2014 Malaysia Grand Prix - FP1 Report: Hamilton quickest, Lotus struggling again

After reports of potential rain, the Sepang International Circuit was bone dry for the first practice session of the weekend. There were not many people in the grand stands but there was plenty of track action to be seen.

The Ferrari of Alonso was out first with many drivers completing their installation lap. The first bit of major action was when the Mercedes of Rosberg came into the pits and had to slam on his brakes before he crossed the white line. He then later told the team over the radio that there was a problem with the car and this caused him to lock up.

The Sauber of Esteban Gutierrez was the first car to set a time for the weekend with a 1:45.851. Then the FW36 of Bottas went and did a 1:44.359 to go quickest in the session at that point. Coming out of turn 9 the Caterham of Kamui Kobayshi was blocked by the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne. There seemed to be a recurrence of people locking up and with the new quieter power units, these could be heard.

The first yellow flag of the day came from the Lotus of Romain Grosjean, in which he stopped out on track at the exit of turn 9. After they had cleared the E22, the Sauber C33 was the next car to cause a yellow flag with Adrian Sutil spinning at the very start of the pit lane entry, into the gravel but he didn't beach the car.

Sauber look like they are struggling, after the Mexican of Gutierrez was fighting the rear of his car and it looking very unstable through the high speed flowing corners. With 38 minutes remaining, Australian podium finisher, Kevin Magnussen, put in a 1:41.274 to give him first place on the time sheet.

There were many yellow flags after that with Ericsson Spinning at the final corner; Magnussen stopping at the pit entry after he had lost power and decided to turn the engine off and then it was later found out that the car went into recovery mode in which there was something wrong with the power unit. Over steer for Alonso caused him to spin at turn 8 and then the Williams of Massa doing a carbon copy of his former Ferrari team-mate.

Pastor Maldonado was travelling at a slow pace and as he went round the track, when a blue smoke started to come out of the back of the E22 and a bit of fire was seen as well. He was told to stop the car but instead, brought the car back to the pits.

With 30 seconds to go in the session, top of the time sheet Lewis Hamilton, had over steer going into turn 11 which caused him to have an excursion into the gravel trap but he managed to keep the W05 going and made it back to his garage.

Hamilton ended up retaining first place with a 1:40.691. With the F14 T of Kimi Raikkonen in second and Australian Grand Prix winner, Nico Rosberg, finishing third. The rest of the top ten is as follows; Button, Magnussen, Vergne, Vettel, Hulkenberg, Massa and Bottas.

Mattie Noble
F1 Editor