Paddy Lowe: "Sepang almost a home race for Mercedes"

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Mercedes technical director Paddy Lowe, along with the entire Silver Arrows squad, will be on a revenge mission in Malaysia, one of only three races which the German team failed to win last season.

But a visit to Malaysia is also an opportunity for Mercedes to pay tribute to its sponsor Petronas, the country's national oil and gas company which has partnered with the German manufacturer since 2010.

"We're all very much looking forward to Malaysia," said Lowe. "With Kuala Lumpur being the home of Petronas, we very much see this as one of our home Grand Prix.

"In 2015 we didn't manage to secure the win, which was hugely disappointing to us, so we have all the more motivation to come back and get it right this time around."

Unsurprisingly, with its blend of heat and humidity, Lowe considers the Sepang venue as one of the most challenging of the year, not only for the drivers but also for the team and its strategy set-ups.

"Focusing on the technical aspects of the circuit, it's a very challenging weekend. The heat and humidity make life tough for drivers, team and cars alike, while the track action can often be affected by rain, which tends to be very heavy and arrive very suddenly.

"As such, we've seen some very eventful races in Malaysia over the years. The nominated tyre compounds for this event are the hard, medium and soft, with the unusual scenario of the hard as the obligatory race compound - meaning that, if the race remains dry, every driver must use that tyre."

Considering the circuit's layout, Lowe believes Sepang doesn't put the emphasis on any particular area of the car, but does require a coherent all-round package.

"The characteristic of the circuit itself is more 'normal' than that of Monza or Singapore, which were more focused on more specific areas of car performance.

"Sepang places an even emphasis on power, aero efficiency and mechanical grip, so we're looking forward to seeing how we fare and aiming to put in a strong performance for the Malaysian fans."

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.