Malaysian Grand Prix

The FIA Safety Car caught in a heavy thunderstorm. Formula One World Championship, Rd 2, Malaysian Grand Prix, Preparations, Sepang, Malaysia, Thursday, 2 April 2009

Welcome to the second round of the 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship, the Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang.

Heavy rain at the circuit on Thursday has increased fears of mixed weather over the weekend. It will be hot and very humid, with an ambient temperature high of 32 degrees Celsius on Friday, rising to 33 on Saturday and falling slightly to 31 on race day. Drivers are already concerned that frequent scattered thunderstorms which are expected in the region tend to come at 1700 hours (GMT+8), the scheduled time of the start.

The 5.543 kilometre (3.444 mile) circuit is unchanged since Kimi Raikkonen won for Ferrari last year. The race will run over 56 laps or 310.408 kilometres (192.887 miles)

F1

F1 set to cut super-licence fee

Formula 1's governing body, the FIA, has agreed to reduce the cost of drivers' mandatory super-licences from the start of the 2010 season.

The Grand Prix Drivers' Association, which represents the majority of F1 drivers, had expressed its discontent at a hike in fees in 2008.

FIA president Max Mosley met with representatives from GPDA on Monday.

"A reduced fee would reflect the major cost reductions that will be brought into the sport," the FIA stated.

The super-licence is a qualification, issued by the FIA on request, that allows the licence holder to take part in Formula 1 Grands Prix as a driver.

The cost of a super-licence rose by an average £8,700 last year.
An extra charge of 2,100 euros per point earned in 2008, up from 447 euros per point in 2007, means Lewis Hamilton will pay £242,000 for his licence for this season.

The FIA confirmed that it will cut fees but stopped short of revealing what the new cost structure will be.

The decision to reduce the licence cost is a big turnaround for Mosley who, in February, wrote to Formula 1 drivers to suggest they race elsewhere if they were unable to pay for their super-licences.



"Following a very positive meeting between FIA President Max Mosley and representatives of the Grand Prix Drivers' Association (GPDA), a proposal will be made to the World Motor Sport Council to revise super-licence fees for drivers in the 2010 championship," read the FIA statement.

"A number of other issues were discussed and the FIA has agreed to meet representatives of the GPDA on a regular basis to maintain what promises to be a constructive dialogue."