The big news coming from the tyre camp, however, is the latest attempt to distinguish between the two types of compound, with the softer of the two now featuring a marking along the bottom of the second groove which should be visible to both the teams and spectators. This system replaces the ineffective white dot that appeared on the sidewalls in Melbourne.
“We have found a better solution by marking the bottom of the second from inside tyre groove white," van de Grint concluded, "This has received a positive response from teams and onlookers at the test. It is time consuming to apply to the tyres but is clearly visible on track.”
THE TRACK:
Race distance: 56 laps - Circuit length: 3.444 miles (5.543km)
Designed by Hermann Tilke, the Sepang circuit is a visually dramatic and beautifully equipped facility which has been given much praise by teams and drivers alike since joining the world championship in 1999.
The demanding 15-turn, 5.543km track features a pair of parallel straights plus a combination of low and medium-speed corners that really test drivers. The surface is wide and smooth with overtaking most likely to occur under braking for the tight corners at the end of each straight. Sepang is regarded as one of the most physically demanding tracks on the
F1 calendar, with the extremely high levels of humidity making the race particularly demanding for drivers. That can sometimes lead to the most dramatic rainstorms seen anywhere on the F1 schedule, with monsoon conditions often flooding the circuit in a matter of minutes.
Sepang also provides wonderful spectator facilities, including a unique ‘double-sided' 30,000-seat grandstand with an unusual roof in the shape of a hibiscus - the national flower of Malaysia.
THE WINNER?
Melbourne did little to persuade anyone that there will be many upsets this season, and Sepang testing merely confirmed that the same teams will be the pacesetters this weekend.
