The 2011 Malaysian Grand Prix Thread

[Ed]

This is the place to discuss everything related to the second round of the 2011 season taking place at the Sepang circuit in Kuala Lumpur between the 8th and the 10th of April.

To submit your 10 'n' Pole Picks for Malaysia click here, to register in the competition click here

Track Layout



The event timetable for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

Friday
1st Practice 10:00 local time - 2:00 GMT
2nd Practice 14:00 local time - 6:00 GMT

Saturday
Practice 13:00 local time - 5:00 GMT
Qualifying 16:00 local time - 8:00 GMT

Sunday
Race 17:00 local time - 8:00 GMT

For the latest Formula 1 News check out the F1 news page

[Ed]

1st Friday practice results:

Position Driver Team Best Time Gap Total Laps
1 Mark Webber Red Bull 1:37.651 - 22
2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren Mercedes 1:39.316 1.665 16
3 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:39.791 2.140 29
4 Nico Hulkenberg (Test Driver) Force India 1:40.377 2.726 23
5 Pastor Maldonado Williams 1:40.443 2.792 31
6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:40.453 2.802 22
7 Nick Heidfeld Lotus Renault 1:40.525 2.874 6
8 Rubens Barrichello Williams 1:40.581 2.930 21
9 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:40.601 2.950 23
10 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:40.646 2.995 29
11 Adrian Sutil Force India 1:40.734 3.083 21
12 Daniel Ricciardo (Test Driver) Toro Rosso 1:40.748 3.097 23
13 Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1:40.770 3.119 24
14 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 1:40.872 3.221 27
15 Jenson Button McLaren 1:40.927 3.276 16
16 Jarno Trulli Team Lotus 1:41.620 3.969 21
17 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1:41.627 3.976 18
18 Sergio Perez Sauber 1:41.642 3.991 24
19 Timo Glock Virgin 1:42.154 4.503 18
20 Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin 1:42.540 4.889 20
21 Davide Valsecchi (Test Driver) Team Lotus 1:44.054 6.403 18
22 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT 1:45.228 7.577 20
23 Narain Karthikeyan HRT 1:46.267 8.616 10
24 Vitaly Petrov Renault 1:47.932 10.281 4

The gap between Webber and the rest is massive! Vettel appeared to have a KERS problem in the session. His final lap would have moved him into second but he pitted instead.
Problems for the Lotus Renault team. Heidfeld had the right front wheel of his car lock under braking and limped back to the pits and didn't return back. Petrov had a similar problem when the front left wheel/suspension snapped under braking sending him into a spin and into the gravel.
A similar problem happened to d'Ambrosio in the Virgin.
Narain Karthikeyan in the HRT had a serious engine problem as he exited his garage!. The team managed to get the car back and fix the problem and got him back out. Both HRT's are slow and at this pace they won't make the starting grid due to the 107% rule.

[Ed]

2nd Friday Practice results:

Position Driver Team Best Time Gap Total Laps
1 Mark Webber Red Bull 1:36.876 24
2 Jenson Button McLaren 1:36.881 0.005 30
3 Lewis Hamilton McLaren 1:37.010 0.134 23
4 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1:37.090 0.214 30
5 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:38.088 1.212 26
6 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:38.089 1.213 31
7 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:38.565 1.689 25
8 Nick Heidfeld Lotus Renault 1:38.570 1.694 16
9 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:38.583 1.707 27
10 Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1:38.846 1.970 31
11 Pastor Maldonado Williams 1:38.968 2.092 25
12 Rubens Barrichello Williams 1:39.187 2.311 30
13 Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault 1:39.267 2.391 17
14 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 1:39.398 2.522 29
15 Sergio Perez Sauber 1:39.603 2.727 34
16 Paul di Resta Force India 1:39.625 2.749 31
17 Adrian Sutil Force India 1:39.809 2.933 28
18 Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso 1:40.115 3.239 31
19 Timo Glock Virgin 1:40.866 3.990 24
20 Jarno Trulli Team Lotus 1:41.890 5.014 19
21 Narain Karthikeyan HRT 1:43.197 6.321 15
22 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT 1:43.991 7.115 14
23 Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus 1:44.886 8.010 4
24 Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin No time 0

d'Ambrosio didn't go out in the second session following his off in the first session due to a suspension problem. Kovalainen only managed 4 laps following a geabox failure.

[cosicave]

Webbo's best chance?

…He needs to win at circuits like this if he is to preserve any realistic chance at the title. If Vettel can out-score him at these types of circuit - which suit Webber's style - he will very easily become the favoured one again (as if he's not already! )

[cmlean]

It is good to see Webber at the pointy end of practice 1 & 2. Now he has to put it together against the qualifying masters Vettel and Hamilton.

