Grand Prix 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix Practice, Qualifying & Race Discussion

Typical F1.
You wait months for a race and then 2 come along in the space of a few weeks.

This weekend will see the 13th race at the Sepang circuit; will it be unlucky for some?
For a most excellent circuit write-up, see Galahad's musings here, along with enough stat's and data to satisfy the most ardent of nerds: Sepang International Circuit

2009 is remembered for the later start and torrential rain which resulted in the race being red flagged after 33 laps; making it only the fifth race in F1 history to be stopped before 75% of the distance had been completed.

Ferrari and McLaren will no doubt be aiming to make it into Q2 after their amateurish mistakes last year.
With rain forecast for the weekend though, the chances of one or more of the top drivers making a mistake is fairly high.

This race is probably make or break for HRT.
If they don't manage to qualify within 107% of the fastest time in Q1 and are once again stopped from participating in the Grand Prix, then you have to assume it's all over for them.

So, lots to look forward to. Let's hope it's not a Red Bull walkover and qualifying is a lot closer than Australia.

 

[F1Yorkshire]

Is more than one change of direction to defend your position allowed at the start?

I counted 4 changes of direction by Vettel before he turned in for the 1st corner...... legal or not?

 

[Hamberg]

Kobayashi 2 stopped and finished top 10.

 

[MCLS]

That's really impressive considering he spent most of the race on the attack

 

[Hamberg]

That's really impressive considering he spent most of the race on the attack

My thoughts exactly.

 

[MCLS]

The Saubers seem to be really kind on their tyres. Perez one stopped in Melbourne and Kobyashi managed to 2 stop today.

 

[snowy]

Hamilton	Button

34 1:42.782	34 1:42.874

35 1:43.144	35 1:43.437

36 1:43.610	36 1:43.595

PT 1:46.927	37 1:44.183

38 2:04.636	PT 1:47.026

39 1:43.305	39 1:59.845

40 1:42.769	40 1:41.388

41 1:43.276	41 1:41.748

42 1:42.937	42 1:42.361

43 1:42.579	43 1:42.390

44 1:43.035	44 1:41.713

45 1:43.781	45 1:41.615

46 1:43.841	46 1:41.625

47 1:43.770	47 1:41.471

48 1:43.617	48 1:42.120

49 1:43.587	49 1:41.896

50 1:43.556	FL 1:41.264 

51 1:43.855	51 1:41.777

PT 1:51.722	52 1:42.722

53 2:00.472	53 1:41.881

FL 1:41.512	54 1:42.408

55 1:41.888	55 1:42.446

56 1:41.776	56 1:42.694

 

[MCLS]

Hamilton must not have liked the previous set of tyres then

 

[EvilWhippet]

It was an odd one for Hamilton, in the first half of the race he was on fire then in the second half his pace dissapeared.

Over the winter on other forums I've been talking up Heidfeld in real fanboy fashion so I was glad to see him pull that out even if it was at Hamilton's expense. Bring on China!

 

[Brogan]

Definitely one of the champagne moments

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/formula_one/13028033.stm

 

[KekeTheKing]

There will be just a little bit of action to recap from Malaysia.

Great race by Jenson, steady as ever.

Lewis' race was seriously hampered by the events into and out of the first corner. The higher downforce setup was meant to get him into pole and out front where he wouldn't need to overtake people early. Outstanding effort under braking by Heidfeld though.

Vettel is making GP wins look stunningly simple.

Mercedes is nowhere.

 

[Alonso_McLaren]

I think the official name of this race is "2011 Malaysia Grand Prix", not "Malaysian"

 

[EvilWhippet]

Only God could've inspired his existence

 

[Brogan]

I think the official name of this race is "2011 Malaysia Grand Prix", not "Malaysian"

If it's good enough for Autosport, it's good enough for us.

 

[Alonso_McLaren]

Well, why is that BBC media only available to people in UK?

 

[Brogan]

Hamilton has been given a 20 second penalty for " for defending his position with more than one change of direction ", which drops him to eighth.

Can anyone clarify when this was?

 

[Alonso_McLaren]

Hamilton has been given a 20 second penalty for " for defending his position with more than one change of direction ", which drops him to eighth.

Can anyone clarify when this was?

Link?

 

[Brogan]

Alonso too, for causing a collision.

 

[Alonso_McLaren]

Alonso too, for causing a collision.

Where did you see the news?

 

[Brogan]

It's just on Twitter at the moment, which is where all the breaking news is published first.

 

[Alonso_McLaren]

It's just on Twitter at the moment, which is where all the breaking news is published first.

And it is censored by the commies...

But Alonso won't lose places because of the penalty, Hamilton will.
Pleased to see Kobayashi in 7th though.