Sepang hosts the Malaysia Grand Prix

Malaysia Grand Prix: What time does it start, TV channel, odds, predictions, track guide & latest F1 standings

Formula 1

Sun October 01, 2017 · 8y ago

All the key details ahead of the Malaysia Grand Prix, including the full weekend race schedule, start times and TV coverage, a selection of statistics, a track guide, the latest odds and standings, plus our big-race betting tips from the 'Pit-lane insider'

Formula 1 heads to Kuala Lumpur for the Malaysia Grand Prix as Lewis Hamilton looks to strike another significant blow in the title race having increased his lead over Sebastian Vettel to 28 points in Singapore.

Here, we have everything you need while additional features will be added closer to the race weekend...

Contents

Malaysia Grand Prix schedule & TV times
Sky Bet Odds
Track guide & statistics
Latest F1 standings
2017 season schedule & results

Malaysia Grand Prix: Weekend Schedule & TV Guide

All times BST

Friday September 29

Practice 1: Report and time sheets
Practice 2: Report and time sheets

Saturday September 30

Practice 3: Report and time sheets
Qualifying: Report and time sheets

Sunday October 1

Race: 0800 BST

TV Coverage

You can watch all the sessions of the Malaysia GP weekend live on both Sky Sports F1 and on terrestrial TV with Channel 4.

Malaysia Grand Prix: Sky Bet odds

Championship leader Lewis Hamilton headed into the weekend as favourite to win the Malaysia Grand Prix at 10/11 but despite drifting to odds-against prices during Friday's difficult practice sessions, he's now 8/13 having secured pole in Sepang.

Sebastian Vettel endured a nightmare qualifying session due to engine problems, meaning he must now start at the back of the grid. He's subsequently drifted to 18/1 from 11/8 having impressed in practice.

Kimi Raikkonen is 11/4 second favourite while the Red Bull duo of Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo are 7/1 and 12/1 respectively.

Click here to place all your Formula One bets!

Malaysia Grand Prix tips: F1 Pit Lane insider

Pole Position - Lewis Hamilton

You won’t get rich backing Lewis for pole but given that he’s taken the last three in Malaysia in a row, and eight poles in 14 races so far in 2017, you know you’re backing the form horse. Hamilton has only one once in Sepang but would have made that two had his engine not blown up 16 laps from the end last year. On a Saturday though he’s untouchable at this track.

Top-six Finish - Sergio Perez

With more upgrades to come following the introduction of their successful ‘sawtooth’ fins in Singapore, Force India could once again be a team to be reckoned with. They also expect to be running the new upgrade Mercedes Power Unit too and, on a track where Sergio picked up the first of his seven podiums in Formula 1, a top-six finish certainly isn’t out of the question.

First Retirement - Max Verstappen

If Max wasn’t having bad luck he’d have no luck at all this season. Seven retirements now, three of which have been as a result of a crash on the first lap. He’s only completed 54 per cent of the racing laps in 2017 and, given the chances of a collision at the first couple of corners could be high this weekend, it’s possible that the young Dutch driver could be involved.

Malaysia Grand Prix: Track guide

Venue: Sepang International Circuit
Circuit length: 5.543km
Laps: 56
Race distance: 310.408km
Number of corners: 15 (5 left/10 right)
Lap record: 1:34.223 (Juan Pablo Montoya, 2004)
2016 pole position: Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 1:32.850
2016 winner: Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull)
2016 fastest lap: Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 1:36.424
Tyre compounds to be used: supersoft/soft/medium
Bumpiness: low
Overtaking chance: Primarily into turn 15, but also turn one
Engine severity: high
Brake wear severity: medium
Gearbox severity: medium
Winners from pole position since 2004: 9
Number of safety cars deployed since 2004: 3

Malaysia Grand Prix: Statistics

Hamilton retired from the lead of the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix following an engine failure. That remains the Mercedes driver's only retirement from the last 30 races.
Despite his recent string of successes, Hamilton has only tasted victory once in 10 of the Malaysian Grands Prix he has entered - in his title-winning year of 2014.
Vettel has won just one of the last eight races following a promising start to the season. His victory in Hungary just about keeps him on the tail of Hamilton but he has also failed to finish on the podium in half of the Grands Prix in that time.
Pierre Gasly has replaced Daniil Kvyat for the race weekend and the reigning GP2 champion will become the 72nd French driver to compete in an F1 Grand Prix when he takes to the track for Toro Rosso.
Once the race is completed, only 18 circuits will have hosted more F1 Grands Prix than Sepang - although it is likely to fall down the list when it drops off the calendar from next season onwards.
Kimi Raikkonen is the only driver to score his first-ever F1 victory at Sepang - it came during his time with McLaren in 2003.
Ten different drivers have taken victory across the 18 F1 races hosted at Sepang. Vettel is the most successful with four wins.
Jenson Button won a weather-shortened 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix on his way to the championship and the Briton holds the record for the number of appearances at Sepang having entered 17 races. McLaren's Fernando Alonso has the most of the current field with 15.