It was our best Qualifying so far this season and we were about 1.5 seconds from the front in Q2 which is the closest we've been all year. The car is the same as previous races and it's clear we lack performance on the straights, but we do seem to be better suited to this track. Tyre management will be a big factor tomorrow, so let's try have some fun and see what we can do in the race. 

 We made it through to Q2 and qualified in P14. That’s our most competitive result of this year so far. It clicked for me during the second push lap in Q1 and came together much better. I felt more comfortable in the car during Qualifying than in the practice sessions, although there were some mistakes in Q2 and I think we could’ve gotten slightly more out of it. But we will see what tomorrow brings. I didn’t do many long runs on Friday and it will be tricky conditions with the hot temperatures, the track surface and the tyre degradation. 

 A positive result today, with Fernando in P12 and Lance in P14. Both cars made it into Q2, giving us our best qualifying performance of the year. We’ve enjoyed coming to Sepang, and the low-grip conditions seem to have slightly changed the pecking order, allowing us to be more competitive from the start of practice yesterday. Tomorrow will be a tough challenge, with the hot conditions and a high possibility of rain showers late in the afternoon. We need to stay focused, execute well and maximise every opportunity that comes our way. 

 

After FP2 we did a lot of data analysis alongside HRC Sakura with all the feedback helping us prepare for FP3 and then qualifying. Even in this morning’s session we were working to make the necessary energy management and driveability improvements, especially for the updated turbocharger. Our package overall is working as expected, despite the hot and humid conditions.

“The qualifying result is a step in the right direction for Honda, with it being the first time that both cars have made it into Q2.

“Our attention now shifts to preparing for all eventualities tomorrow, including the threat of rain. We will be ready for all racing scenarios to maximise our results.