Malaysia GP

[J.Clark]

Is it too early to start a thread on this weekend's race in Malaysia?

Weather looks like it will play a huge part in this race!
Thunderstorms and rain on all three days.

I am wondering how the times will compare to previous years when we had V-8s and before that V-10s.  It seems that on some circuits the lap times will be anywhere from one to two seconds a lap slower, even with the improved ERS and a flatter rear wing that last year's when the DRS is used.

I am, in any case, looking forward to this race; although, I would like it to be dry conditions.

[lkjohnson1950]

A look at Oz shows that the cars were 3-4 seconds a lap slower. Considering they have greatly reduced the down force and everyone was probably being conservative with an eye toward finishing, that's not horrible. The cars were definitely faster in a straight line, showing that the new engines are at least equal to the V8s in power already. That's a huge advance in technology, to be able to produce the same power on what, 20-25% less fuel? Hats off to Merc, Ferrari and Renault (however you may feel about the noise).

[Irisado]

It sounds as though it could be quite exciting, assuming that the rain isn't intense enough to cause the race to be stopped.  It's going to make judging performance tricky again, although I still expect Mercedes to set the pace.  Will McLaren be dark horses though?  Button's handy in the wet, and Magunussen showed great poise in his first race.

[Scott]

Malaysia?  If there are thunderstorms predicted, expect rivers down pit lane again.  When it rains, it pours, and that us especially true there.  Expect a red flag.

[Jericoke]

Malaysia?  If there are thunderstorms predicted, expect rivers down pit lane again.  When it rains, it pours, and that us especially true there.  Expect a red flag.

I hope the race goes off beautifully.  Malayasia as a nation is due some good luck.

[Scott]

I hope the race goes off beautifully.  Malayasia as a nation is due some good luck.

No question about that, but I like rain races, so that would be beautiful for me.

[lkjohnson1950]

Rain races yes, flooded red flagged races please no.

[Vince]

Rain races yes, flooded red flagged races please no.

Amen to that!

[Scott]

Looks like Kimi is getting the hang of the brake-by-wire system...

FP1

1. Lewis Hamilton    Britain    Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 40.691s 19 laps
2. Kimi Raikkonen    Finland    Ferrari-Ferrari    1m 40.843s 20 laps
3. Nico Rosberg    Germany   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 41.028s 19 laps
4. Jenson Button    Britain    McLaren-Mercedes   1m 41.111s 20 laps
5. Kevin Magnussen    Denmark   McLaren-Mercedes   1m 41.274s 18 laps
6. Jean-Eric Vergne    France    Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 41.402s 15 laps
7. Sebastian Vettel    Germany   Red Bull-Renault   1m 41.523s 9 laps
8. Nico Hulkenberg    Germany   Force India-Mercedes   1m 41.642s 19 laps
9. Felipe Massa    Brazil    Williams-Mercedes   1m 41.686s 23 laps
10. Valtteri Bottas    Finland    Williams-Mercedes   1m 41.830s 22 laps
11. Fernando Alonso    Spain    Ferrari-Ferrari    1m 41.923s 14 laps
12. Daniel Ricciardo    Australia   Red Bull-Renault   1m 42.117s 20 laps
13. Adrian Sutil    Germany   Sauber-Ferrari    1m 42.365s 21 laps
14. Daniil Kvyat    Russia    Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 42.869s 21 laps
15. Esteban Gutierrez    Mexico    Sauber-Ferrari    1m 42.904s 23 laps
16. Jules Bianchi    France    Marussia-Ferrari   1m 43.825s 18 laps
17. Marcus Ericsson    Sweden   Caterham-Renault   1m 45.775s 24 laps
18. Max Chilton    Briton    Marussia-Ferrari   1m 46.911s 10 laps
19. Kamui Kobayashi    Japan    Caterham-Renault   1m 51.180s 5 laps
20. Sergio Perez    Mexico    Force India-Mercedes   no time 2 laps
21. Pastor Maldonado    Venezuela   Lotus-Renault    no time 2 laps
22. Romain Grosjean    France    Lotus-Renault    no time 4 laps

