2014 Malaysian Grand Prix Sunday - Malaysian Grand Prix
Live Text
Sort by
That's it from AUTOSPORT Live's Malaysian GP coverage this weekend.
Coming up on Race Centre Live later will be coverage of the final race from the Brands Hatch BTCC weekend, plus the Indy Lights and IndyCar season-openers in St Petersburg and the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville.
Keep an eye on AUTOSPORT for plenty more Malaysian GP reaction and insight over the coming days, including EDD STRAW's race analysis and driver ratings on Monday, and GARY ANDERSON's verdict on Tuesday.
You've only got a few days to wait until the F1 action kicks off again, with the first night-time Bahrain GP next weekend.
AUTOSPORT GP Live will resume from Bahrain at 11.30am UK time on Friday April 4. See you then.
Coming up on Race Centre Live later will be coverage of the final race from the Brands Hatch BTCC weekend, plus the Indy Lights and IndyCar season-openers in St Petersburg and the NASCAR Sprint Cup race at Martinsville.
Keep an eye on AUTOSPORT for plenty more Malaysian GP reaction and insight over the coming days, including EDD STRAW's race analysis and driver ratings on Monday, and GARY ANDERSON's verdict on Tuesday.
You've only got a few days to wait until the F1 action kicks off again, with the first night-time Bahrain GP next weekend.
AUTOSPORT GP Live will resume from Bahrain at 11.30am UK time on Friday April 4. See you then.
Breaking news
And here's Red Bull team boss Christian Horner describing F1 rules as "harsh" as Daniel Ricciardo faces a Bahrain grid penalty for today's pit mistake:
Red Bull: Ricciardo grid penalty is harsh
Red Bull: Ricciardo grid penalty is harsh
Breaking news
Here's more from Fernando Alonso on why his Malaysian GP was a "nightmare" despite ending up fourth:
Alonso labels his race a nightmare
Alonso labels his race a nightmare
Still plenty going on elsewhere in motorsport today - Craig Breen and the Peugeot 208 T16 are just one stage away from maiden ERC wins on the Acropolis now (though second-placed Bryan Bouffier hasn't given up on closing the 16s gap) and another Andrew Jordan versus Jason Plato BTCC battle will commence at Brands Hatch in just a few minutes.
The FIA has issued the full transcript from today's post-race press conference, so here are Hamilton, Rosberg and Vettel's champagne-drenched thoughts in full:
Malaysian GP Sunday press conference
Malaysian GP Sunday press conference
Sergio Perez didn't turn a racing lap today, and he's confirmed that it was a gearbox problem that stopped him making the start.
"I'm disappointed not to have a chance to race today. We are still investigating the cause of the problem but the car kept going into neutral when I was downshifting on the way to the grid. I made it back to the garage but we could not find a solution.
"I need to focus on the positives because we learned a lot from the weekend so I hope we can come back stronger in Bahrain. It’s been a frustrating weekend for me but at least we are racing again in seven days and can look forward to putting the disappointment behind us."
"I'm disappointed not to have a chance to race today. We are still investigating the cause of the problem but the car kept going into neutral when I was downshifting on the way to the grid. I made it back to the garage but we could not find a solution.
"I need to focus on the positives because we learned a lot from the weekend so I hope we can come back stronger in Bahrain. It’s been a frustrating weekend for me but at least we are racing again in seven days and can look forward to putting the disappointment behind us."
Quote
Fifth place for Nico Hulkenberg, beating the McLarens and Williams, after a race-long battle with Alonso's Ferrari that he couldn't quite win.
How does the Force India man rate that one among his giantkilling drives?
"I'm very happy, but it's not right up there. I think I've had other drives which were a bit more special with more pressure from behind.
"Today was a race by myself because I was on a different strategy to most of the other people. I was driving for myself.
"Great to pull off the two-stop strategy and generally a big success to come away with 10 points."
How does the Force India man rate that one among his giantkilling drives?
"I'm very happy, but it's not right up there. I think I've had other drives which were a bit more special with more pressure from behind.
"Today was a race by myself because I was on a different strategy to most of the other people. I was driving for myself.
