The unpredictable Malaysian weather can be relied upon to keep the teams guessing. As McLaren and Ferrari discovered to their cost in qualifying last year, it can never be taken for granted.

High temperatures and humidity are to be expected. With air temperature over 30C on all three days the teams should find the track much hotter than it was in Melbourne, potentially creating much higher tyre wear.

The energy-sapping combination of heat and humidity takes its toll on the machinery as well as the people.

Dramatic thunderstorms tend to break out in the late afternoon and early evening. As last year, the race now starts one hour earlier than it did in 2009, when the Grand Prix had to be abandoned as a heavy rain storm hit and light levels fell

The forecast for the next three days indicate a slightly higher chance of showers on Sunday. But the threat of rain is never very far away – showers can develop and change very quickly and a glance at the skies is often more useful than a weather radar in determining what’s going to happen next.

As usual if you’re in the area and can update us on the weather, please post details in the comments.

Malaysia weather radars:

2011 Malaysian Grand Prix



Image ?�?� Williams/LAT