Malaysia Grand Prix 2009

[mPWRD]

Now that Australia is done, Brawn goes 1-2, etc., etc... it's time to turn to Sepang. Anything about the 2009 Malaysian Grand Prix goes here... picks to win it, comments on the track, whatever.

 

[Lofasz]

I have a feeling that the diffusers may play a bigger role, as there are more faster turns at Sepang. Turns 5,6 & 12,13 come to mind. Only time will tell.

 

[mPWRD]

Agreed. It will be fun and interesting to see what happens and how the whole diffuser thing plays out.

 

[Cap'n Jack]

I'm sorry to take this out on you mPWRD, you're not the only one who has done this. I think you've made the thread for the next round a few days too early, the Australian GP less than 24 hours ago! I think an appropriate time to post the GP thread would be the Thursday before the event and the first post should include some decent information about the event to help create a little bit of discussion (Blake's GP threads were the best).

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Yeah, I vote that Blake becomes the Offical Thread Starter for New Grands Prix as well. It shouldn't be a race to see who can make a thread on the next event.

 

[Blake]

Aww jeez, thanks guys. If people want me to I’ll start doing write-ups for each GP again.

Anyway onto Malaysia, I definitely expect Ferrari to be a bit stronger because of their KERS system, which should have a bit more of an impact on Malaysia’s long straights. On that note I also expect a bit of passing, especially from the Renault and McLaren guys who arguably have better race cars than qualifying cars since KERS effectively lets them run whatever strategy they want without worrying that much about traffic.

It is a very aero dominated track though so I see Brawn dominating again.

 

[senamic]

I see Brawn dominating, with Rosberg having a better run, and maybe an interesting battle between Webber and Vettel in Q2.

The Force India's may be worth taking a second glance at too.

Off topic: I think that Brundle or Legar mentioned it, but what have Torro Rosso got with drivers called Sebastian?

 

[spyrrari]

Aww jeez, thanks guys. If people want me to I’ll start doing write-ups for each GP again.

Anyway onto Malaysia, I definitely expect Ferrari to be a bit stronger because of their KERS system, which should have a bit more of an impact on Malaysia’s long straights. On that note I also expect a bit of passing, especially from the Renault and McLaren guys who arguably have better race cars than qualifying cars since KERS effectively lets them run whatever strategy they want without worrying that much about traffic.

It is a very aero dominated track though so I see Brawn dominating again.

agree with what you said there...
the Malaysian track is a real circuit as opp. to the semi-streets of Melbourne...the longer straights with faster turns for entering them will be a very different ballgame than the short chicany and very bumpy left right combo's of Melbourne....
i also see ferrari doing much better(if they are able to finish the race ofcourse...)than in Melbourne....

Also we should not forget that when it rains in Malaysia,it rains in the afternoon and as this race is also held in the afternoon,the chance that it will rain during the race is very likely!!!....👍

cant wait to see if the field will be in the same oeder as in Melbourne ,or if indeed other teams have a benefit on this particiular circuit...👍


spyrrari.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

... The races are always held in the afternoon, with the obvious exception of Singapore.

 

[senamic]

... The races are always held in the afternoon, with the obvious exception of Singapore.

Perhaps he ment late afternoon? I just want to see the race! If it is wet, it will be interesting to see the 09 spec cars handle the conditions...

 

[Soundtrack]

Also we should not forget that when it rains in Malaysia,it rains in the afternoon and as this race is also held in the afternoon,the chance that it will rain during the race is very likely!!!....👍

Indeed, there is a 69% thunderstorm probability on Sundayhttp://www.accuweather.com/world-forecast-details.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&fday=7&locCode=ASI|MY|MY000|SEPANG&metric=1

Hoppefully, they will be able to race.👍

 

[Bram Turismo]

Don't forget about BMW there Blake! I expect them to come out strongest out of all teams and I could see Kubica taking the win at Sepang. It'll be hard though, as Button and Barrichello will be right up there as well. I'm hoping for a strong Toyota again, but I don't think I will be able to catch the race, so I don't care.

 

[Tired Tyres]

There are are 3 days and 16 hours until first practice. I wonder how many team will spent Friday testing new Aero kit that has been wind tunnel tested but not tested in the real world yet. I could be very interesting to watch.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

I doubt there's going to be much of that since Sunday will only have been a week since Melbourne. There might be minor things here and there, but I wouldn't be expecting things like new diffusers.

 

[livemusic]

I'm glad we're having two races in a row, makes my weekends more enjoyable.

 

[spyrrari]

... The races are always held in the afternoon, with the obvious exception of Singapore.

yeah duhhh...i meant instead of the usuall 14:00 hours it will be held at 17:00 hours local time...👍


spyrrari.

 

[Metar]

Malaysia - my favourite of the new circuits.

Aww jeez, thanks guys. If people want me to I’ll start doing write-ups for each GP again.

Anyway onto Malaysia, I definitely expect Ferrari to be a bit stronger because of their KERS system, which should have a bit more of an impact on Malaysia’s long straights. On that note I also expect a bit of passing, especially from the Renault and McLaren guys who arguably have better race cars than qualifying cars since KERS effectively lets them run whatever strategy they want without worrying that much about traffic.

