2017 Malaysian Grand Prix

Championship standings

Hamilton leads Vettel by twenty-eight points. Mercedes leads Ferrari by one hundred and two points in the Constructors’ Championship.

Previous race

At Singapore, Hamilton took the lead on the opening lap after a collision between Vettel, Verstappen and Räikkönen eliminated all three — the first occasion in Formula One history that both Ferraris retired on the opening lap. Hamilton won comfortably from Ricciardo and Bottas. Sainz took fourth, his career-best result to that point. Jolyon Palmer scored his first points of the season in sixth, on the same weekend it was announced he would be replaced by Sainz at the end of the year.

Between-race developments

Daniil Kvyat has been replaced at Toro Rosso by Pierre Gasly, the 2016 GP2 Series champion, who makes his Formula One début.

Entrants

The first free practice session includes several substitute drivers: Sergey Sirotkin fills in for Hülkenberg at Renault, Charles Leclerc replaces Ericsson at Sauber, Antonio Giovinazzi takes Magnussen’s seat at Haas, and Sean Gelael drives in place of Sainz at Toro Rosso.

Practice

FP2 was red-flagged after Grosjean crashed heavily at Turn 14. The incident began when Bottas and Räikkönen dislodged a drain cover embedded in the apex of Turn 13; Grosjean, the next car through, struck the cover, which sliced into his rear wheel and caused an immediate tyre deflation as he loaded the steering, spinning him into the barrier. FP3 concluded with Räikkönen fastest, but Vettel suffered an engine problem that required replacement — he will start last.