Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Sunday Nov 17, 2024
Friday, 27 March 2015 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
McLaren’s Fernando Alonso and Williams’ ValtteriBottas will both take part in this weekend’s 2015 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix after passing mandatory FIA fitness tests at Sepang on Thursday.
Both men missed the season-opening round in Australia two weeks ago; Alonso because of a concussion sustained in a Barcelona testing crash in February, and Bottas because of back injury he picked up during Melbourne qualifying.
“Green light to race,” tweeted Alonso. “Thanks to @fia and @McLarenF1 for the work, professionalism and help on this last month.#ready.”Bottas commented: “I want to thank the @WilliamsRacing team and @fia for the support and trust on this matter – as well as all the fans, you’ve been mega!”
Eddie Irvine won the inaugural Sepangrace for Ferrari – though only after an appeal heard the following week. The Italian team was initially disqualified after the stewards deemed the barge boards on their cars were illegal. It would prove to be Irvine’s final victory in the sport.
Of the past 16 races, nine have been won from pole position. Fernando Alonso has the honor of winning from the lowest position, after he started eighth but went on to triumph in 2012 for Ferrari.Of the current grid, Alonso is also tied with Sebastian Vettel for the most victories at Sepang, both with three.
The Spaniard’s three wins came with three different teams (Renault, McLaren and Ferrari), whilst Vettel’s were all achieved with Red Bull. KimiRaikkonen (2), Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton (both 1) are the only other current drivers to have triumphed on Malaysian soil.
Hamilton though can boast an impressive record at Sepang: he has never finished outside the points, and his worst finish remains a penalty-influenced eighth in 2011.
“Australia was a great way to start. To pick up where we left off last year was awesome. But if 2014 showed anything, it’s that putting together a whole season is never easy. 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. 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. 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…” quoted Lewis Hamilton.
