Formula One: What to watch in Malaysia
By Dustin Smith
After Singapore, Formula One heads to Malaysia. Only six races remain in the 2017 season with Lewis Hamilton sitting comfortably at the top of the standings.
This weekend, Formula One travels to Malaysia to tackle the Sepang International Circuit. Last year, the Red Bull Racing Team took the top two spots on the podium. The top two drivers this season will be hoping to have much better days in 2017 than what they had in Malaysia last year.
First, the previous weeks’ Formula One “What to Watch” articles stressed how tight the points race was heading into Singapore. The fireworks started early in Singapore with a controversial wreck at the start. This crash eliminated Sebastien Vettel, Kimi Raikkonen, and Max Verstappen. Many would say the crash was Vettel’s fault, while others put the blame on Verstappen. When all was said and done, Lewis Hamilton cruised to victory and into a 28-point lead in the drivers championship.
As a result, Hamilton now has a comfortable lead in the drivers championship. He will look to score his eighth win of the season and fourth in a row in 2017. The good news for Hamilton is Sebastien Vettel’s 2016 Singapore Grand Prix was short-lived. Vettel failed to even finish a lap in 2016 at Sepang. The bad news, however, is Hamilton had an engine failure at last year’s race, causing him to retire early as well.
What to Watch: Sepang Style
Obviously, the points championship at this point is Lewis Hamilton’s to lose. However, teammate Valtteri Bottas only sits 51 points behind his teammate. If history repeats itself and both Hamilton and Vettel are unable to finish, Bottas could close the gap and make himself a legitimate title contender. The 25 points Bottas could gain would propel him into 2nd place and within striking distance of Hamilton.
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On the other hand, if Sebastien Vettel is able to score the win, it would erase the sour taste of what happened to Ferrari in Singapore. It would also eliminate any leftover memories of his finish in Malaysia last year. If we have any chance of seeing a great championship battle down the stretch, Vettel will need to close the gap this weekend.
More importantly, will Red Bull dominate again in 2017 just as they did in 2016? Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen sure hope so. Ricciardo won the 2016 Sepang race and shared the podium with his teammate Verstappen and Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg, who retired after winning last year’s championship. If Ricciardo were to win in Malaysia, it would snap a three-month winless streak for Red Bull Racing, as the team’s last win came on Sunday, June 25th when Ricciardo won at Azerbaijan in a controversial race that may end up weighing heavily into the title tilt.
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Finally, it is time to pick this week’s underdog with the best chance at winning. This time it is last year’s runner-up, Max Verstappen. Verstappen was taken out in the Vettel crash two weeks ago in Singapore and is due for a strong finish. After finishing 2nd in 2016 at Sepang, it is Verstappen’s turn to spray the champagne from the top of the podium.
Finally, it is time to pick this week’s underdog with the best chance at winning. This time it is last year’s runner-up, Max Verstappen. Verstappen was taken out in the Vettel crash two weeks ago in Singapore and is due for a strong finish. After finishing 2nd in 2016 at Sepang, it is Verstappen’s turn to spray the champagne from the top of the podium.