2016 Malaysian Grand Prix - Sepang, 30th-2nd October

[SectorOne]

First i wanna say what an insane lap by Hamilton last year, it was pretty ridiculous how he banged in that lap so early.
But i´m honestly more curious about having Malaysia at this point of the year as opposed to the more normal early season.

What are the main differences between the two dates roughly speaking?

[Pierce89]

First i wanna say what an insane lap by Hamilton last year, it was pretty ridiculous how he banged in that lap so early.
But i´m honestly more curious about having Malaysia at this point of the year as opposed to the more normal early season.

What are the main differences between the two dates roughly speaking?

I think they tried to move out of monsoon season or something along those lines.

[ChrisDanger]

But i´m honestly more curious about having Malaysia at this point of the year as opposed to the more normal early season.

What are the main differences between the two dates roughly speaking?

I think they tried to move out of monsoon season or something along those lines.

That's what I thought too, but then I found this...





And Accuweather shows afternoon thunderstorms today, for example.

[godlameroso]

The rain is highly isolated, it's heavy but it passes quickly.

[ChrisDanger]

The rain is highly isolated, it's heavy but it passes quickly.

Thanks. How is that different though? Are the monsoons more widespread (i.e. guaranteed to hit the track) making rain for this event less likely?

[GPR-A duplicate2]

The rain is highly isolated, it's heavy but it passes quickly.

Thanks. How is that different though? Are the monsoons more widespread (i.e. guaranteed to hit the track) making rain for this event less likely?

Malaysia, as a country is located in the middle of Tropical Rain Forests and on most days of the years, Rain is guaranteed. Having lived there for couple of years, I can tell you when it rains, it's intense.
As for GP itself, since the Bianchi incident, where the officials denied to start the Suzuka GP early, though it was getting darker and darker by the day, now the races can start early if it really demands. We have seen in Sepang also that, when it rains in the afternoon, it really gets darker and remains darker as it approaches the evening. Would it rain on Race day? Too early to predict, but it should be fun to have a WET race.

[ChrisDanger]

The rain is highly isolated, it's heavy but it passes quickly.

Thanks. How is that different though? Are the monsoons more widespread (i.e. guaranteed to hit the track) making rain for this event less likely?

Malaysia, as a country is located in the middle of Tropical Rain Forests and on most days of the years, Rain is guaranteed. Having lived there for couple of years, I can tell you when it rains, it's intense.
As for GP itself, since the Bianchi incident, where the officials denied to start the Suzuka GP early, though it was getting darker and darker by the day, now the races can start early if it really demands. We have seen in Sepang also that, when it rains in the afternoon, it really gets darker and remains darker as it approaches the evening. Would it rain on Race day? Too early to predict, but it should be fun to have a WET race.

Okay. The queston though was what difference there is between the weather now and in March/April. The graphs I posted seemed to indicate the rainfall is very similar, although I just saw this:

Malaysia faces two monsoon winds seasons, the Southwest Monsoon from late May to September, and the Northeast Monsoon from October to March. The Northeast Monsoon brings in more rainfall compared to the Southwest Monsoon, originating in China and the north Pacific.

So monsoons all year round then! Hectic...

[godlameroso]

Localized heavy rains do wonders to keep cyclones away.

[Vasconia]

The rain is highly isolated, it's heavy but it passes quickly.

Wich ruins the race because a red flag is guaranteed. Then 30 minutes waiting, and then ahother 15-20 minutes with the safety car...

[ChrisDanger]

Well, regardless of what the weather might do, I always feel a modicum of joy on the Monday morning of a race week. The anticipation...

[Schuttelberg]

If there's something called a sun dance or an anti-rain dance, Rosberg should be on it!

[Roman]

Does anybody really believe we could have a malaysian rain shower without a red flag? It's not 2001 any more...

[ChrisDanger]

Well, the weather's saying only 4mm, although that might not be very accurate.

[iotar__]

If there's something called a sun dance or an anti-rain dance, Rosberg should be on it!

I hope it rains and he's quicker like in GB and USA 15.

[ChrisDanger]

I found this interesting. Information from Wikipedia.