Race: Malaysian Grand Prix
Date: 2 OCtober, Sunday
Time: 8am BST/12:30pm IST/3pm SGT
Venue: Sepang International Circuit
TV Channel: Fox Sports 2 will provide live TV coverage in Singapore.
Live Updates: The race updates will be available on the official site of Formula One.
Overview
Lewis Hamilton took pole position for the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix after setting the fastest time in the qualifying on Saturday.
The Brit was 0.414s faster than his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, who will also be starting the race from the front row of the grid. Hamilton's fastest lap of 1:32.850s was also a new Formula One lap record at the Sepang International Circuit.
Hamilton, with the pole position, has given himself a good chance to reclaim the F1 championship lead from Rosberg, who is eight points ahead of his teammate with 273 points. Both the Mercedes drivers have been having a close battle for the 2016 championship after sharing 14 of the 15 titles this season.
Rosberg won the last three races including the night race in Singapore last month after Hamilton was having continuous setbacks due to poor starts. However, the defending world champion said he was not going to let his previous results affect him on Sunday.
"Today the car felt fantastic, I really enjoyed the lap. It could have been faster," Hamilton spoke of pole position, as quoted as saying by the Associated Press.
"I don't feel anything is going to stop us (in the race). As a team we have great pace and if you look at the last race, we had pretty good starts and we continuously work on that.That's not something I'm going to let in my mind. I'm thinking of getting a launch off the grid and the car feels really good on the long runs."
"Second place, I have to live with that now, it doesn't mean a victory is not possible tomorrow. I'm still optimistic," Rosberg said.
Apart from Mercedes domination, the race for the second spot in the Constructor Standing has been a meaty sub-plot this season. While Mercedes are leading the way with 538 points, Red Bull (316) and Ferrari (301) are battling it out.
Red Bull drivers Max Verstappen and Daniel Riccardo's performances in the qualifying at Sepang would have given their constructors a lot of hope as they will start from the second row of the grid on Sunday. Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen will tail them from the third row.
Force India's Sergio Perez came up with the seventh fastest lap time in the qualifying while his teammate Nico Hulkenberg finished eighth.
Qualifying results from Formula 1 Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang
Lewis Hamilton (GBR) Mercedes - 1:32.850s
Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes - 1:33.264s
Max Verstappen (Ned) Red Bull - 1:33.420s
Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Red Bull - 1:33.467s
Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Ferrari - 1:33.584s
Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Ferrari - 1:33.632s
Sergio Perez (Mex) Force India - 1:34.319s
Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Force India - 1:34.489s
Jenson Button (GBR) McLaren - 1:34.518s
Felipe Massa (Bra) Williams - 1:34.671s