"Great to pull off the two-stop strategy and generally a big success to come away with 10 points."
Delight at Caterham after moving into 10th place in the constructors' championship thanks to Kamui Kobayashi's 13th position. The Japanese is sure the result is good for team morale.
"Thirteen place puts us back in 10th in the championship and gives everyone the sort of boost we needed. There's still a huge amount of work to do and a lot of today was new for me and we obviously have to keep putting more performance on the car so we can really fight one or two of the teams ahead.
"That looks like it's a realistic target at this stage, but for now, focusing on today, finally we've had a good day and we should be happy about that."
Red Bull had another troubled race on Ricciardo's site of the garage. But one thing to note about his list of problems - neither the pitstop issue nor the wing failure had anything to do with the troubled Renault engine.
In fact Renault's Thierry Salvi is instead celebrating things that did work in the heat:
"Everything worked as expected on the power unit and we managed the fuel and energy well.
"One of the main concerns in the heat here is the charged air temperature to the turbo, but we didn't have any issues today."
In fact Renault's Thierry Salvi is instead celebrating things that did work in the heat:
"Everything worked as expected on the power unit and we managed the fuel and energy well.
"One of the main concerns in the heat here is the charged air temperature to the turbo, but we didn't have any issues today."
Pirelli is pleased with the performance of its tyres in the Malaysian heat, even though the expected two-stop strategies became three for most drivers:
Paul Hembery: "In spite of this [the heat] the tyres showed an overall balance of performance that allowed a close battle for the lead.
"There was no blistering or graining, and while drivers had to manage thermal degradation, a three-stop race is in line with the requirements the sport has asked Pirelli to deliver."
Paul Hembery: "In spite of this [the heat] the tyres showed an overall balance of performance that allowed a close battle for the lead.
"There was no blistering or graining, and while drivers had to manage thermal degradation, a three-stop race is in line with the requirements the sport has asked Pirelli to deliver."
Pop across to our partner site FORIX (included in your AUTOSPORT subscription) for a full rundown of all the drivers' official quotes from their Malaysian GP weekend, plus an extraordinarily comprehensive array of race stats - including the whole field's full race laptimes and gap charts.
Meanwhile, Bottas has confirmed to EDD STRAW that he didn't start the race with all 100 kilograms of allowed fuel on board, as the team was confident of not having any consumption worries.
Full report and results from the Brands Hatch BTCC opener are here:
Brands Hatch BTCC race one: Jordan resists Plato
For F1 types wondering why 'man who beat Button in F3'/sometime BAR tester/Marussia driver guru Marc Hynes didn't start on his BTCC debut, his MG's power steering failed before the race began.
Brands Hatch BTCC race one: Jordan resists Plato
For F1 types wondering why 'man who beat Button in F3'/sometime BAR tester/Marussia driver guru Marc Hynes didn't start on his BTCC debut, his MG's power steering failed before the race began.
More news regarding Daniel Ricciardo's disastrous day; he's also been reprimanded because one of the Red Bull Racing crew wasn't wearing head protection. No change to the original penalty, though.
Jules Bianchi says his accident with Maldonado was the result of Vergne having crashed into him earlier:
"Unfortunately the situation with Maldonado was a consequence of what happened off the start, when Vergne hit me from behind and punctured my left rear tyre.
"Quite simply I could not avoid Maldonado; there was nothing I could do."
"Unfortunately the situation with Maldonado was a consequence of what happened off the start, when Vergne hit me from behind and punctured my left rear tyre.
"Quite simply I could not avoid Maldonado; there was nothing I could do."
Coming up on AUTOSPORT Live later will be Race Centre Live coverage from Brands Hatch BTCC, St Petersburg IndyCar and... well, hopefully Martinsville NASCAR.
But snowflakes have been landing on the speedway this morning, so let's see how the latter goes...
But snowflakes have been landing on the speedway this morning, so let's see how the latter goes...
Sauber has explained the problems suffered by its drivers during the race.
Adrian Sutil lost electric power supply and switched off completely, while Esteban Gutierrez was unable to engage first gear after his first pitstop.
