Malaysian Grand Prix – Race
Even though I followed both the first and second Friday practice sessions, and qualifying yesterday, and yet I still don’t know what the grid will look like.
Unfortunately, because the race started at 2am (schedule) I recorded it, which means I can’t follow the FIA’s live timing site or look up the grid on a website without seeing the results. (Fortunately we get the ITV commentary not TSN or Speed, so at least it shouldn’t suck.)
Anyway, on with the race….
Weather: air temp 34°C, track 38°C, humidity 59%, overcast.
So what does the grid look like? TSN says: GF, JB, NR, MW, JM, KR, FA, CK, JT, JV, NH, SS, VL, MS, CA, TM, TS, YI, DC, RB, FM, RS.
21mins before start: JT running back to his garage – a problem?
15mins to go: DC looks like he’s wearing a kevlar jacket, but I suspect that’s cooling pads.
The TSN commentators continue rambling over the national anthem – that’s just rude.
What’s with Willy Weber standing next to MS’s Ferrari on the grid? Is he expecting a last minute contractual discussion? Or just trying to get his face on TV again? He just bugs me.
Official FIA grid listing: GF, JB, NR, MW, JM, KR, FA, CK, JT, JV, NH, SS, VL, MS, CA, TM, TS, YI, DC, RB, FM, RS.
1:30mins to go: ITV report that Ferrari have been “advised” to replace their front wing before the next race because the rules are “a bit grey”.
Formation lap: GF leads everyone away; they’re all away cleanly.
Apparently Renault over-fueled FA for his qualifying session; ITV say Flavio Briatore said they’ll let him drive to the next race (in Australia) because they’d put too much fuel in his car 
A long hold on the lights – the guys at the front must be getting really hot
01/56: GF leads JB into Turn 1
KR off and into the wall!
02: GF, JB, FA, MW, JM, NH, NR, JT, JV, MS, DC, SS, RS, FM, RB, TS, VL, CA…
KR’s McLaren is being lifted up and off the track
CK into the pits with a very broken front left wheel – did he hit KR? They’re changing the tyre but that suspension is broken. Yeah, he’s out.
03: GF fastest lap 1:37.058
Replay of the start: FA passes the two Williams easily through T1
Also shows KR being tagged (presumably CK) and a corner later he’s off into the wall.
04: GF f/lap 1:36.438
05: GF, JB, FA, MW, JM, NR, NH, JT, JV, MS
RS has made up 10 places – he’s in P12
06: GF’s lead 3.4s over JB
CK is still in his car, hoping they can fix his suspension
07: GF f/lap 1:35.821
Lots of smoke and flame from NR’s Williams
08: GF, JB, FA, MW, JM, NH, JT, JV, MS, DC
It’s looking a bit overcast with some large black clouds – will it rain?
10/56: DC stuck in 6th gear; into the pits to retire
11: MS passes JV for P8
CK’s in the pit box too – both Red Bull’s are pushed into the garage
12: MW is right on FA’s tail (remember FA is heavy with fuel) but he can’t pass him
GF f/lap 1:35.488, and has a 5s lead over JB
14: MS pushes his way past JT for P7
15: GF, JB, FA, MW, JM, NH, MS, JT, JV, RS
MW pits from P4 – an early stop? Stationary for 7.8s
16: TM runs a little wide, kicks up some dirt but rejoins OK
JV passes JT in the same corner that MS took him
Smoke from MW’s Williams?
MW pulls off and retires
17: FM passes JT, same corner
GF pits from P1 – 11.1s – that was a lot of fuel
18: JB, FA, GF, JM, NH, MS, JV, FM
Honda team getting ready for JB?
