Zhuhai Race Aborted After Only Five Laps

Qualifying:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Q1	Q2	Diff.
1	47	Lando Norris		1:15.260	1:14.916
2	18	Sebastian Vettel		1:15.152	1:14.949	+0.032
3	31	Esteban Ocon		1:15.070	1:15.152	+0.154
4	6	Artem Markelov		1:15.266	1:15.153	+0.237
5	64	Dave Cassidy		1:15.741	1:15.304	+0.388
6	29	Roger Ibe		1:15.391	1:15.431	+0.475
7	33	Max Verstappen		1:15.587	1:15.747	+0.671
8	39	Sergey Sirotkin		1:16.027	1:15.595	+0.679
9	23	Alexander Albon		1:15.596	1:16.548	+0.680
10	7	Charles Leclerc		1:15.572	1:15.431	+0.515*
11	57	Dean Stoneman		1:15.993	1:15.709	+0.793
12	26	Robert Shwartzman		No Time	1:15.709	+0.833
13	70	Sérgio Sette Câmara		1:16.096	1:15.821	+0.905
14	94	Pascal Wehrlein		1:15.873	1:16.349	+0.957
15	77	Valtteri Bottas		1:16.232	1:16.195	+1.279
16	37	Kazuki Nakajima		1:16.762	1:16.229	+1.313
17	13	Pastor Maldonado		1:16.467	1:16.435	+1.519
18	23	Jules Bianchi		1:16.869	1:16.869	+1.953
19	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		1:17.362	1:17.143	+2.227
20	84	Jack Aitken		1:17.150	1:17.361	+2.234
21	73	Daniel Melrose		1:17.280	1:17.175	+2.259
22	99	Antonio Giovinazzi		1:17.462	1:17.223	+2.307
23	4	Robin Frijns		1:17.757	1:17.577	+2.661
24	98	Bradley Dagnall		1:17.697	1:17.734	+2.781

Report:

When the prediction for extreme climate conditions were made in the weeks leading up to the first Marlboro Pilipinas Grand Prix, nobody but the most cynical people expected the event to become one of Formula One’s greatest farces.

After a steaming hot qualifying that saw a couple of drivers nearly lose consciousness and a 1-2 for Caterham, the predicted rain for Sunday would have, in theory, proven to be a welcome relief that would also mix up events. As it turns out, theory is a treacherous thing.

The rain turned out to cause a flash flood, forcing the event to be moved. Despite conditions not improving, the organisers insisted on starting the Grand Prix on Monday afternoon. That would prove to be a mistake.

Under the eyes of packed grandstands despite the horrible weather and the circumstances surrounding the event, F1 only proved capable of driving five laps behind the safety car before the race diretor pulled the plug, which is still enough to have this round count for the championship.

Race:

Pos	#	Driver	Constructor	Time/Retired	Points
1	47	Lando Norris		8:10.731	7.5
2	18	Sebastian Vettel		+0.162	6
3	14	Esteban Ocon		+0.587	5
4	6	Artem Markelov		+0.998	4
5	64	Dave Cassidy		+1.387	3
6	29	Roger Ibe		+1.740	2.5
7	33	Max Verstappen		+2.146	2
8	39	Sergey Sirotkin		+2.793	1.5
9	23	Alexander Albon		+3.313	1
10	7	Charles Leclerc		+3.839	0.5
11	26	Robert Shwartzman		+4.306
12	70	Sérgio Sette Câmara		+4.867
13	94	Pascal Wehrlein		+5.733
14	77	Valtteri Bottas		+6.146
15	37	Kazuki Nakajima		+6.680
16	13	Pastor Maldonado		+7.325
17	23	Jules Bianchi		+8.003
18	55	Carlos Sainz, Jr.		+8.684
19	85	Jack Aitken		+9.472
20	73	Daniel Melrose		+10.231
21	99	Antonio Giovinazzi		+11.511
22	19	Robin Frijns		+12.127
23	98	Bradley Dagnall		+13.621
24	57	Dean Stoneman		Accident

Fastest Lap:

Pascal Wehrlein – 1:58.801

Infinite Improbability Drive Of The Race:

F1 Fans – Dealing with the extreme conditions to show up in masses is the most praiseworthy achievement of this Grand Prix.

Reject Of The Race:

FASC – their desperate attempt to have the Grand Prix happened hurt the image of the entire sport.