The team says it will investigate the problems, admitting its "performance in the race wasn't where we expected it to be, so we have some homework to do."
Adrian Sutil lost electric power supply and switched off completely, while Esteban Gutierrez was unable to engage first gear after his first pitstop.
The team says it will investigate the problems, admitting its "performance in the race wasn't where we expected it to be, so we have some homework to do."
BEN ANDERSON is just back from Ferrari, where he's been hearing from a pretty unhappy Alonso and Raikkonen. Full stories of their races coming up shortly...
Carlos Reutemann
Williams drivers totally ignoring team orders calls isn't a new experience for the squad. It most famously happened back in 1981, when Carlos Reutemann's contract made him number two to reigning champion team-mate Alan Jones.
Reutemann was asked to cede the lead of the Brazilian Grand Prix to Jones once the Australian was within a given distance, but he appeared not to see the pitboard instruction... Cue a complete breakdown in already frosty team-mate relations.
Williams's refusal to make Nigel Mansell the number two driver irked Nelson Piquet for pretty much all of 1986, and in the 21st century Juan Pablo Montoya's suspicions of favouritism towards Ralf Schumacher during the 2003 French GP ultimately triggered his eventual departure for McLaren.
To recap for anyone just joining us, Massa was asked repeatedly to let Bottas past him for seventh place in the closing laps in Malaysia today as Williams believed Bottas could attack Button for sixth place.
Massa disagreed...
Massa disagreed...
Quote
EDD STRAW: "Just spoke to Massa. He claims the team has discussed the team orders issue and there are no problems.
"But he was being careful not to say too much.
"Clear that he was not happy with the the order to let Bottas past and didn't see why there would be any team advantage."
"But he was being careful not to say too much.
"Clear that he was not happy with the the order to let Bottas past and didn't see why there would be any team advantage."
Toro Rosso's Jean-Eric Vergne explains his terrible start and the subsequent crash that ruined his race on lap one:
"I think I had a great start today but very soon I felt some problems with the car. I lost power in the car and I just saw everybody overtaking me.
"Then I found myself in a sandwich between a Caterham and Bianchi and maybe I was a bit too ambitious to think I could try and pass the two cars.
"It was just not possible and this resulted in the collision, which damaged my front wing."
"I think I had a great start today but very soon I felt some problems with the car. I lost power in the car and I just saw everybody overtaking me.
"Then I found myself in a sandwich between a Caterham and Bianchi and maybe I was a bit too ambitious to think I could try and pass the two cars.
"It was just not possible and this resulted in the collision, which damaged my front wing."
Quote
He got disqualified a fortnight ago in Australia after finishing second, and today his fourth place was lost to a botched pitstop, front wing breakage and puncture, and then he got a 10-place grid penalty too...
BUT Daniel Ricciardo is at least pleased he's proving himself at the front of the field, having battled wheel to wheel with champion team-mate Vettel today.
"A lot of people don't expect it because I'm always the happy guy and smiling but I'm here to race and I love racing up at the front.
"It's been a privilege but a lot of fun in the last couple of rounds. It's addictive, you'll see me up there plenty of times this year."
BUT Daniel Ricciardo is at least pleased he's proving himself at the front of the field, having battled wheel to wheel with champion team-mate Vettel today.
"A lot of people don't expect it because I'm always the happy guy and smiling but I'm here to race and I love racing up at the front.
"It's been a privilege but a lot of fun in the last couple of rounds. It's addictive, you'll see me up there plenty of times this year."
Over in Greece, Ireland's Craig Breen is two stages away from the biggest win of his career so far, with a maiden European Rally Championship victory for him and the Peugeot 208 T16 - on its debut! - now within sight on the Acropolis Rally.
Want to see Breen and the 208 in action? AUTOSPORT has ERC video highlights on its rallying page.
Want to see Breen and the 208 in action? AUTOSPORT has ERC video highlights on its rallying page.
Twitter
Max Chilton has tweeted his thoughts on chasing down Marcus Ericsson for 14th at the end... and weight loss in the Sepang heat:
"Tough day in the office, closed the gap at the end to cross the line 0.1 behind from 10 behind. -3kgs in body weight."