19: JB pits from P1 – 7.9s – that was very quick, the refueller was barely off as the lollipop came up … which is the aim! He rejoins behind JM
20/56: FA, GF, JM, JB, NH, MS, JV, FM
Retirements: KR, CK, NR, DC, MW
21: Rain on the camera lens in the final corner
22: SS pits, freeing up RB
23: JM and MS both pit; JM 8.3s; MS 11.4s – he had to wait for JV to pass his box
25: FA, GF, JB, FM, JM, NH, MS, RB
ITV report that JM radioed his garage and they’re ready with scrubbed tyres
26: JM doesn’t pit
Renault getting ready for FA … and he peels off into the pit lane from P1 – 7.3s – so he’s swapped to a 2-stop strategy
28/56: GF, JB, FA, FM, JM, NH, MS, RB
FA f/lap 1:35.010
29: FM pits from P4 – 10.2s – rejoins in P8
30/56: GF lead over JB ~9.5s
31: GF, JB, FA, JM, NH, MS, RB, FM
GF gets the “hurry up” call from his pits – FA is catching him – they don’t seem worried about JB
32: RB’s only (scheduled) stop – 12.5s
33: GF, JB, FA, JM, NH, MS, FM, JV
JB’s picked up his pace, but he’s only ~4s ahead of FA
34: FA told (over pit-car radio) he needs to make 1s on JB to pass him in the pits
36: “10 stop/go penalty for car 11 (RB) for speeding in the pit lane”
37: RB into pit lane and takes his penalty
YI pulls off track and retires
JB told “we need everything now Jenson”, so he’ll be pitting shortly
38: GF pits from P1 – 7.5s
JB is being baulked by a STR car (SS?) … only one blue flag – the marshalls aren’t doing their job
JB pits – 8.0s – rejoins behind JM
39: FA pit-car radio “5 more laps” before he pits
40/56: FA, GF, JM, JB, NH, MS, FM, JV
41: James Allen does his Murray Walker impression, saying JB is on for a podium finish today
42: JM pits, releasing JB – 7.0s – rejoins behind MS
43: FA pits from P1 – 6.4s – rejoins safely ahead of JB
44: GF, FA, JB, MS, JM, NH
45: MS pits from P4 – 7.1s – that’s slow – rejoins behind “teammate” FM – hmmm, will that be allowed to stand?
46: GF, FA, JB, JM, NH, FM, MS, JV
47: Jean Todt’s on the pit-car radio … expect a change for P6 shortly
48: NH’s BMW engine lets go, which promotes RS to P8
50/56: GF, FA, JB, JM, FM, MS, JV, RS
52: GF runs a little wide in a corner but he’s got a small cushion over his teammate, and I’m sure they’ve been told to make sure they finish 1st + 2nd
53: RS is just under a second behind JV; he’s also the last unlapped runner
54: Looks like the front-runners are holding station
55: ITV report a lot of discussion on the Ferrari pit wall – can they get MS past FM without being penalised for “team orders”?
It’s a sign of the expectation that the two Ferraris are getting more TV coverage than the leaders … waiting for the pass
56/56, Last lap: FM only 0.6s ahead of MS
GF takes the chequered flag.
P1=GF; 2=FA, 3=JB, 4=JM, 5=FM, 6=MS, 7=JV, 8=RS; 9=JT, 10=RB, 11=VL, 12=CA, 13=TM,14=TS
Not classified: NH, SS, YI, CK, MW, DC, NR, KR.
Fastest lap: Fernando Alonso 1:34.803
Post-race interviews:
GF: “a perfect race, a tough race”
FA: “unfortunately we had a little problem in qualifying” (i.e. having double the fuel load)
JB: “no point in the race could we have gone quicker”; “held up by Scott Speed”
Next race: Australia in two weeks (April 2nd) [calendar]
Update: Current points standings after 2 Grands Prix:
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Comments
3 Comments on Malaysian Grand Prix – Race
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Paul, Kerri and The Boys » Blog Archive » Another busy (and fruitful) week on
Sun, 26th Mar 2006 10:59 am
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Paul, Kerri and The Boys » Blog Archive » Australian Grand Prix schedule on
Tue, 28th Mar 2006 10:24 am
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Paul, Kerri and The Boys » F1 points standing after the Spanish Grand Prix on
Mon, 22nd May 2006 10:39 pm
[...] Last Sunday wasn’t too busy – we watched the Malaysian Grand Prix. [...]
[...] The points standings after 2 Grands Prix can be found at the end of my Malaysian GP race notes. [...]
[...] I’ve not posted a points update in ages (since Malaysian Grand Prix, in fact) so here’s the latest standings, after the Spanish Grand Prix: [...]
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