| 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix | |||||
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Race 16 of 21 in the2016 Formula One World Championship
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| Race details[1] | |||||
| Date | 2 October 2016 (2016-10-02) | ||||
| Official name | 2016 Formula 1PetronasMalaysia Grand Prix | ||||
| Location | Sepang International Circuit,Sepang,Selangor,Malaysia | ||||
| Course | Permanent racing facility | ||||
| Course length | 5.543 km (3.444 miles) | ||||
| Distance | 56 laps, 310.408 km (192.879 miles) | ||||
| Weather | Sunny 33 °C (91 °F) air temperature 49 °C (120 °F) track temperature 2.8 m/s (9.2 ft/s) wind from the west[2] | ||||
| Attendance | 88,828 (Weekend) 45,000 (Race Day)[3] | ||||
| Pole position | |||||
| Driver | Mercedes | ||||
| Time | 1:32.850 | ||||
| Fastest lap | |||||
| Driver |  Nico Rosberg | Mercedes | |||
| Time | 1:36.424 on lap 44 | ||||
| Podium | |||||
| First | Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer | ||||
| Second | Red Bull Racing-TAG Heuer | ||||
| Third | Mercedes | ||||
Lap leaders | |||||
The2016 Malaysian Grand Prix (formally known as the2016 Formula 1 Petronas Malaysia Grand Prix)[1] was aFormula Onemotor race that was held on 2 October 2016 at theSepang International Circuit inSelangor,Malaysia. The race marked the thirty-fifth running of theMalaysian Grand Prix, and the eighteenth time that the race has been run as a World Championship event since the first race in1999.
Daniel Ricciardo won the race, with teammateMax Verstappen finishing second to secureRed Bull Racing's first 1–2 finish since the introduction of hybrid engines in2014 and their last one until the2022 Emilia Romagna Grand Prix. Rosberg completed the podium, extending his championship lead to twenty-three points following the retirement of Lewis Hamilton. This was Ricciardo's first win since the2014 Belgian Grand Prix.
The race was moved from its March date to October to allow organisers the opportunity to upgrade the circuit. The circuit was resurfaced, while drainage was improved to decrease the possibility of standing water from forming on the circuit. Nine corners were re-profiled, introducing negative camber to emphasise mechanical, rather than aerodynamic grip, and the drop at the apex of turn two removed.[4]
Mercedes driverNico Rosberg entered the race leading the World Drivers' Championship by eight points, having reclaimed the championship lead from teammateLewis Hamilton at theprevious race in Singapore. Mercedes leadRed Bull-TAG Heuer in the World Constructors' Championship by 220 points.
At the start,Sebastian Vettel collided withNico Rosberg going into turn one, causing Rosberg to go into a spin to the back of the grid while Vettel damaged his front-left suspension in the process, retiring after getting to an escape road a few corners later. On lap 8, Romain Grosjean spun into the gravel trap due to brake failure once again, prematurely ending his race. Later on lap 41,Lewis Hamilton's engine failed while he was in the lead of the race, forcing him to retire.Esteban Gutiérrez also retired when his front-left wheel came off the car in the latter stages of the race.Daniel Ricciardo who inherited the lead of the race when Hamilton's engine failed went on to win the race. It was the fourth win of his F1 career.Max Verstappen finished second, givingRed Bull Racing their first one-two since Brazil in 2013, withNico Rosberg recovering to finish third from the spin on lap 1. For the next race in Japan, Vettel was handed a three-place grid penalty for causing the collision with Rosberg.[5]
Nine Australian men, subsequently dubbed the 'Budgie Nine' by Australian media, were arrested forintentional insult and public indecency after celebrating Ricciardo's win by stripping to their 'budgie smuggler' swimming trunks, decorated with the Malaysian flag, and drinking beer from their shoes.[6] Ricciardo said that the nine had not realized the effect their actions would have,[7] and called for them to be released.[8] After three days in custody the nine were charged with the lesser offence of public nuisance and released. The briefs had been made in Australia, not Malaysia.[9]
Notes:
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| Previous race: 2016 Singapore Grand Prix | FIA Formula One World Championship 2016 season | Next race: 2016 Japanese Grand Prix |
| Previous race: 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix | Malaysian Grand Prix | Next race: 2017 Malaysian Grand Prix |
