Malaysian F1 Grand Prix 2016: Start Time, Drivers, TV Schedule and More

Lewis Hamilton will be desperate to turn his recent form around when the Formula 1 circus descends on the Sepang International Circuit for the 2016 Malaysian Grand Prix.

Mercedes team-mate and main title competitor Nico Rosberg has won three consecutive races since the summer break and taken the lead in the standings, while Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel is already Formula 1's all-time record holder in Malaysia with four wins and is once again a top contender for another victory.

Rosberg has never won at Sepang International, and Hamilton only has a single win in Malaysia under his belt, but the Silver Arrows have won 14 of this year's 15 races so far and are expected to dominate once again.

Here's everything you need to know about this weekend's race:

Date: Sunday, Oct. 2

Race Time: 8 a.m. BST/3 a.m. ET

TV: Sky Sports F1, NBC

Live Stream: Sky Go, NBC Sports Live Extra

For a look at the full field of drivers, visit Formula One's official website.

Preview

Here's a look at the iconic Sepang International Circuit:

Hamilton has watched his lead in the standings evaporate over the last few weeks, and he currently sits eight points behind the in-form Rosberg, who has been almost faultless since the summer break.

With just six races left, the battle between the two seems set to go down to the wire. The Silver Arrows have been dominant all year long, meaning neither driver can count on a poor performance from his team-mate unless they suffer a mechanical problem or a crash.

The pressure is on Hamilton not to lose too much space on Rosberg, but the defending champion has seemed relaxed all week long, even taking the time to visit the Malaysian capital and take photos with some local landmarks, via Twitter:

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Malaysia is a stunning place!  #PetronasTowers snapchat: lewishamilton pic.twitter.com/6tPYNrgz3L

— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) September 28, 2016"

Sky Sports' Matt Morlidge believes he'll have his work cut out for him if he wants to get the better of Rosberg in Malaysia, however, as the German seems to have taken a huge step forward this year:

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It's a question that has dominated their three-season-old partnership and one that, as yet, Rosberg hasn't answered. Can he really beat Hamilton in a straight fight?

Prior to 2016, there would have been a straightforward response. Hamilton could rely on previous mental victories over the German, bullying his way to wins in Japan and the USA last year. The Englishman had his favourite tracks and it seemed that should he hit top form on a weekend, no one could stop him.

But there has been quite the shift within the Rosberg camp this year. Not only does he appear to have matured as a person and improved as a driver, he has conquered battles where he has previously faltered. Five of the his eight victories this season, in Bahrain, Russia, Belgium, Italy and Singapore, have come at tracks where he had never won before.

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Sepang International Circuit is one of the fastest on the calendar, with lots of long, sweeping corners that work in favour of the more powerful cars. Solid exits will be key in the battle between the two, while Mercedes should feel confident their competitors will fall behind soon.

There are other factors to consider, however. Racing in Malaysia is never easy due to the humidity, heat and high chance of rain, and Vettel has proved he can deal with those conditions in the past.

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Accuweather predicts thunderstorms in the area throughout the weekend, which is something worth keeping an eye on.

Vettell needs a big performance to close the gap to Daniel Ricciardo, who sits 26 points ahead of the German, and expect those two to have their own private battle on Sunday.