[Ed]

Saturday Practice results:

Position Driver Team Best Time Gap Total Laps
1 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:36.340 - 11
2 Mark Webber Red Bull 1:36.630 0.290 16
3 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:36.762 0.422 14
4 Nick Heidfeld Renault 1:37.115 0.775 17
5 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1:37.175 0.835 14
6 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:37.284 0.944 11
7 Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault 1:37.297 0.957 17
8 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:37.762 1.422 12
9 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 1:38.059 1.719 18
10 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:38.300 1.960 20
11 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:38.307 1.967 20
12 Sergio Perez Sauber 1:38.448 2.108 17
13 Adrian Sutil Force India 1:38.464 2.124 16
14 Pastor Maldonado Williams 1:38.597 2.257 15
15 Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso 1:38.665 2.325 14
16 Rubens Barrichello Williams 1:38.681 2.341 16
17 Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1:38.716 2.376 14
18 Paul di Resta Force India 1:38.864 2.524 13
19 Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus 1:39.260 2.920 19
20 Jarno Trulli Team Lotus 1:39.699 3.359 15
21 Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin 1:41.215 4.875 17
22 Timo Glock Virgin 1:41.414 5.074 18
23 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT 1:43.147 6.807 6
24 Narain Karthikeyan HRT 1:43.383 7.043 11

[Ed]

Saturday Practice results:

Position Driver Team Best Q1 Time Q2 Time Q3 Time Total Laps
1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 1:37.468 1:35.934 1:34.870 12
2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren 1:36.861 1:35.852 1:34.974 19
3 Mark Webber Red Bull 1:37.924 1:36.080 1:35.179 17
4 Jenson Button McLaren 1:37.033 1:35.569 1:35.200 15
5 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:36.897 1:36.320 1:35.802 14
6 Nick Heidfeld Lotus Renault 1:37.224 1:36.811 1:36.124 9
7 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:36.744 1:36.557 1:36.251 13
8 Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault 1:37.210 1:36.642 1:36.324 9
9 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:37.316 1:36.388 1:36.809 17
10 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 1:36.994 1:36.691 1:36.820 13
11 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:36.904 1:37.035 - 12
12 Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso 1:37.693 1:37.160 - 13
13 Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso 1:37.677 1:37.347 - 12
14 Paul di Resta Force India 1:38.045 1:37.370 - 12
15 Rubens Barrichello Williams 1:38.163 1:37.496 - 15
16 Sergio Perez Sauber 1:37.759 1:37.528 - 10
17 Adrian Sutil Force India 1:37.693 1:37.593 - 9
18 Pastor Maldonado Williams 1:38.276 - - 8
19 Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus 1:38.645 - - 8
20 Jarno Trulli Team Lotus 1:38.791 - - 8
21 Timo Glock Virgin 1:40.648 - - 8
22 Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin 1:41.001 - - 7
23 Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT 1:41.549 - - 7
24 Narain Karthikeyan HRT 1:42.574 - - 7
Q1 107% Time 1:43.516

[cmlean]

That qualifying lap by Vettel to put himself on pole just shows the quality of the man. He is really in tune with his car and the team at this point of the season.

[cosicave]

cmlean:
It was a great lap; no doubt.

As for 'superiority'; my belief is consistent with others in the paddock that Red Bull have the superior car and that McLaren have begun to approach Red Bull largely as a result of their driver line-up.

We have 7 hours to go until they show us what they're made of, but my belief is that McLaren's drivers are making up for the shortcomings of their car, which is likely to result in a very close battle between man and machine. - Red Bull's machine and McLaren's men…

[mlittle]

That qualifying lap by Vettel to put himself on pole just shows the quality of the man. He is really in tune with his car and the team at this point of the season.

Agreed!

[Thaddeus]

Voted for Heidfeld as best driver. He had a phenomenal start (the Renault takes off like a rocket) and managed to hold off a determined Webber.

Damned shame Kubica couldn't start the season. He could've been winning races.

[cmlean]

cmlean:
It was a great lap; no doubt.

As for 'superiority'; my belief is consistent with others in the paddock that Red Bull have the superior car and that McLaren have begun to approach Red Bull largely as a result of their driver line-up.

Superiority ....????? No mention from me. Quality of the man...yes, that was me.

[Ed]

Race Results:

Position Driver Team Laps Time/Gap
1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull 56 1:37:39.832
2 Jenson Button McLaren 56 +3.2
3 Nick Heidfeld Lotus Renault 56 +25.0
4 Mark Webber Red Bull 56 +26.3
5 Felipe Massa Ferrari 56 +36.9
6 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 56 +57.2 (20 seconds penalty included)
7 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber 56 +66.4
8 Lewis Hamilton McLaren 56 +69.9 (20 seconds penalty included)
9 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 56 +84.8
10 Paul di Resta Force India 56 +91.5
11 Adrian Sutil Force India 55 + 1 Lap
12 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 55 +1 Lap
13 Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso 55 +1 Lap
14 Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso 55 +1 Lap
15 Heikki Kovalainen Team Lotus 55 +1 Lap
16 Timo Glock Virgin 54 +2 Laps
17 Vitaly Petrov Lotus Renault 52 Accident
Retired
Vitantonio Liuzzi HRT 46 Rear wing
Jerome d'Ambrosio Virgin 42 Accident
Jarno Trulli Team Lotus 31 Clutch
Sergio Perez Sauber 23 Accident
Rubens Barrichello Williams 22 Hydraulics
Narain Karthikeyan HRT 14 Hydraulics
Pastor Maldonado Williams 8 Engine misfire

Note - Hamilton and Alonso had 20s added to their race times after a collision.

[jacfan]

I gave my DotD to Mark Webber. He had a horrible start to the race and despite all being against him he came back to get a very well deserved 4th place. Yes Seb was brilliant but much easier to stay in front than play catch up.

[jido]

Webber did great, but for me it is Vettel. He managed to grab the pole and had a masterful drive.