"Tough day in the office, closed the gap at the end to cross the line 0.1 behind from 10 behind. -3kgs in body weight."
Pastor Maldonado
In more penalty-related news, Bianchi has been awarded two penalty points for his clash with Maldonado, pictured rejoining after his spin.
That means Bottas, Magnussen and Bianchi have two points each.
At Brands Hatch, champion Andrew Jordan has just fended off Jason Plato to win the BTCC opener, while Matt Neal got the Honda estate straight on the podium in third. Full AUTOSPORT report coming up shortly.
Here's the story on Ricciardo's penalty:
Daniel Ricciardo gets Bahrain grid penalty
Also worth noting Red Bull has also been summoned to explain why a mechanic was not wearing head protection during a pitstop.
Daniel Ricciardo gets Bahrain grid penalty
Also worth noting Red Bull has also been summoned to explain why a mechanic was not wearing head protection during a pitstop.
Quote
Given the start of the season that Lotus has experienced, Romain Grosjean is taking plenty of positives out of making it to the end of the race in Malaysia.
“Eleventh place is good for all the guys at Enstone and at the track, and it's good for me too.
"Finishing the race was our first objective and then we wanted to see where we were with our car. It's not perfect yet but it's good to be where we are at this stage.
"I had a big loss of downforce around eight laps to the end especially in the rear of the car which made things difficult, especially when I had to defend. Without that issue, I’m sure we could have finished higher.
"It's good to be back and close to the points so it's a positive for all of us. It was a good battle at the end. I kept remembering our past battles to make sure Kimi couldn't go through!"
“Eleventh place is good for all the guys at Enstone and at the track, and it's good for me too.
"Finishing the race was our first objective and then we wanted to see where we were with our car. It's not perfect yet but it's good to be where we are at this stage.
"I had a big loss of downforce around eight laps to the end especially in the rear of the car which made things difficult, especially when I had to defend. Without that issue, I’m sure we could have finished higher.
"It's good to be back and close to the points so it's a positive for all of us. It was a good battle at the end. I kept remembering our past battles to make sure Kimi couldn't go through!"
Breaking news
Kevin Magnussen
Kevin Magnussen is very unimpressed with himself today after that clash with Kimi Raikkonen, which has earned him two points on his licence as well as the five-second penalty he took in the race.
As the picture shows, it also left him with a mangled front wing and a lot of work to do to fend anyone off till his first pitstop.
Here's the full story:
Magnussen disappointed with himself
Mercedes-powered cars occupied a whopping seven of the Top 10 positions today. The only non-Mercs were Vettel, Alonso and Kvyat.
Speaking of Mercedes, Hamilton and Rosberg were treated to a big cheer when they arrived into the works team's hospitality.
Speaking of Mercedes, Hamilton and Rosberg were treated to a big cheer when they arrived into the works team's hospitality.
Breaking news
News just coming through that Ricciardo has a 10-place grid penalty for the Bahrain Grand Prix for Red Bull's unsafe pit release.
It's the BTCC season-opener at Brands Hatch this weekend too. Champion Andrew Jordan is on pole ahead of multiple champion Jason Plato.
But a lot of eyes are on our returnee champions Alain Menu and Fabrizio Giovanardi, who start eighth and 18th respectively.
Menu reckons he's a lot faster than that, while Gio has been more pessimistic. But his Motorbase team told KEVIN TURNER earlier today that a problem has been found with his Ford, so expect the Italian to be moving forward when race one gets underway in just a few seconds.
But a lot of eyes are on our returnee champions Alain Menu and Fabrizio Giovanardi, who start eighth and 18th respectively.
Menu reckons he's a lot faster than that, while Gio has been more pessimistic. But his Motorbase team told KEVIN TURNER earlier today that a problem has been found with his Ford, so expect the Italian to be moving forward when race one gets underway in just a few seconds.
Romain Grosjean
EDD STRAW has just had a quick chat to Lotus's Alan Permane.
