2012 Malaysian Grand Prix

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Some splashes of water vapour always makes for a more interesting race, but I don't think the Mercs have done particularily well in the wet so I'm betting Schumi wants it to stay dry. He could be a real spanner in the works if he makes a good start.
 
MazdaPrice
Some splashes of water vapour always makes for a more interesting race, but I don't think the Mercs have done particularily well in the wet so I'm betting Schumi wants it to stay dry. He could be a real spanner in the works if he makes a good start.
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Canada?
 
Great to see Schumi back on the podium. Mark's in 4th and it's all good.

What's going on with Hulk? I seem to remember him being more... speedy in '10.
 
Mike Rotch
You're telling me they purposely didn't put it on pole, to instead race from midish pack?

I don't think so.
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the guy qualified .4 off of pole.In addition if you look at the lap times.He qualied with identical time to those around him albeit on the harder tire.Whereas everyone else was on soft.

Yes i think Red Bull didnt think the car could get pole hence putting Seb on the hard tire...But looking back i think he could have taken it if he had chose the Mediums. He probably surprised himself as well as the team.
 
The difference between Massa and Alonso was 3-4 tenths. That's a big improvement from Australia.
 
Blaze_409
the guy qualified .4 off of pole.In addition if you look at the lap times.He qualied with identical time to those around him albeit on the harder tire.Whereas everyone else was on soft.

Yes i think Red Bull didnt think the car could get pole hence putting Seb on the hard tire...But looking back i think he could have taken it if he had chose the Mediums. He probably surprised himself as well as the team.
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Why wasn't Webber on pole then, he was on mediums.
 
MazdaPrice
Rosberg 6th and Schumacher 8th does not equal a good performance.

Good stint during a race =/= Good race overall.
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No, 4th while being at 2nd at one point, but passed by Button and Webber because of DRS.

I doubt Vettel could've gotten pole on Medium. The tyre was probably overheating for him.
 
Indeed, it's fascinating that Vettel managed such a lap from the hard tires. It's likely Red Bull felt that the car would not be able to get pole, and given the incredible speed of the McLarens and Mercs, taking positions on track will be hard... So they're going to try to overtake them in the pits.

Again... Kimi's hands... Amazing... I have not, till now, realized how much I missed seeing that.
 
gorsad
The difference between Massa and Alonso was 3-4 tenths. That's a big improvement from Australia.
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But Ferrari being well off the frontrunning pace means that that .350 is no longer the difference betwee 1st and ~4th but 9th and Q2 instead.

Oh Jesus, Alonso's sunglasses...!
 
See, no rain. :lol:

Just as expected, the Mclaren lock up the front row of the grid. Amazing lap for Schumi and not so for Rosberg. I sense this year car aren't suit to Rosberg style, the new tyre can play in this part too.

As for RBR camp, good job for Webber and it's nice to see some strategy pull up by Vettel tommorow.

I think Lotus cars suit circuits that doesn't have long straight and high speed corner.

Nice to see Perez in but dissapointing for Kobay, his qualifying result aren't best in Sepang. :p

Whether it rain or not tommorow, we can get a good race! Safety Car in? Nah, i don't think so but i really hope weather play its part tommorow.
 
niky
Indeed, it's fascinating that Vettel managed such a lap from the hard tires. It's likely Red Bull felt that the car would not be able to get pole, and given the incredible speed of the McLarens and Mercs, taking positions on track will be hard... So they're going to try to overtake them in the pits.

Again... Kimi's hands... Amazing... I have not, till now, realized how much I missed seeing that.
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Vettel just explained that the car is working better with hard tyres.
 
ZEROX
I think Lotus cars suit circuits that doesn't have long straight and high speed corner.
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The Lotus was actually the quickest car in a straightline in Practice 3. 2km/h over the Merc's. The where lacking in sector 2 a bit though. its one or the other as they always say.

4 tenths covering the top 8..can you believe that!..Im sure hamilton will trademark his " I could have gone faster"...Locking up in final turn.
 
