Malaysia

[blacktulip]

Friday Practice in 2 Days 19 hours


02
D19
H15
M25
S

[knightelcid]

It looks like we are going to have the weekend under the rain fun fun fun!!

[kteowee]

It's been raining a lot here lately, and it is torrential tropical rain especially in the evening,I amnot kidding. Let see how it goes on saturday and Sunday.

Will try to update you guys on the weather condition.




kteowee

[blacktulip]

Rain and wet could prove good for Lewis and neutralise some advantages other teams have over the Mac team at present

I have the feeling this is going to be a very exciting season

[blacktulip]

A report about the tyre compounds

Bridgestone is expecting tyre wear to play a major role in this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix and has warned drivers to nurse the softer of the two tyre compounds.

The return of slicks has allowed softer rubber to be used this year, and in a bid to spice up the racing Bridgestone has also increased the difference between the two compounds it selects for each event.

That was graphically demonstrated in the Melbourne season-opener last Sunday, when the softer tyres offered more initial grip but began to fade dramatically after as little as half a dozen laps.

[knightelcid]

Ok, it is expected to rain over the weekend and I don't think the teams that carry KERS will benefit from that. The 'invention' weights around 30+ kilos plus the rain acts that acts as a natural friction agent against the speed of the car might cause some headaches in some teams (Renault, McL, BMW and Ferrari). What do you guys think??

[blacktulip]

Hi elcid
wet or fine it seemed to cause headaches las weekend, dont know if its a good thing or not

[knightelcid]

Hi Blacktulip

I just saw a picture from yesterday and oh my oh my...it was raining cats and dogs. If it continues to rain like this, the race may be cancel. I don't think the teams that have the KERS installed are going to benefit from its use. Electricity and rain can be a lethal combination.

[minardi2000]

If they cancel the race the FIA can just publish the result they want, rather than change the results at the end of the race.....brilliant idea + it will cut costs...just what Max wants!

minardi200

[blacktulip]

lol how true you are rofl

[kteowee]

Oh my oh my, it was pourinfg cats and dogs aorund about 5PM in Kuala Lumpur. I hope it does rain tomorrow and also on the race day, shall look forward for wet race.
Fyi, the rain lasted for 30 mins to 45 mins.

[knightelcid]

Ruben B drops 5 places in the grid. They have to replace the gear box.

[blacktulip]

Jenson Button showed Brawn GP’s fairytale start to Formula 1 life is not about to end any time soon by storming to his second successive pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix.


The winner of last week’s season-opener in Melbourne had run under the radar for much of practice but again demonstrated his and the team's stunning speed by coming to the fore when it really mattered to pip Toyota’s Jarno Trulli to the top spot at Sepang.

[knightelcid]

Ok...this is interesting. At the end of Q3, only 2 out of the 10 top cars will have the KERS installed tomorrow. What is more interesting is that those two cars with the KERS, Kimi and Fernando will be starting 9th and 10th in the grid.

[knightelcid]

ok here are the weights of the cars for the race:

Button Brawn BGP 001-Mercedes – 660,0
Jarno Trulli Toyota TF109 – 656,5
Timo Glock Toyota TF109 – 656,5
Rosberg Williams FW31-Toyota – 656,0
Webber Red Bull RB5-Renault – 656,0
Kubica BMW Sauber F1.09 – 663,0
Räikkönen Ferrari F60 – 662,5
Alonso Renault R29 – 680,5
Barrichello Brawn BGP 001-Mercedes – 664,5
Heidfeld BMW Sauber F1.09 – 692,0
Nakajima Williams FW31-Toyota – 683,4
Hamilton McLaren MP4-24-Mercedes – 688,0
Vettel Red Bull RB5-Renault – 647,0
Kovalainen McLaren MP4-24-Mercedes 1- 688,9
Bourdais Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari – 670,5
Massa Ferrari F60 1- 689,5
Piquet Renault R29 – 681,9
Fisichella Force India VJM02-Mercedes – 680,5
Sutil Force India VJM02-Mercedes – 655,5
Buemi Toro Rosso STR4-Ferrari – 686,5

It looks like Fernando, Lewis, Kova, Heiffeld, Massa, and Buemi will pit to refuel later than the rest of the drivers. I think it shows the strategy that the teams are going to use.

