FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, September 28th, 2017

NBC SPORTS PRESENTS COMPREHENSIVE COVERAGE OF THE 2017 FORMULA ONE MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX THIS WEEKEND

Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix – Sunday at 2:30 a.m. ET/Saturday at 11:30 p.m. PT on NBCSN

Lewis Hamilton Holds 28-Point Lead Over Sebastian Vettel With Six Races Remaining This Season

NBC Sports Group’s F1 Telecasts to Feature Exclusive Live Communications with McLaren Team Throughout Remainder of 2017 Season

NBCSN Overdrive – Thursday Primetime Motorsports Block – Continues Tonight With Two American Flat Track Races Beginning at 10 p.m. ET

Verizon IndyCar 2017 Championship Reflection – Tonight at 7 p.m. ET on NBCSN

NBCSN Presents Pivotal Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Elimination Race From Dover International Speedway – Sunday at 2 p.m. ET

STAMFORD, Conn. – September 28, 2017 – The 2017 Formula One season continues this week as NBC Sports Group presents comprehensive coverage of the Malaysian Grand Prix, culminating in live race coverage on Sunday morning at 2:30 a.m. ET/Saturday night at 11:30 p.m. PT on NBCSN. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) and Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) continue their battle for the F1 World Drivers’ Championship, as 28 points separate the two with six races remaining. Pre-race coverage on NBCSN begins Sunday with F1 Countdown at 2 a.m. ET.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, tablets, and connected TVs – will provide comprehensive live practice, qualifying, and race coverage from Sepang International Circuit.

This week’s motorsports coverage also includes NBCSN Overdrive, the network’s Thursday night primetime motorsports block, highlighted by American Flat Track racing from Williams Grove Speedway in Cumberland County, Penn., and Lone Star Half-Mile at the Texas Motor Speedway beginning tonight at 10 p.m. ET.

In addition, NBC Sports Group will provide comprehensive coverage of this weekend’s NASCAR XFINITY and Cup Series races from Dover.


FORMULA ONE MALASYIAN GRAND PRIX – SUNDAY AT 2:30 A.M. ET/SATURDAY AT 11:30 P.M. PT ON NBCSN

The Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix returns to Sepang International Circuit for the 19th and final time this week. Hamilton enters the weekend with a 28-point lead over Vettel in the F1 Drivers’ World Championship standings with just six races remaining this season. The series’ most recent race, the Singapore Grand Prix on September 17, began with fireworks, as Vettel collided with teammate Kimi Raikkonen and Red Bull’s Max Verstappen in the opening lap of the race.

Vettel looks to rebound this weekend at a circuit where he’s been very successful throughout his decorated career. The German has won the event a record four times, most recently in 2015, and tops all drivers in laps led (175) at Sepang International Circuit.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream Practice 1 live tonight at 11 p.m. ET, followed by Practice 2 on Friday at 3 a.m. ET on NBCSN. NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream Practice 3 on Saturday at 2 a.m. ET, followed by live qualifying on NBCSN at 5 a.m. ET. Pre-race coverage kicks off on Saturday with F1 Countdown beginning at 2 a.m. ET on NBCSN followed by live race coverage at 2:30 a.m. ET. F1 Extra wraps up the day’s events on NBCSN at 5 a.m. ET. NBCSN will air an encore on Sunday night at 9 p.m. ET.

Leigh Diffey will call this weekend’s action and will be joined by veteran analyst and former racecar driver David Hobbs, and Steve Matchett, an analyst and former race mechanic for the Benetton F1 team. Will Buxton will serve as the on-site reporter in Sepang.

2017 Formula One Driver Standings

Position Driver Team Points
1 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 263
2 Sebastian Vettel Ferrari 235
3 Valtteri Bottas Mercedes 212
4 Daniel Ricciardo Red Bull Racing Tag Heuer 162
5 Kimi Räikkönen Ferrari 138


NBC SPORTS GROUP’S F1 TELECASTS TO FEATURE EXCLUSIVE LIVE COMMUNICATIONS WITH MCLAREN TEAM THROUGHOUT REMAINDER OF 2017 SEASON

NBC Sports Group’s linear coverage of the remainder of the F1 season will feature exclusive live communications with the McLaren F1 team, as they provide real-time information from the McLaren stand on pit road. This week’s coverage of practice, qualifying and the Malaysian Grand Prix on NBCSN will be highlighted by communication with Eric Boullier, Racing Director at McLaren. Next week’s coverage on NBCSN will include updates and interviews with Jonathan Neale, Chief Operating Officer, McLaren Technology Group.

VERIZON INDYCAR 2017 CHAMPIONSHIP REFLECTION – TONIGHT AT 7 P.M. ET ON NBCSN

The Verizon IndyCar Series celebrates the best moments and performances of the 2017 season with the Verizon IndyCar 2017 Championship Reflection tonight at 7 p.m. ET. The awards program relives a season that saw Josef Newgarden capture his first IndyCar title to become the first American champion in the series since 2012. Season-ending awards include Championship Driver honors, the Chief Mechanic of the Year Award and the Sunoco Diamond Performance Award, among others.


NBCSN OVERDRIVE THURSDAY MOTORSPORTS BLOCK CONTINUES THIS WEEK, INCLUDING AMERICAN FLAT TRACK RACING BEGINNING AT 10 P.M. ET

NBCSN Overdrive, the network’s Thursday night primetime motorsports block, is highlighted this week by American Flat Track racing from the Williams Grove Speedway in Cumberland County, Penn., at 10 p.m. ET, followed by the Lone Star Half-Mile at the Texas Motor Speedway at 11 p.m. ET.

