Initially the pole sitter and those who qualified in the odd-numbered slots were to start from the left side of the grid, giving them the best racing line into the first corner.

However, the right side of the grid has more-seasoned surface because it is the path the cars drive over as they cross the start-finish line.

Following a request from drivers, the sport’s governing body FIA agreed to the change.

The introduction of the new Pirelli tires was a factor.

The tires, which have been designed to shed rubber more quickly this season, meant the area off the racing line had more ‘marbles’ — small balls of shed rubber — which can be a hazard for drivers.

The opening corner is a tight right-hander following a long straight stretch.
 
What loomed as an embarrassing season for F1 team Hispania may turn out to be a promising one instead.

The team failed to qualify for the season opener in Australia, falling foul of the reintroduced 107 percent rule under which any car which does not get within seven percent of the best time in the first part of qualifying can not take part in the race.

In Melbourne, the Hispania car was still being pieced together in the garage while other teams were taking part in practice sessions.

Hispania was again off the pace in Malaysian practice — more than seven percent off the leader — but managed to improve enough to get comfortably inside the cutoff in Saturday’s qualifying, allowing the team to take part in Sunday’s grand prix.

“We made the next step by qualifying into the race,” said team principal Colin Kolles. “I would like to thank the whole team for their massive effort.” Driver Vitantonio Liuzzi, who was a late preseason arrival after having his Force India contract canceled, was expecting the team to make further progress in coming races.

“This is just the first step for Hispania Racing, we’ve done a great job and we’ve improved the car a lot from Australia to now,” said Liuzzi. “I’m proud of the work done by everybody, starting with when they got the car on the ground in Australia and now having got it in good condition here in Sepang.”
 
F1 teams are holding more discussions in Malaysia on how to cut costs in the expensive sport so that the smaller teams can better compete.

McLaren principal and Formula One Teams Association (FOTA) chairman Martin Whitmarsh said wealthy teams like his own must recognize the importance of keeping the smaller teams.

“F1 needs it,” Whitmarsh told Autosport. “You don’t have to go too far down the pit lane to know that unless we can continue to go down the path of controlling and reducing costs in F1 there will be problems ... if we don’t do it then we won’t have people to race against.” Teams have agreed broadly on a cost restricting agreement, but the details are still being discussed.

Last year saw three new teams entered the sport — Lotus, Hispania and Virgin. A fourth proposed team USF1 did not make it.

The FOTA meeting in Malaysia confirmed Whitmarsh as chairman and Renault team principal Eric Boullier as vice chairman. Red Bull team principal Christian Horner was to head FOTA’s sporting regulations work group. Ferrari’s technical director Aldo Costa will be in charge of the technical regulations working group.