After an excellent start to the new season in Australia, the Formula One action moves to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, where Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will be resuming their rivalry for a place at the front of the grid.
The Mercedes duo were class above the rest in the season-opener in Melbourne two weeks ago as Hamilton and Rosberg went to claim the first and second positions respectively.
While the difference between Hamilton and Rosberg was only 1.36s, Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel, who claimed the final podium spot, was 34.523s behind.
However, the main highlight of the opening race in Australia was the number of cars that failed to either start or finish the race.
While Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat and Mclaren's Kevin Magnussen did not start the race due to technical issues, Lotus duo Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado along with Toro Rosso's Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen retired.
Still, a new race brings new hope and all these teams will be hoping to do better in the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Defending Champion Hamilton despite admitting that a victory in the season opener was a "great way to start" his title defence, says he is now completely focused on the Malaysian Grand prix.
"Australia was a great way to start," Hamilton told Formula 1's official website. "To pick up where we left off last year was awesome. Winning the first race is just one small step in a long journey and I'm not reading anything into it. "
"The next step is Malaysia and that's all I've been focusing on since we left Melbourne."
Hamilton, who secured the pole position and emerged victorious in the Malaysian Grand Prix last season, says he cannot wait to race again in Sepang.
"I can't wait to get back out there and I can't wait to get to Sepang. It's a great circuit, a home race for Petronas and a country I really enjoy going to. The people are so welcoming and the support we had there as a team last year was amazing."
Although he admits that the race will be "really tough" due to the weather conditions in Malaysia, the Brighton insists that he is ready.
"Of course, the race itself is really tough with the heat and humidity. But I feel ready for anything right now and the aim is to repeat last year's performance. It took me eight attempts to win this race when I finally made it to the top step last year and I don't plan on waiting that long again..."
Rosberg also says he is very pleased with his team's performances in the opening race in Melbourne.
"Melbourne was a mega weekend for the team. To start off the year with such dominance was just amazing and the team really did an incredible job," the German told Formula 1's official website. "Of course, I'm disappointed not to have repeated my win from 2014 – but Lewis was on top form and it's up to me to find that little bit extra."
The 29-year-old German, who finished in the second place behind Hamilton in Malaysia last season, says his team are hoping to put in another "great show" for the fans.
"I really hope we can put on a great show for everyone watching at home and also for the Malaysian fans, who are always such great hosts. It would be perfect to get another strong result in front of our friends from Petronas and that's definitely the target – so long as the order of the top two is reversed, of course!"
Where to Watch Live
First Practice Session (Friday): 10am - 11:30am MYT, 7:30am - 9am IST, 2am - 3:30am GMT
Second Practice Session (Friday): 2pm - 3:30pm MYT, 11:30am - 1pm IST, 6am - 7:30am GMT
Final Practice Session (Saturday): 2pm - 3pm MYT, 11:30am - 12:30pm IST, 6am - 7am GMT
| Country | TV Broadcaster |
| India | Star Sports 4, Star Sports HD2 |
| US | NBC (Practice 2) |
| Canada | TSN 2 (Practice 2) |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports F1 HD |
| Middle East and North Africa | Bein Sports Arabia |
| Germany, Italy | Sky Sport |
| France | Canal+ |
| Asia | Fox Sports |
| Country | Online links |
| India | Star Sports Online |
| US | NBC Sports Online |
| UK | Watch Sky Sports |
| Middle East | BeIN Sports Connect |
| Asia | Fox Sports Online |
| Italy | Sky Go Italy |
| Germany | Sky Go Germany |
After an excellent start to the new season in Australia, the Formula One action moves to the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia, where Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg will be resuming their rivalry for a place at the front of the grid.
The Mercedes duo were class above the rest in the season-opener in Melbourne two weeks ago as Hamilton and Rosberg went to claim the first and second positions respectively.
While the difference between Hamilton and Rosberg was only 1.36s, Ferrari driver Sebastian Vettel, who claimed the final podium spot, was 34.523s behind.
However, the main highlight of the opening race in Australia was the number of cars that failed to either start or finish the race.
While Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat and Mclaren's Kevin Magnussen did not start the race due to technical issues, Lotus duo Romain Grosjean and Pastor Maldonado along with Toro Rosso's Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Kimi Räikkönen retired.
Still, a new race brings new hope and all these teams will be hoping to do better in the Malaysian Grand Prix.
Defending Champion Hamilton despite admitting that a victory in the season opener was a "great way to start" his title defence, says he is now completely focused on the Malaysian Grand prix.
"Australia was a great way to start," Hamilton told Formula 1's official website. "To pick up where we left off last year was awesome. Winning the first race is just one small step in a long journey and I'm not reading anything into it. "
"The next step is Malaysia and that's all I've been focusing on since we left Melbourne."
Hamilton, who secured the pole position and emerged victorious in the Malaysian Grand Prix last season, says he cannot wait to race again in Sepang.
"I can't wait to get back out there and I can't wait to get to Sepang. It's a great circuit, a home race for Petronas and a country I really enjoy going to. The people are so welcoming and the support we had there as a team last year was amazing."
Although he admits that the race will be "really tough" due to the weather conditions in Malaysia, the Brighton insists that he is ready.
"Of course, the race itself is really tough with the heat and humidity. But I feel ready for anything right now and the aim is to repeat last year's performance. It took me eight attempts to win this race when I finally made it to the top step last year and I don't plan on waiting that long again..."
Rosberg also says he is very pleased with his team's performances in the opening race in Melbourne.
"Melbourne was a mega weekend for the team. To start off the year with such dominance was just amazing and the team really did an incredible job," the German told Formula 1's official website. "Of course, I'm disappointed not to have repeated my win from 2014 – but Lewis was on top form and it's up to me to find that little bit extra."
The 29-year-old German, who finished in the second place behind Hamilton in Malaysia last season, says his team are hoping to put in another "great show" for the fans.
"I really hope we can put on a great show for everyone watching at home and also for the Malaysian fans, who are always such great hosts. It would be perfect to get another strong result in front of our friends from Petronas and that's definitely the target – so long as the order of the top two is reversed, of course!"