The weekly, primetime block will include six unique series and more than 40 hours of premiere programming, featuring new seasons of Grudge Race and Caffeine & Octane. American Flat Track, widely regarded as the most prestigious and competitive form of dirt track motorcycle racing in the world, will be featured most Thursdays on Overdrive at 10 p.m. ET. Click here for more information.


NBCSN PRESENTS PIVOTAL MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP SERIES PLAYOFF ELIMINATION RACE FROM DOVER INTERNATIONAL SPEEDWAY – SUNDAY, OCT. 1, AT 2 P.M. ET

NBC Sports Group surrounds the final race of the 2017 Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 16, with more than 15 hours of trackside coverage from Dover International Speedway in Dover, Delaware. Race coverage from the “Monster Mile” begins Saturday at 2:45 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with the second race of the XFINITY Series Playoffs, and culminates Sunday at 2 p.m. ET on NBCSN, with the pivotal NASCAR Cup Series Playoff Round of 16 elimination race. Click here for more information.

Following is this week’s motorsports coverage schedule:

Date Program Time (ET) Network
Thur., September 28 Mecum Auctions: Louisville (Encore) 2:30 p.m. NBCSN
NASCAR America 5 p.m. NBCSN
NASCAR Whelen Series – New Hampshire Motor Speedway 6 p.m. NBCSN
Verizon IndyCar 2017 Championship Reflection 7 p.m. NBCSN
Caffeine & Octane (Premiere) 8 p.m. NBCSN
Caffeine & Octane (Premiere) 8:30 p.m. NBCSN
Grudge Race (Premiere) 9 p.m. NBCSN
Grudge Race (Encore) 9:30 p.m. NBCSN
American Flat Track – Grove Half-Mile 10 p.m. NBCSN
American Flat Track – Lone Star Half-Mile                                  11 p.m. NBCSN
F1 Malaysian Grand Prix – Practice 1 11 p.m. Streaming*
Fri., September 29 F1 Malaysian Grand Prix – Practice 2 3 a.m. NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series First Practice – Dover 10 a.m. NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series First Practice – Dover 12 p.m. NBCSN
F1 Malaysian Grand Prix – Practice 2 (Encore) 1 p.m. NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series Final Practice – Dover 2:30 p.m. NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series Qualifying – Dover 3 p.m. NBCSN
NASCAR America 5 p.m. NBCSN
Sat., September 30 F1 Malaysian Grand Prix – Practice 3 2 a.m. Streaming*
F1 Malaysian Grand Prix – Qualifying 5 a.m. NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series Practice – Dover 10:30 a.m. CNBC
NASCAR XFINITY Series Qualifying – Dover 11:30 a.m. CNBC
NASCAR America 12:30 p.m. CNBC
NASCAR Cup Series Final Practice – Dover 1 p.m. CNBC
NASCAR XFINITY Series Countdown to Green 2:30 p.m. NBCSN
NASCAR XFINITY Series Race – Dover 3 p.m. NBCSN
Mecum Auctions: Louisville (Encore) 11 p.m. NBCSN
Sun., October 1 F1 Countdown 2 a.m. NBCSN
F1 Malaysian Grand Prix 2:30 a.m. NBCSN
F1 Extra 5 a.m. NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series Countdown to Green 1:30 p.m. NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series Racing From Dover 2 p.m. NBCSN
NASCAR Cup Series Post-Race Show – Dover 5:30 p.m. NBCSN
NASCAR Victory Lap 6 p.m. NBCSN
Car Matchmaker (Premiere) 7 p.m. NBCSN
Car Matchmaker (Premiere) 7:30 p.m. NBCSN
Car Matchmaker (Premiere) 8 p.m. NBCSN
Car Matchmaker (Premiere) 8:30 p.m. NBCSN
F1 Malaysian Grand Prix – Race (Encore) 9 p.m. NBCSN

*delayed coverage
**NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app

NBC SPORTS GROUP STREAMING, DIGITAL AND SOCIAL CONTENT

NBC Sports Group will provide comprehensive streaming and digital coverage surrounding its motorsports properties via NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app – NBC Sports Group’s live streaming product for desktops, mobile devices, and tablets – and NASCAR Talk and MotorSportsTalk, NBC Sports Group’s digital home for the latest motorsports news.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide season-long live streaming coverage of all Formula One practices, qualifying sessions and Grands Prix, including exclusive coverage of practices that will not air on NBC or NBCSN.  NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will stream NASCAR and IndyCar content that will air on NBC and NBCSN (race coverage and some practice and qualifying), as well as the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship, Red Bull Global RallyCross series, and Red Bull Air Race.


MOTORSPORTSTALK
: MotorSportsTalk (@MotorSportsTalk) on NBCSports.com brings racing fans up-to-the-minute news, video and information on Formula One, the Verizon IndyCar Series, and other open-wheel and off-road racing from around the world. The site also serves as the destination for all news, analysis and video from NBC and NBCSN productions of IndyCar and F1, including contributions from on-air commentators.


SOCIAL
: NBC Sports Group will continue to provide comprehensive motorsports social coverage across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. On Twitter, fans can follow @MotorsportsTalk for all-encompassing content across NBC Sports Group’s motorsports properties. @NASCARonNBC and@NASCARTalkNBC share the latest NASCAR content, @F1onNBCSports provides the latest news in Formula One, and @IndyCaronNBCSN delivers up-to-the-minute information on the Verizon IndyCar Series.

In addition, the NASCAR on NBC Facebook page will provide users with videos, interactive content and much more. Fans should also “like” NBC Sports on Facebook for the most up-to-date news, videos and commentary about NBC Sports Group’s motorsports properties.

For more information about NBC Sports Group shows and properties, including press releases, photos, talent and executive bios and headshots, please visit NBCSportsGroupPressBox.com.

– NBC SPORTS GROUP –