoya, 2004
Fastest lap: 1’32.582 (215.536 kph) by Fernando Alonso, 2005
Maximum speed: 303kph (188.275 mph)
DRS
zone/s (race): Pit straight and final straight
Distance from grid to turn one: 650m
Car performance
Full throttle: 45%
Longest flat-out section: 1029m
Downforce level: High
Fuel use per lap: 1.7kg
Time penalty per lap of fuel: 0.051s
Strategy
Quickest complete pit stop in 2013: 20.736s by Red Bull (see full list)
2014 prime tyre: Hard (2013: Hard)
2014 option tyre: Medium (2013: Medium)
*Fastest lap set during a Grand Prix
Data sources:
FIA
, Williams, Mercedes
2014 (V6
TURBO
ERA
) RESULTS:
Race laps: 56
Pole sitter: Lewis Hamilton, 1:59.431
Fast race lap: 1:43.066
Podium:
1. Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes
2. Nico Rosberg, Mercedes
3. Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull-Renault
Some data c/o F1 Fanatic
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