It is a very aero dominated track though so I see Brawn dominating again.

^ All of that. The Brawns have superior aerodynamics, and they'll dominate just as they did at Melbourne. The KERS teams will have a better chance than last time, because of the longer straights - and slightly improved understanding of the systems.

I doubt there's going to be much of that since Sunday will only have been a week since Melbourne. There might be minor things here and there, but I wouldn't be expecting things like new diffusers.

^ And all of that. Whatever teams bring to Melbourne gets brought to Malaysia. If a team carried some Malaysia-spec wings, they were there since Melbourne. Nothing new.

 

[Alex.]

Yeah I'm pretty sure the cars on the plane after Melbourne and arrive at Malaysia today or tommorow.

 

[KSaiyu]

Wow, all the forecasts that go through Sunday have rain every day for Kuala Lumpur, with Sunday being the worst.

 

[darkfinal]

Indeed, there is a 69% thunderstorm probability on Sundayhttp://www.accuweather.com/world-forecast-details.asp?partner=accuweather&traveler=0&fday=7&locCode=ASI|MY|MY000|SEPANG&metric=1

Oh, whoa. Just try to think about it. Thunderstorms during a race, KERS-equipped cars charged with lots of energy...



... And that would explain Heidfeld's retro-hairstyle and beard.

 

[Ardius]

Wow, all the forecasts that go through Sunday have rain every day for Kuala Lumpur, with Sunday being the worst.

Excellent, but I think we will still see Brawn dominating, Button and Barrichello are good wet drivers.

With Force India in a slightly better car, could Sutil manage their first points?

 

[NapoleonMikey]

my perdictions only 1 brawn car will finish and finish first at that. the other mill probably end up spinning off in to the gravel or having mechanical problems. vettle and kubica will once again fight for position but im going to say nakajima will be on the podium. yea you herd it here first nakajima will podium

 

[Metar]

my perdictions only 1 brawn car will finish and finish first at that. the other mill probably end up spinning off in to the gravel or having mechanical problems. vettle and kubica will once again fight for position but im going to say nakajima will be on the podium. yea you herd it here first nakajima will podium

Vettel will be starting 13th at best. The Brawns will take the front row, and Vettel will take his penalty. And considering he'll want to fuel heavy for such a starting-position, I guess he won't qualify over 5th - thus starting 15th.

 

[Alex.]

However, if it rains which currently is more likely than not, we will see if he can live up to his wet-driving reputation with the new cars...


Very very excited about this race. I think as you say Metar the Brawns will get 1 and 2, and I can see both Ferraris no lower than 6th.

 

[Only_in_f1]

Off topic: I think that Brundle or Legar mentioned it, but what have Torro Rosso got with drivers called Sebastian?

Fact of the day Sebastian Bourdais and Buemi have the same middle name, Olivier.

 

[prisonermonkeys]

Malaysia - my favourite of the new circuits.

You know, sometimes I think Hermann Tilke gets the short end of the stick when he doesn't desrve it as much as he might. Okay, so places like Valencia and the new Hockenheim are a little lacking in soul and Bahrain and Fuji make it look like the race is being held in a car park, but Sepang is bloody fantastic - especially across the top, which has always felt like a roller-coaster to me - and Istanbul rates a mention if only for Turn Eight. Singapore isn't bad, though I don't know how much involvement he had in that, and Abu Dhabi looks good with its high-speed front end and low-speed back half.

 

[Alex.]

Fact of the day Sebastian Bourdais and Buemi have the same middle name, Olivier.

And that the 2 Citroen Red Bull sponsored rally drivers are also both called sebastien, as well as Buemi, Bourdais and Vettel.

 

[mPWRD]

so... i'm guessing this is now the official 2009 Malaysian GP thread? sorry blake...

 

[fasj6418]

And that the 2 Citroen Red Bull sponsored rally drivers are also both called sebastien, as well as Buemi, Bourdais and Vettel.

Good. That means i can run to the city hall and change my name to Sebastien Something.

Maybe this way i can finally jumpstart my racing carrear

 

[mustang245]

You know, sometimes I think Hermann Tilke gets the short end of the stick when he doesn't desrve it as much as he might. Okay, so places like Valencia and the new Hockenheim are a little lacking in soul and Bahrain and Fuji make it look like the race is being held in a car park, but Sepang is bloody fantastic - especially across the top, which has always felt like a roller-coaster to me - and Istanbul rates a mention if only for Turn Eight. Singapore isn't bad, though I don't know how much involvement he had in that, and Abu Dhabi looks good with its high-speed front end and low-speed back half.

I quite like the architecture of the Tilke venues. The grandstands are works of art, in my opinion. The ones in Shanghai are monstrous. I dig Sepang very much and agree with the whole roller coaster thing, that and the tropic locale. Turn 2 is my favorite, the cars 'three-wheeling' thru there before heading up the hill. I hope Renault get it together...