This is when they might pit (laps):
Button. 19-20
Trulli. 18
Glock. 18
Rosberg. 18
Webber. 18
Kubica. 20 - 21
Raikkonen. 20 - 21
Alonso. 27
Barrichello. 21
Heidfeld. 31
Nakajima. 28
Hamilton 29 - 30
Vettel 15
Kovalainen 30
Bourdais 23
Massa 30
Piquet 27
Fisichella 27
Sutil 18
Buemi 29

[blacktulip]

Hi El Cid, it is as you say interesting, to be honest I think Kers will be dropped, after all its proving that the dream just will not work

[knightelcid]

I agree with you blacktulip. Unless they prove otherwise, I think it is a worhless & expensive system that has given a lot of headaches to the teams. Let's not forget that it can also be dangerous..Kimi's car caught on fire yesterday because the KERS and the mechanics have to wear special gloves in order to touch the car when the system is being used. Like I said, it is worthless..at least so far.

[blacktulip]

and will continue to be so, cant see it helping, lets face it we are seeing better racing from those cars which do not have kers installed and that is what F1 should be about, good honest racing.

Best man, best car wins, results to stand and the FIA should not interfier

[knightelcid]

I agree!!. I know McL and Renault are working in their new diffusors just in case FIA rules in favor of Brawn in April 14th (I think that is the right date)

[apedant]

I have a feeling that it may settle into a set-up where KERS gets installed only for certain circuits (assuming they're allowed to do that) where it pays off. There must be at least one setup where the boost will make more of a difference than the weight.

[gizzy]

If it rains hard, I hope the KERS teams have rubber shoes, gloves, and underwear. ZAP!!!
I don't like this high voltage/high amperage thing in the rain.

[kteowee]

It was a good race, Absolutely choatic, it was like power boat racing before the safety car was deployed.

[sushimo]

That race was run far too late in the day. Those tropical storms are lethal, pulled me off a normal road in a normal car many times. I was dumbfounded when they actually suggested that the cars would be able to continue so the drivers could get full points - have those people no idea or what??

When the rain comes down like that, brollies are useless, you need to get under some serious cover - it's so hard it hurts, and within minutes roads are rivers. Thay can take a while to dry out unless you have metre deep storm gullys alongside the roads - and no way on an F1 track could you do that.

Next year that race will need to be at 2pm KL time and forget what the sponsers want for their world-wide viewing times. A decent race and the safety of the drivers should come first.

[minardi2000]

One thing that has crossed my mind......

......if Bernie's Winner takes all championship was in place this year, how would todays race count, would Button have 1 and a half wins to his name so far in 2009.....yet more proof if it was needed that Bernie's winner takes all championship will not work!

Your thoughts?

Minardi2000

[f1diva]

I was thinking the exact same thing. Surely it could not be viewed as a full race win in terms of Bernie's championship point vision as it was not a full race. I think this race has gone some way in highlighting that fact the medals system is flawed.

In saying that, this whole half points situation could have been averted had the race started at 4pm local time. At the end of the day what difference does one hour make? And if the storms are usually in the evenining why even agree to a late start in the first place. Sure it was nice not having to get up at 5 or 6, but i would sooner do that than have a shortened race.

Another great race by Jense and the whole Brawn team, really shows what grit and determination can achieve. Rubens did look a little dejected after the race walking down the track, felt a little bad for him, can't wait to see him on top of the podium. He always runs well at China so fingers crossed for him there.

F1diva

[redline]

i think they should have run it early to avoid the downpour,but jenson still drove a good race after a slow start

[gizzy]

They need an earlier start time at Kuala Lumpur.
If downpours occur regularly at 5-6pm...the race should start earlier.

I know the rain creates great drama, and lots of tire changes, but I hate to see the race end because of loss of daylight. Not only was it pouring, but sunset was only minutes away. That is why they gave up on a restart. The European crowd can watch the race a couple of hours earlier. Heck, we see races at 2am, 4am, 5am, etc over here. Get out your DVR, Tivo, VHS recorder, whatever. I'm sure you guys have this technology.
-giz

[kteowee]

The Boss of Sepang International circuit is looking into reviewing the timing for next Malaysian GP now.
They have get their head together and start thinking about safety issues, rather than interest of the viewers.

en.f1-live.com/f1/en/headlines/news/detail/090405184501.shtml

[fraggle]

Interesting race from start to finish. The Toyota guys made me chuckle.

[digital_F1]

Rob Smedley on the radio to Felipe Massa was just hilarious when he said "Felipe Baby stay calm!"