[Scott]

And he's still ahead of Alonso's pace.

http://m.crash.net/f1/news/201542/1/rosberg-heads-extremely-close-fp2.html


1. Nico Rosberg    Germany   Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 39.909s 30 laps
2. Kimi Raikkonen    Finland    Ferrari-Ferrari    1m 39.944s 30 laps
3. Sebastian Vettel    Germany   Red Bull-Renault   1m 39.970s 30 laps
4. Lewis Hamilton    Britain    Mercedes-Mercedes   1m 40.051s 32 laps
5. Fernando Alonso    Spain    Ferrari-Ferrari    1m 40.103s 29 laps
6. Felipe Massa    Brazil    Williams-Mercedes   1m 40.112s 34 laps
7. Daniel Ricciardo    Australia   Red Bull-Renault   1m 40.276s 29 laps
8. Jenson Button    Britain    McLaren-Mercedes   1m 40.628s 28 laps
9. Valtteri Bottas    Finland    Williams-Mercedes   1m 40.638s 35 laps
10. Nico Hulkenberg    Germany   Force India-Mercedes   1m 40.691s 34 laps
11. Jean-Eric Vergne    France    Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 40.777s 33 laps
12. Kevin Magnussen    Denmark   McLaren-Mercedes   1m 41.014s 20 laps
13. Adrian Sutil    Germany   Sauber-Ferrari    1m 41.257s 28 laps
14. Daniil Kvyat    Russia    Toro Rosso-Renault   1m 41.325s 32 laps
15. Esteban Gutierrez    Mexico    Sauber-Ferrari    1m 41.407s 34 laps
16. Sergio Perez    Mexico    Force India-Mercedes   1m 41.671s 25 laps
17. Romain Grosjean    France    Lotus-Renault    1m 42.531s 14 laps
18. Max Chilton    Briton    Marussia-Ferrari   1m 43.638s 20 laps
19. Jules Bianchi    France    Marussia-Ferrari   1m 43.752s 29 laps
20. Marcus Ericsson    Sweden   Caterham-Renault   1m 45.703s 31 laps

21. Kamui Kobayashi    Japan    Caterham-Renault   no time 0 laps
22. Pastor Maldonado    Venezuela   Lotus-Renault    no time 2 laps

all times unofficial

[vintly]

Encouraging that they are less than one second off last year's fastest lap time (during the race at least.) The Aussie GP fastest lap during the race was over three seconds slower than last year.

Also encouraging to see only 0.7 seconds splitting the top ten in FP2.

[cosworth151]

I watched FP1. Having the extra set of tire did bring out the cars early in the session. 

[J.Clark]

No rain - good - so we got to see what the cars are more likely capable of producing.

Just a couple of observations:
Ferrari look to be on track for a successful season, and as an aside, Kimi looks like he will be a handful for Fernando.

Red Bull with mixed results again; although, Vettel should be happier.  Overall, much improved outlook.

Merc still looks to be on top more or less.

Lotus in big trouble, still . . .

Top 6 are within a couple of tenths of best lap time on the day and Williams is in that mix.

Commentators note:  teams had an engine change time down to around 40 minutes with the V-8s and now, mainly due to the complexities of the other systems, it is taking up to 7 hours and the best they can hope for is about 4 1/2 hours.  That was the discussion over why a driver needing an engine following session one can't make session two.

[Jericoke]

I find it interesting that Kimi is doing better in the Ferrari than both his former team and RBR, which he ws rumoured to join.

I wonder if he knew to stay away from Renaults for 2014, or if he's just lucky.

[vintly]

I find it interesting that Kimi is doing better in the Ferrari than both his former team and RBR, which he ws rumoured to join.

I wonder if he knew to stay away from Renaults for 2014, or if he's just lucky.

Heh yes what a prescient move he made. A bit like Hammy going to Merc last year, and McLaren having their worst season for decades (although McLaren may bounce back some this year).

My guess is that it was luck, but as you well know and have recently quoted Jeri, he knows what he's doing!