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Malaysia Grand Prix 2016: Conclusions from qualifying

McLaren gains summed up by Button's run, Hamilton unstoppable but Nico won't lie down, and hope for Red Bull and Ferrari?

Button sums up McLaren gains
2015's Malaysia GP was the second race of McLaren's renewed Honda partnership and the second race of embarrassment for a team so used to success. Jenson Button qualified in 17th on that Saturday, ahead of only team-mate Fernando Alonso and two Marussias, with a modest time of 1:41.636.  

The journey since then has been long and arduous with little signs of pending success, but the Woking team have been moving forward, step by step, to a position of proven midfield contenders. And that was summed up by Button's ninth-place finish qualifying position here in 2016. The time, a 1:34.518, is a staggering improvement at a circuit with high-speed straights.

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Jenson Button tells us why he was so irate over team radio during qualifying of the Malaysia GP

Sky F1's Martin Brundle pointed out that the newly-resurfaced track made up for around four seconds of such a jump forward in pace, but that still leaves three seconds worth of an upgrade for McLaren. Perhaps the hard work and engine manufacturer change is finally starting to pay off, with the build-up to next year's drastic rule changes crucial as the sport's eight-time constructors' champions look to challenge the elite once again.

For Button, such movement may be coming too late in his career as he edges a session closer to taking at least a year off from Formula 1. "I'm gearing up for 2018 to be the championship-winning year, anyway," the 35-year-old joked.

At least we think he was joking.

Lewis unstoppable but Nico won't lie down
The talk leading up to the Malaysia Grand Prix surrounded the post-summer momentum swing in the title race with Nico Rosberg the man in form, a driver who had proved his star credentials in Singapore. But the doubt still remained over whether the German could beat his team-mate in a straight battle and, though Rosberg may not like to hear it, on days like these Lewis Hamilton really is unstoppable.

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The Brit described this weekend as "night and day" compared to Singapore, and it's easy to see why. Where he struggled to get laps under his belt two weeks ago, he has excelled in every session here. Where he wasn't happy with his car set-up and the feel of his car under the lights, the Sepang circuit has welcomed a world champion reborn.

Malaysia GP TV times
Malaysia GP TV times

Sky F1's coverage underway at 6.30am, race live from 8am

The half-second buffer Hamilton has built to the rest of the field has been evident all weekend but that does not make his near-perfect pole lap any less impressive. He seemed to take time out of Rosberg on every corner as he attacked apexes in his W07, and the admission that his lap "could have been faster" was ominous for the rest of the field.

Rosberg has recovered from Saturday setbacks in the past and there should be no questioning of his mental resilience anymore, but a mountain to climb is an understatement against Hamilton in this mood.

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Lewis Hamilton felt that good steps forward had been made on his Mercedes after qualifying on pole for the Malaysia GP

"I think he'll be alarmed at the distance he's behind Lewis Hamilton," said Martin Brundle. "It's the championship battle and he's got a big deficit here, and that's running through qualy runs and race pace runs."

Rosberg earmarked "opportunities" in Sunday's race when talking to Sky F1, but in truth he couldn't think of many examples apart from the start, which will surely prove pivotal once again. He was buoyed by the fact his team-mate has only converted three of his seven 2016 poles into victories, but the message from Hamilton was clear following his latest exploits. "I don't think anything is going to stop us," a confident Lewis barked.

One hundred front rows, while a 50th career victory is in his sights. The eight-point championship gap remains for now, but the numbers are starting to look good for Hamilton.

Hope for Red Bull and Ferrari?
While we're talking about facts and figures it's worth mentioning that despite their 2016 dominance, Mercedes have only actually won once in the last six Malaysia races, and have only finished a Sunday with a one-two four times this season. The competition from Red Bull and Ferrari is certainly there again this weekend, with just 0.4s splitting Rosberg in second place, and Kimi Raikkonen in sixth. It's been said before this season with anti-climactic results, but are six drivers really capable of winning?

From Ferrari's view, a strategic masterclass similar to last year seems unlikely thanks to the new Sepang track surface, though Friday's race pace between all three teams was almost identical on every tyre. As has often has been the case this year, it could in fact be Red Bull, after qualifying much closer to Mercedes than expected, who are the main challengers to look out for.

"We are not too far away from them [Mercedes] so it can be an interesting race," said Max Verstappen, who is in perfect position, cement-licked side of the track aside, to attack the Silver Arrows into Turn One.

With nothing between their long runs and tyre wear minimal, running in dirty air could be the major sticking point in Sunday's race, but there's nothing to suggest that it won't be a Mercedes following a rival due to their repeated struggles off the line. Red Bull and Ferrari will hope for more of the same come lights out, both eager to clutch on to a crucial victory of their own.

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