The Malaysian Grand Prix Forecast

Round 2 - Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Sepang International Circuit

Laps - 56

Pirelli compounds - Medium and hard. High temps and abrasive result could mean two stop strategy. (pirelli)

DRS Zones  - Two, on the start finish straight and between turns 14 and 15.

Weather - Threat of rain, particularly on Saturday, high humidity with temperatures as high as 34C.

TV - Live on Skysports F1 and BBC (UK 8am lights out).

Pick a winner - Lewis Hamilton to continue his perfect start to the season.

Hot topics:

Fernando Alonso's relationship with McLaren is likely to come under the microscope once again. After missing the first race due to concussion, Alonso was back in the car for the Friday practice sessions, leading Jenson Button but having to be content with being 2.7 seconds off the pace. 

It's what he said before though that will get people talking. He suggested that the steering locked in his crash during testing contradicting what McLaren had earlier said that there was no mechanical failure. Given their history, this could be a little bit of kindling to the Alonso/McLaren relationship. It'll be watched with interest.

Another classic race gone and others under threat, what is going on with the running of Formula 1? The German Grand Prix is off the calendar due to the Nurburgring's financial problems and Hockenheim saying they can't afford it this year. The latter is due to run it next season but whether that will happen is an entirely different story because of other richer nations wanting a piece of the action.

Italy's race is by no means secure either. Go on Bernie, rip some more tradition out of the F1 calendar because everyone is just flocking to those middle eastern races. Money eh?

Teams can now have five engines for the season and not the previously allowed four. Makes sense, some teams are already using second parts for their power units although it's more to do with the tokens used for development purposes.

Red Bull's Christian Horner rashly said he wanted equalisation for the power units after a poor weekend for his team in Australia. It was even suggested the team could pull out of the sport if nothing was done. It seems it is just a case of a team losing throwing it's toys out of the pram. Although they have to rely on Renault to get them back in the ball park whereas Mercedes and Ferrari can at least get things done themselves.

Predicting the headlines:

This suddenly becomes a lot easier when holidays means the preview comes out after practice.

Ferrari much closer with Kimi leading the way. 

Lewis Hamilton to crush Rosberg.

Alonso to drag McLaren closer to midfield.

Verstappen grabs points.

Kvyat to show promise.

Williams can't hang on to Ferrari.

Romain Grosjean to get Lotus a top six finish.

Manor to qualify both cars.

Under the radar:

Although still feeling pain in his back, Valtteri Bottas was in action in practice after missing the race in Australia. What I found more intriguing was that despite Susie Wolff having been promoted to test driver and competing in practice sessions and testing she was categorically ruled out as racing in Malaysia. Why have her doing all this running if you wouldn't trust her to race? Some advancement for the female driver brigade. Not quite as bad as Carmen Jorda, recently hired by Lotus as a development driver. She's done nothing in her career, but publicity is publicity.

Money will always be on the agenda and it should be until Bernie and CVC start treating ALL the teams and the circuits fairly. Formula 1 has enough money to run a decent and highly regarded sport, not strip the heart out of it and leave it as a murky diseased plague ridden shell that it threatens to be. I'll say it again, nothing wrong with the product but the management of the sport and the selfish attitude of the participants leaves a lot to be desired. Still at least they've embraced social media now, whilst improving the website too. Of course those improvements are charged for. They'll not learn will they...

The title chase:

Hamilton had problems in first practice which restricted him to just a few laps but came back to top second practice with Rosberg only third with a Ferrari sitting pretty in-between.

Already there is a sense that Rosberg needs to strike back after his emphatic defeat in Australia by Lewis. 

Interesting though that Kimi had Ferrari just .3 of a second back from the ultimate pace... Too optimistic?

all photos taken from autosport.com