He revealed that Grosjean picked up a bit of diffuser damage late on that cost up to a second per lap and a shot at attacking Kvyat for 10th.
As for feeling old, Hamilton is 29 (and two months and 23 days). F1's oldest ever points-scorer Philippe Etancelin was 53 years, eight months and six days old when he took fifth at Monza in 1950.
Etancelin, whose career was mostly in the pre-war, pre-world championship days, certainly didn't get near 100 points finishes. In fact he only had 1.5. He took fifth at Reims in 1950 too, but that day he shared his Talbot with Eugene Chaboud.
Etancelin, whose career was mostly in the pre-war, pre-world championship days, certainly didn't get near 100 points finishes. In fact he only had 1.5. He took fifth at Reims in 1950 too, but that day he shared his Talbot with Eugene Chaboud.
Today's win is also Hamilton's 100th points finish. He laughs that stats of that nature "make him feel old"... Well, Lewis, you are now 10th equal with Nelson Piquet on the chart of most points finishes in F1 history.
But he's still 121 points finishes behind record-holder Michael Schumacher (a man still at the forefront of F1's thoughts). And when marvelling at that Schumacher stat, bear in mind that for the first decade of his F1 career, you had to get into the top six to score.
Of the drivers in the top-10 all-time points finishes list, only Alain Prost (fifth, 128 points finishes) and Piquet raced solely in the 'top six score' era.
But he's still 121 points finishes behind record-holder Michael Schumacher (a man still at the forefront of F1's thoughts). And when marvelling at that Schumacher stat, bear in mind that for the first decade of his F1 career, you had to get into the top six to score.
Of the drivers in the top-10 all-time points finishes list, only Alain Prost (fifth, 128 points finishes) and Piquet raced solely in the 'top six score' era.
Quote
Championship leader Nico Rosberg is keeping the lid well and truly on his title chances at this early stage, wheeling out his version of the standard 'taking it one game at a time' footballer quote, and pointing out that Red Bull is not that far away.
"I am taking it race-by-race, keeping on it.
"The best example is Red Bull; the last day of testing was four/three weeks ago and they were absolutely nowhere, and [Vettel] was right on the back of me, pushing me. We need to keep on it to keep our advantage."
"I am taking it race-by-race, keeping on it.
"The best example is Red Bull; the last day of testing was four/three weeks ago and they were absolutely nowhere, and [Vettel] was right on the back of me, pushing me. We need to keep on it to keep our advantage."
Vettel is a happy man after having finishing in third, but he admits Red Bull will have to work hard to catch Mercedes.
"We are there and that is the most important. It is better than what we expected during the winter. We know there is a lot we can do better, it doesn't feel great when you are racing.
"We need to make big steps because they are quite far ahead, but I am quite happy with the steps we are currently making. At some stage during testing we didn't expect to finish the first couple of races.
"We know there is still a lot of to do. Mercedes did a better job, they are quicker than us, we know there are a lot of things we have to do better. Still a bloody good job today."
Twitter
As usual, racing drivers from elsewhere in the motorsport world are quick to comment on what's going on in F1. Force India-affiliated GP2 man Daniel Abt feels Massa's pain:
"'Felipe your team-mate is faster than you'.. Massa must go crazy after hearing that again"
"'Felipe your team-mate is faster than you'.. Massa must go crazy after hearing that again"
Quote
Ricciardo's race was going very well in fourth place until that disastrous final pitstop. Here's how it unfolded from his seat:
"I guess everyone thought the tyres were on. As soon as I left I could feel something wasn't right and the left front was loose.
"I stopped and was pushed back, and a lap later I had a broken front wing and a punture. I don't know how that happened.
Two unfortunate events spoiled the race."
"I guess everyone thought the tyres were on. As soon as I left I could feel something wasn't right and the left front was loose.
"I stopped and was pushed back, and a lap later I had a broken front wing and a punture. I don't know how that happened.
Two unfortunate events spoiled the race."
By: Scott Mitchell, Andrew van Leeuwen, Ben Anderson, Edd Straw, Jonathan Noble, Charles Bradley, Pablo Elizalde
Published:
Lap:
