2014 Malaysian Grand Prix Saturday - Qualifying
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That's it for AUTOSPORT Live for Malaysian GP qualifying day.
We'll be back at 7.30am UK time for all the pre-race build-up, followed by lap-by-lap commentary, all the post-race news and reaction, and then we'll resume again for the evening with AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live coverage of the reverse-grid British Touring Car Championship race at Brands Hatch, the IndyCar season-opener in St Petersburg and NASCAR from Martinsville.
See you then.
We'll be back at 7.30am UK time for all the pre-race build-up, followed by lap-by-lap commentary, all the post-race news and reaction, and then we'll resume again for the evening with AUTOSPORT Race Centre Live coverage of the reverse-grid British Touring Car Championship race at Brands Hatch, the IndyCar season-opener in St Petersburg and NASCAR from Martinsville.
See you then.
AUTOSPORT technical expert CRAIG SCARBOROUGH has rounded up the main developments seen on the cars at Sepang - spotting a mix of cooling solutions and actual upgrades:
Malaysian GP tech blog
Malaysian GP tech blog
Hamilton suggests his gap to Vettel could have been bigger:
Hamilton says pole was just his banker lap
Hamilton says pole was just his banker lap
The stewards have cleared Alonso and Kvyat for their part in their accident during Q2:
No penalties for Fernando Alonso/Daniil Kvyat tangle
No penalties for Fernando Alonso/Daniil Kvyat tangle
Bottas has become the first driver to be awarded penalty points under the new system. That's two for the Finn over a 12-month period.
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Kimi Raikkonen is set to start sixth tomorrow, but he says that's better than he feared given how his Ferrari was feeling in the wet.
"It was very difficult, for some reason there was no grip or traction at the front end. We have to see and find out why.
"[Considering] how it felt I'm surprised we're in sixth.
"Overall this weekend has been much better, even if it's still not where I want to be and the car doesn't feel exactly how I want, but we get some new parts for the next race and it will help.
"For some reason in the wet conditions it was very poor grip so it was pretty difficult."
"It was very difficult, for some reason there was no grip or traction at the front end. We have to see and find out why.
"[Considering] how it felt I'm surprised we're in sixth.
"Overall this weekend has been much better, even if it's still not where I want to be and the car doesn't feel exactly how I want, but we get some new parts for the next race and it will help.
"For some reason in the wet conditions it was very poor grip so it was pretty difficult."
And for a one-stop whizz through not only the drivers' quotes about their weekends so far but also plenty of stats on their performance at Sepang, visit our partner site FORIX:
Driver quotes and data on FORIX
Driver quotes and data on FORIX
Still to come on AUTOSPORT during today, we'll have Romain Grosjean's thoughts on how Lotus nearly made it back into the top 10 in qualifying, some rants from the drivers about tyres, and CRAIG SCARBOROUGH's analysis of all the teams' technical upgrades for Malaysia.
The Pirelli strategy predictor offers the following insight ahead of tomorrow's race:
"Strategy will naturally depend on whether or not there is a wet race tomorrow, but rain in Malaysia rarely lasts for more than about an hour.
"Theoretically, the quickest strategy is three stops for the 56-lap race.
"Start on the medium, change to the medium again on lap 15, medium once more on lap 29 and a final stint on the hard from lap 43."
"Strategy will naturally depend on whether or not there is a wet race tomorrow, but rain in Malaysia rarely lasts for more than about an hour.
"Theoretically, the quickest strategy is three stops for the 56-lap race.
"Start on the medium, change to the medium again on lap 15, medium once more on lap 29 and a final stint on the hard from lap 43."
Nico Hulkenberg
Another top 10 result for Nico Hulkenberg and Force India in seventh, and that's where he reckons he should be:
"I think we have shown all weekend that we have the speed to be top 10 material whether it’s wet or dry and I hope to score a good helping of points tomorrow."
His team-mate Sergio Perez was outshone again and is back in 14th.
"I had a better feeling on the intermediate tyres and when I changed to the full wets I struggled to keep the temperature in them, which made it hard to put together a good lap," said the man who starred so brightly in the 2012 race here.
"I also need to solve the rear locking which is affecting me under braking in the wet conditions."
Felipe Massa is frustrated by the wet conditions, which exposed the weaknesses of the Williams
EDD STRAW reports: "He felt that they have got the best out of the carbon wet conditions, changed loads in terms of their approach for this weekend, but it made no difference."
EDD STRAW reports: "He felt that they have got the best out of the carbon wet conditions, changed loads in terms of their approach for this weekend, but it made no difference."
No word yet from the stewards on whether there will be any action over that Kvyat/Alonso clash, incidentally.
Alonso admits he had never been happier with a fourth place after his accident with Kvyat during Q2:
Alonso delighted with fourth after Kvyat clash
Alonso delighted with fourth after Kvyat clash
Aside from giving his view on Bottas, Ricciardo has also been talking about Red Bull's pace in the wet and how he still a has a bit to learn about timing now he's expected to fight for pole each week:
"The rain definitely helped us," said today's fifth-place qualifier. "This morning we weren't that competitive, at least compared to Mercedes, in the dry. I think we closed the gap a bit in the wet.
"We probably didn't time our runs as well as we could have. There's still a bit for me to learn from that, but top five isn't too bad."
"The rain definitely helped us," said today's fifth-place qualifier. "This morning we weren't that competitive, at least compared to Mercedes, in the dry. I think we closed the gap a bit in the wet.
"We probably didn't time our runs as well as we could have. There's still a bit for me to learn from that, but top five isn't too bad."
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Bottas was a bit surprised to get that penalty, as he hadn't thought he'd cost Ricciardo anything:
"I thought it would be OK and there would be no penalties," he said.
"It was a difficult situation - we had a radio problem and in Turn 9 the team told me that I had either a gap in front or behind Ricciardo.
"So I thought I would try to stay in front. Obviously he was coming very quickly and it was a bit closer in the last few corners than maybe it should've been.
"It didn't cost him anything in the end and I wasn't sure whether he was on a timed lap or not."
"I thought it would be OK and there would be no penalties," he said.
"It was a difficult situation - we had a radio problem and in Turn 9 the team told me that I had either a gap in front or behind Ricciardo.
"So I thought I would try to stay in front. Obviously he was coming very quickly and it was a bit closer in the last few corners than maybe it should've been.
"It didn't cost him anything in the end and I wasn't sure whether he was on a timed lap or not."
Here's the story about Bottas' penalty, which drops him to 18th on the grid:
Bottas hit with grid penalty for impeding Ricciardo
Breaking news
Valtteri Bottas has been given a three-place grid penalty for impeding Daniel Ricciardo - full story in a moment...
Renault confirms Vettel's scare during Q1 was a battery-related problem but that it was able to fix it during the session.
Vettel had admitted earlier the scare had been significant for him: "Obviously at the beginning of Q1 the heart beat was definitely rising very quickly. We realised there was an issue, so we reset the car."
Vettel had admitted earlier the scare had been significant for him: "Obviously at the beginning of Q1 the heart beat was definitely rising very quickly. We realised there was an issue, so we reset the car."
Alonso reckons Mercedes is sandbagging in practice this year, given how it stretched its legs today:
"In the free practice we saw Mercedes again on Friday not using their potential,
"They did the same in Australia and then on Saturday they were one second ahead, today it flipped back and they were one second ahead so they put on their potential only on Saturdays at the moment and Sundays."
"In the free practice we saw Mercedes again on Friday not using their potential,
"They did the same in Australia and then on Saturday they were one second ahead, today it flipped back and they were one second ahead so they put on their potential only on Saturdays at the moment and Sundays."
Not a bad day for Toro Rosso as it qualified 10th and 11th, but perhaps a bit of a letdown after a very promising Friday that left Vergne beaming.
Tech chief James Key reckoned the change of the weather was the main element that unsettled Toro Rossos:
"We struggled for some reason this morning in the dry conditions compared to yesterday and the car balance was not quite right.
"Then everything changed, as it was very wet and we weren't really set up for wet conditions."
Tech chief James Key reckoned the change of the weather was the main element that unsettled Toro Rossos:
"We struggled for some reason this morning in the dry conditions compared to yesterday and the car balance was not quite right.
"Then everything changed, as it was very wet and we weren't really set up for wet conditions."
EDD STRAW: "Romain Grosjean is much happier with progress today.
"Still a log way to go for Lotus, but at least starting to do some work on tyre understanding, set-up and brake-by-wire refining."
"Still a log way to go for Lotus, but at least starting to do some work on tyre understanding, set-up and brake-by-wire refining."
Hamilton's pole today is his 33rd in F1, which equals the British record, held by Jim Clark.
It puts him fourth in the all-time pole list, a place he shares with both Clark and Alain Prost.
Ahead of him: Michael Schumacher (68), Ayrton Senna (65) and Sebastian Vettel (45).
Hamilton and Nigel Mansell, who he sat equal to on 32 poles until today, are the only one-time champions among the top 12 in F1's all-time pole stats.
Here's the full list of F1 polesitters through history on AUTOSPORT's stats partner FORIX.
It puts him fourth in the all-time pole list, a place he shares with both Clark and Alain Prost.
Ahead of him: Michael Schumacher (68), Ayrton Senna (65) and Sebastian Vettel (45).
Hamilton and Nigel Mansell, who he sat equal to on 32 poles until today, are the only one-time champions among the top 12 in F1's all-time pole stats.
Here's the full list of F1 polesitters through history on AUTOSPORT's stats partner FORIX.
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Marcus Ericsson
Marcus Ericsson has explained his qualifying crash, and is confident that he'll be back in action for the race tomorrow.
"It was really slippery out there and I was trying to build my pace, but I just made a mistake which put me out.
"[The car] seemed to be quite damaged, but I'm sure the guys at Caterham will work hard so we should be fine for tomorrow."
BTCC - Brands Hatch: Looks like we're down to 30 cars at Brands Hatch, where the BTCC opener leads this weekend's non-F1 action.*
Only one Proton is ready, so Ollie Jackson will drive and Dan Welch will have to watch.
(* OK, IndyCar fans might argue that one)
Only one Proton is ready, so Ollie Jackson will drive and Dan Welch will have to watch.
(* OK, IndyCar fans might argue that one)
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Nico Rosberg says he's happy enough to be starting the Malaysian Grand Prix from third, and that he's hopeful of a strong race tomorrow.
"I was a little less comfortable on full wets especially in braking, but still a decent place to be in. The race is long tomorrow, so that is OK – just looking forward to tomorrow to make the most of it again."
"I was a little less comfortable on full wets especially in braking, but still a decent place to be in. The race is long tomorrow, so that is OK – just looking forward to tomorrow to make the most of it again."
JONATHAN NOBLE: "Alonso is upbeat: he says he couldn't have done a better job.
"Ferrari confirms a track rod was broken in the Kvyat shunt - and was replaced in record time."
"Ferrari confirms a track rod was broken in the Kvyat shunt - and was replaced in record time."
Elsewhere in the motorsport world, it's been a very good start to the Peugeot 208 T16's top-level rallying debut, with factory drivers Kevin Abbring and Craig Been one-two after the first loop of Acropolis Rally stages.
You can watch video highlights from the Acropolis, and all other European Rally Championship rounds, on AUTOSPORT's rallying page.
You can watch video highlights from the Acropolis, and all other European Rally Championship rounds, on AUTOSPORT's rallying page.
Expect Bottas to disagree with Ricciardo when called up...
"I think there was nothing special. We were both pushing. For me, there was no incident."
"I think there was nothing special. We were both pushing. For me, there was no incident."
Ricciardo was - in a smiling Australian sort of way - pretty unimpressed with the Finn:
"He was on his out-lap. I'll have a word with him. There were a lot of times last year, to be honest...
"We raced each other a lot in the junior categories and I thought we had a lot of respect for each other, but it's a little difficult how many times he's done that now, so I'll go have a word with him."
"He was on his out-lap. I'll have a word with him. There were a lot of times last year, to be honest...
"We raced each other a lot in the junior categories and I thought we had a lot of respect for each other, but it's a little difficult how many times he's done that now, so I'll go have a word with him."
That trip will be to discuss whether Bottas blocked the Red Bull man.
EDD STRAW: "Just spotted Daniel Ricciardo wandering up to the stewards' room for the promised investigation".
Crash
The stewards are looking into that Q2 clash between Alonso and Kvyat. Did Kvyat dive in too late, or should Alonso have been looking in his mirrors?
Here's Alonso's view:
"I didn't see him coming, Obviously it was a little bit of an aggressive move on the out-lap with that sort of visibility."
But asked if he thought he'd be penalised, Kvyat looked pretty incredulous: "How can I get punished? I don't think so..."
And more from the Russian: "It was just a contact. There was a lot of spray, I cam in on the inside line and he didn't see me."
Here's Alonso's view:
"I didn't see him coming, Obviously it was a little bit of an aggressive move on the out-lap with that sort of visibility."
But asked if he thought he'd be penalised, Kvyat looked pretty incredulous: "How can I get punished? I don't think so..."
And more from the Russian: "It was just a contact. There was a lot of spray, I cam in on the inside line and he didn't see me."
Vettel admits his sights are set on victory tomorrow, even if he concedes Mercedes remains the team to beat.
"I think we always have a chance to beat everyone, that is why we are here," he said.
"In terms of package, they are the most competitive package, it is difficult to beat them on the day but not impossible.
"It would be sad to wake up and think you can only finish second, or fifth or eight. We know in rain it is more likely to win. We will see what happens tomorrow."
"I think we always have a chance to beat everyone, that is why we are here," he said.
"In terms of package, they are the most competitive package, it is difficult to beat them on the day but not impossible.
"It would be sad to wake up and think you can only finish second, or fifth or eight. We know in rain it is more likely to win. We will see what happens tomorrow."
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Hamilton says he gave up on another flying lap at the end of that pole fight because it was just too wet to see.
"Today it was incredible how much it rained for qualifying - very tricky for everyone.
"At the end it was almost impossible to see. On the last lap I could not see where the track went, where the corners were or where to brake, at the start of the lap I couldn't see where Fernando was.
"It was impossible to do a lap so had to bail out."
"Today it was incredible how much it rained for qualifying - very tricky for everyone.
"At the end it was almost impossible to see. On the last lap I could not see where the track went, where the corners were or where to brake, at the start of the lap I couldn't see where Fernando was.
"It was impossible to do a lap so had to bail out."
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Jenson Button could only manage 10th on the grid today, having taken an ultimately unsuccessful punt on intermediates during Q3. And he says he made the tyre call on his own.
"I chose to go on Inters. I normally make the call and get it right, so I didn't today.
"It was worth a go. If we were quick enough for fastest on wets, no, it’s not worth a go, but when were fighting at the back of the top 10, give it a go and see what happens."
"I chose to go on Inters. I normally make the call and get it right, so I didn't today.
"It was worth a go. If we were quick enough for fastest on wets, no, it’s not worth a go, but when were fighting at the back of the top 10, give it a go and see what happens."
Vettel responded to the tiny gap to pole with some sweary surprise and then a playful shove for Hamilton as they were weighed.
Hamilton and Vettel shake hands in parc ferme. They were only 0.055s apart in their pole battle.
BEN ANDERSON: "Alonso's final sector really cost him there. He dropped nearly two seconds through there on his final lap so might have run wide somewhere. He was level-pegging with Rosberg through the first two..."
By: Scott Mitchell, Edd Straw, Ben Anderson, Andrew van Leeuwen, Jonathan Noble, Pablo Elizalde
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