LIVE TEXT COMMENTARY (all times BST)
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606: DEBATE
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By Caroline Cheese
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0943:
And as Button is speaking, Lewis Hamilton is spotted in the background performing a rain dance. Not really, but the Wizard of the Wet, starting 12th on the grid, will surely be willing the rain to fall to create some chaos.
0940:
Pole sitter
Jenson Button
- who has never driven his Brawn car in the rain - tells a grid-walking Martin Brundle that a shower is forecast for precisely 5pm local time - that's bang on start time, folks.
0938:
BBC analyst
Eddie Jordan
reckons most cars will be two-stopping today. Of the top 10 on the grid, only Fernando Alonso and Nick Heidfeld look to have enough fuel on board for one stop.
From emjaylambert on 606:
"I have a sneaky feeling about Lewis today - he's the sort of person to put everything from the last week behind him and do some serious driving."
Join the debate on 606
Join the debate on 606
0932:
BBC man David Coulthard struggles to make himself heard as the pit lane opens and the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton roars out.
From Ed, Hemel Hempstead, via text on 81111:
"I'm laying in the marital bed of my honeymoon suite the night after my wedding and I can honestly say I'm more excited about today's race than yesterday's events."
Former team owner and BBC Sport analyst Eddie Jordan:
"I'm much more confident about Brawn GP this weekend, they are strong and Jenson is so confident I'm sure he will win the race. I'm not surprised Jarno Trulli is on the front row as he is naturally quick but whether the Toyota is good enough to last the distance remains to be seen. The only question mark is with Jenson not knowing if he had a drive over the winter, will he have the stamina to get through the race? If he is going to suffer from fatigue it will be here. However, the car is so gentle to handle that I do not think he will have a problem."
0926:
We, the humble F1 fans, may be excited about this race, but are the drivers? "Not really," reckons Kazuki Nakajima. "I'll be amazed if any driver looks forward to it. It's more like endurance."
Adam, on the A303, via text on 81111:
"Missing the race on TV as I'm stuck in the back of a car on my way to Devon. Relying on your commentary to make it bearable CC."
0920:
Just 40 minutes remaining until the start and it's currently 28C at Sepang. Toasty. Lewis Hamilton is all smiles as he high-fives all his mechanics in the McLaren garage. Cool as a cucumber apparently.
F1 supremo Bernie Ecclestone:
"If somebody had written a script for the start of the season, you wouldn't even dream of it being like this."
From MurraycarriesGB on 606
"It's time, Jarno"
Join the debate on 606
Join the debate on 606
BBC Sport's pit-lane reporter Lee McKenzie
"Jenson Button for President! I'm predicting Button to make it two-out-of-two in Malaysia for Brawn. He is desperate for a sunny race so he can put his foot down and get on with it. On the other hand, Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel would love it to rain. He starts down in 13th because of his 10-place grid penalty and will be out to pick his way through the field. When Vettel won the Italian Grand Prix last season the circuit was absolutely flooded so he is not afraid of driving in the wet. As for me, I would like it to be slightly overcast, with a slight breeze and no rain!"
0907:
For once in my life, I'm not exaggerating when I say: I can't remember a time when I was this excited about an F1 race. I bet Nigel Mansell was involved though. But I'm going to be lost without your contributions: get involved on
606
or drop us - and BBC 5 Live - a text on
81111
. Do it now, or regret it forever. Well a little while anyway.
Join the debate on 606
Join the debate on 606
0900:
Look alive everyone. BBC1's coverage is under way, and is also available for all you UK dwellers on this 'ere website, along with Red Button coverage. Smashing.
0857:
Sweating it out at steamy Sepang is BBC Sport's
Sarah Holt
. Her first missive reads thus: "Wipe your beaded brows, things are really hotting up again, says my BBC colleague - and we are still an hour away from the race. Malaysia has been blowing hot and cold all morning. At 1130 local time, Nick Heidfeld was spotted scurrying back to the BMW Sauber garage to escape the 32C temperature. But by 1300, when world champion Lewis Hamilton arrived at the track, everyone in the paddock was running for cover from the huge plops of rain. The heavy shower lasted an hour. They say it only rains once a day in Malaysia - so we could be in for a dry race. On the flip side, other sources say there is still an 80% chance of showers during the Grand Prix. Malaysia is refusing to make up its mind like a non-commital sweetheart. So prepare yourselves for any eventuality. "
0854:
Honestly, you leave the country for a couple of weeks and return to find the F1 grid has been turned on its head and the world champion has been disqualified from the first race in absolutely sensational circumstances… You people should pay me to go away more often.
0850:
Hello you. I've just been on my holidays for a couple of weeks. Nothing happened in my absence did it?
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