malaysian grand prix malaysian formally titled formula malaysia formula motor race held march malaysia seventeenth running malaysian grand prix world championship event thirty fifth overall came race leading drivers championship seven points team mate followed closely points mercedes entered point lead ferrari championship campaign hamilton secured pole position rain soaked qualifying session 40th pole position career won race having started second place grid 40th victory career victory ferrari spanish grand prix report background going weekend leading drivers championship having won race ahead teammate points held seven point advantage points standings mercedes haven taken maximum available points finish melbourne ferrari second points followed mercedes arrived second race season maximum points australia having finished second placed half minute following dominant performance commentators voiced fears sport sided boring course season previous year team principal called step apply rule changes level competition stating rules mechanism needs looked subsequently threatened leave sport measures taken commentators pointed enjoyed share dominance prior years formula voiced understanding team saying rule think president max event particular team engine supplier magic mercedes level things mercedes class job everybody acknowledges need change things little bit try level things little bit mercedes executive director reacted calls urging rivals fucking head work sort driver raised doubt rule changes saying ban doesn look like mercedes teams aren following criticism voiced future engine supplier matter debate contemplated exiting sport scenario received media attention possible buy team discussion future sport additionally news dropped calendar lack financing exclusion traditional events caused raise question fate await traditional venues returned pre season injury seat filled previous race australia returning williams driver missed previous race injury sustained qualifying able field cars time malaysia criticism failed run cars australian saying need pay travel expenses usually covered commercial rights holder previous years announced supplying teams orange banded hard compound tyre prime selection white banded medium compound option selection event event use wet weather tyres green banded intermediate blue banded wet tyres free practice regulations season practice sessions held minute sessions friday hour session qualifying saturday set fastest time practice session friday morning championship leader sidelined engine problems recovered fastest time second session day ferrari proved closer rivals coming seconds free practice sessions debut new finishing 14th 16th friday sessions respectively teammate times debuting free practice cars struggling meet time limit filled regular session practice session saturday morning mercedes drivers fastest setting fastest time ferrari half second qualifying qualifying consisted parts minutes length respectively drivers eliminated competing sessions qualifying got way dry sunny conditions conditions favour pace progress returning team mate separated tenth second 17th 18th grid joining manor cars stevens recorded time seconds slower stevens failed circuit failed struggled balance clouds built west circuit traffic jam pit lane scramble position started evident driver managed clean lap traffic rest field dealt thunderstorm warned arrive started biggest casualty session ferrari got held recorded lap fast rain started soon joining force improve original lap times conditions delay half hour cars returned circuit majority remaining drivers intermediate tyres initially surveyed circuit switching ultimately hamilton took pole seconds ahead followed cars young driver took sixth place rest completed qualifying found left pit lane different position left garage received place grid penalty dropping tenth grid race temperatures race day hot track temperature rain possible previous years earlier starting time williams hoping dry race qualifying showed pace wet conditions stevens missed qualifying fuel system problem ultimately unable participate race approximately people attended race start got away challenged second place ferrari able come pastor suffered lap contact respectively come new set tyres able stay laps lap marcus late spun turn retiring race bringing safety car seven cars went pits change tyres including mercedes drivers stayed racing resumed lap seven led hamilton cars pit stops right mercedes cars way field hamilton overtaking second position end lap seconds race leader reached position lap hamilton unable significant gains cars safety car phase stops began change tyres lap handed second penalty exceeding safety car time cars showed signs brake problems brake dust exiting wheels major braking points cars came stop lap handing lead hamilton rejoined place began close rapidly second placed good use tyres overtaking lap setting hamilton went pits second pit stop lap retired engine problems lap running ninth place deteriorating wing damage let teammate eleventh place beginning lap sent spin ran wide hit turn able continue 13th place force india sent lotus spin laps later force india drivers handed second penalty actions pit stop second final time lap handing lead hamilton came final stop lap later emerging seconds place teammate pit stop lap hamilton second started close retired race lap turbo failure bad day turned worse park car suffering brake failures hamilton unable overcome gap leaving victory brazilian grand prix ferrari able overtake teammate final lap williams drivers uneventful race finish fifth sixth respectively post race ferrari reacted emotionally victory unable hold tears podium speaking experience ferrari driver told podium interview remember gate opened like dream coming true remember time young kid watching fence driving ferrari driving red car incredible day today race spot team great strategy great pace beat fair square second placed conceded ferrari fantastic job weekend expected quick ferrari team shared enthusiasm seen singing italian national anthem podium ceremony led team principal later admitted cried receiving text message manager behalf family comparisons following days commentators pointing took merely races win achieved victory seventh race post race press conference expressed hope emulate success ferrari win world championship result viewed welcome fears voiced australian grand prix german newspaper declared win best sport hoped daily_mail commented sport developed impressive rest self criticism controversy arose force india accused intentionally running car qualifying race urged investigate matter manor rejected claims sporting director saying guarantee car moved raced finishing seventh youngest driver score points quoted saying good day father formula driver commented pleased today happy finished race way raced deserved proud result race moved points hamilton drivers championship points followed points ahead championship mercedes retained lead points clear ferrari williams following points classification qualifying notes received place grid penalty failing leave order arrival stevens granted permission start race race championship standings race note positions included sets standings
2015 Malaysian Grand Prix