F1 Raceweek: Mercedes chasing McLaren record

Ferrari has historically enjoyed racing in Sepang with Sebastian Vettel topping the podium at the Malaysia Grand Prix 12 months ago.

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg has won eight races in 2016 so far.

Nico Rosberg turned the Formula One championship on its head last time out in Singapore and he will hope to help Mercedes equal a long-standing record in Malaysia this weekend.

Rosberg celebrated his 200th race with a pole-to-flag victory at the Marina Bay circuit last time out and his third consecutive win saw him take an eight-point lead over team-mate and defending champion Lewis Hamilton.

History is now on the German's side as he seeks an elusive first drivers' title, but it is Ferrari which has historically enjoyed racing in Sepang with Sebastian Vettel topping the podium at the Malaysia Grand Prix 12 months ago.

Below we use Opta stats to analyse the key numbers ahead of Sunday's race.

8 - Nico Rosberg has won eight races in 2016; every previous driver to win at least eight grands prix in a season ended up winning the Championship.

11 - If Mercedes GP wins in Malaysia, they will equal McLaren (1998) as the team with the most wins in a row in F1 history (it would be eleven).

- Nico Rosberg has never won a race in October, the only competitive month in which he has never won. 

- Malaysia is the only Asian circuit in which Nico Rosberg hasn't been on pole position. 

25 - Sebastian Vettel is the driver with the most wins in Asia (25) and also the one with the most wins in Kuala Lumpur (4). 

7 - Ferrari is the team with the most wins and the most pole positions at Sepang, seven each. 

4 - Daniel Ricciardo has reached podium in four of the last five races: three times finishing in second and one time in third.