MazdaPrice
Rosberg 6th and Schumacher 8th does not equal a good performance.

Good stint during a race =/= Good race overall.
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Correct me if I am wrong, but I believe that Schumacher came 4th or 5th in that race. And that was only because the track was drying up and immediately ate the rear tires. When it was wet, I distinctly remember hearing that Schumacher was lapping faster that the race leader at the time, Vettel. I think the one team that should be hoping for dry is RBR. McLaren and Mercedes should be able to handle themselves. Personally, I think we'll find out within 10 laps tmrw whether or not the Merc can win or get a podium. Tire wear will be the factor here, and Vettel may just have done a smart thing. If the tire wear is okay, I pip Schumacher for P2 and a McLaren for a win. If not, I still pip a McLaren for a win, and Raikkonen for P3
 
Better in terms of balance, maybe, but it's not going to be faster than on the mediums. If the RBR works well on those hards and allow Vettel to get to the front in the pitstop shuffle, perhaps he can dictate the tempo of the race.

I love how close the rest of the field is. Strange strategies from some of the midfielders could ruin it for any of the front-runners. This is shaping up to be an excellent season.
 
Centura
EDIT: I know it's early, but McLaren domination this year instead of Red Bull? Ugh... That's much better...
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And notice the complaints... Oh wait, there aren't any. But of course, Vettel's two championships were 100% because of the car. :rolleyes:
 
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MazdaPrice
But Ferrari being well off the frontrunning pace means that that .350 is no longer the difference betwee 1st and ~4th but 9th and Q2 instead.

Oh Jesus, Alonso's sunglasses...!
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That's true, but it might stop the team worrying about Massa.
 
Blaze_409
The Lotus was actually the quickest car in a straightline in Practice 3. 2km/h over the Merc's. The where lacking in sector 2 a bit though. its one or the other as they always say.
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There's a probabilty the Lotus drafting behind another car but it's just a probability. :p

Sector 2: Full of high speed corner. Well, there's the answer.
 
I have a question about Ferrari's problems. They say the car is lacking in downforce. Why are they so slow in a straightline though? Is it draggy? News of a new model being made. Oh Ferrari...
 
I think Alonso's sunglasses are the least of his worries. It's the "Flexo" beard that concerns me.

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niky
Better in terms of balance, maybe, but it's not going to be faster than on the mediums. If the RBR works well on those hards and allow Vettel to get to the front in the pitstop shuffle, perhaps he can dictate the tempo of the race.

I love how close the rest of the field is. Strange strategies from some of the midfielders could ruin it for any of the front-runners. This is shaping up to be an excellent season.
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He said that he could have probably gone 2 or 3 tenths faster on the option tyre but with Kimi's penalty and the fact that Webber has been outperforming him all weekend IMO it was a very smart move on his behalf.
 
Considering that in Australia Kimi had the best tirewear of the whole field(and much better than the Mclarens specifically), he could have had great chances to win tomorrow if he was to start from 5th.
 
Unfortunately, I don't think Mercedes will have the race pace to get on to the podium, but as Rosberg said before Australia, they will be able to annoy the leaders (think Schumacher vs. Hamilton at Monza).

SuperSic
Considering that in Australia Kimi had the best tirewear of the whole field(and much better than the Mclarens specifically), he could have had great chances to win tomorrow if he was to start from 5th.
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Because he didn't use any tyres in qualifying in Australia.
 
Centura
SuperSic
Considering that in Australia Kimi had the best tirewear of the whole field(and much better than the Mclarens specifically), he could have had great chances to win tomorrow if he was to start from 5th.
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Because he didn't use any tyres in qualifying in Australia.
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And he's got a five-place grid penalty for a gearbox change.
 
So starting from the front of the midfield on used tyres. It'll be interesting to see what he can do.

I still think Schumacher can cause havoc if he makes a good start. Even if it's just holding up the Red Bulls and maybe one McLaren for a short spell, it could be enough to decide the pit stops.
 

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