Malaysian GP factfile
Sepang by numbers
Circuit length: 3.344 miles
Type of circuit: Permanent track
Track designer: Hermann Tilke
Number of laps: 56
Lap record: 1m34.223s (Juan Pablo Montoya, Williams, 2004)
Last year's pole time: 1m35.043s (Felipe Massa, Ferrari)
Fastest corner: Turn 12 sweeping left hander, 155mph
Overtaking opportunities: Average. Best bets are under braking at the end of the long start/finish and back straights. The up-hill run to turn four is another chance, but easy to misjudge and run into gravel.
Usual weather: Regularly the year's hottest and most physically challenging race for drivers. Expect 35 degrees plus air temperatures.
Chances of a first corner crash: Average. Wholesale carnage is unlikely, but drivers can easily spin or lose a nose-cone with a half-hearted move into the second part of the first chicane.
Malaysian Grand Prix history
Venues: Sepang (1999 to present)
All winners:
2007 - Fernando Alonso (McLaren)
2006 - Giancarlo Fisichella (Renault)
2005 - Fernando Alonso (Renault)
2004 - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2003 - Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren)
2002 - Ralf Schumacher (Williams)
2001 - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
2000 - Michael Schumacher (Ferrari)
1999 - Eddie Irvine (Ferrari)
Memorable races:
1999 - After a six-race layoff following a broken leg, Michael Schumacher returned for the inaugural Sepang race in the unusual role of supporting act to Ferrari team-mate Eddie Irvine's title challenge. Yet he stunned everyone by taking pole position by one second, and despite trying to go slowly in the race to hold up Irvine's title rival Mika Hakkinen, still had to gift the Ulsterman the race led twice!
2001 - A tropical storm hits the circuit three laps into the race, sending helpless Ferrari's race leaders Michael Schumacher and Rubens Barrichello across the gravel. The pair then almost fall a lap down to the now safety-car controlled field after confusion over wet tyres in the team's pit. Yet at the restart it takes them just six laps to regain a 1-2 at the front.
2003 - A race of firsts for F1's new generation, with Renault's Fernando Alonso taking his first pole position and podium and McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen his first victory.
2004 - Jenson Button finally scores his first F1 podium at the 68th attempt. The result was just reward for the Briton who had suffered final lap heartache in each of the two previous Malaysian GPs, losing a third place to Schumacher in 2002.
2007 - Fernando Alonso ends McLaren's year-long victory drought with a dominant victory in just his second race for the team. New team-mate Lewis Hamilton takes second after supremely holding off the two quicker Ferraris.
Drivers with reason to love Sepang...
Fernando Alonso - Since taking his first pole position and podium in 2003, has been the form man at Sepang. Two victories and three further top three finishes have followed.
Jarno Trulli - Took Toyota's first and so far best F1 finish here with second place in 2005 and has been a regular top-10 qualifier and finisher.
Jenson Button - After technical problems robbed him of two big finishes in successive years ('02 & '03), Jens has two podiums to show for his last four visits.
Heikki Kovalainen - He may have only raced here once, but was under pressure to deliver a strong result last year after his disastrous Melbourne debut. Eighth place helped restore confidence.
Drivers with reason to hate Sepang...
Mark Webber - The Aussie doesn't have much luck anywhere, but his record of woe in Malaysia must be especially tough to swallow. Five retirements in six visits have helped ensure he has yet to score a point.
Nico Rosberg - Two races, two top six grid slots, two mechanical race failures.
Anthony Davidson - A rare race outing for BAR/Honda in 2005 ended after just two laps with an engine failure, then he had to race while fighting off the 'flu last year.
