2008 Malaysian Grand Prix

Sureboss · Mar 18, 2008

So quickly onto race number 2. I expect conditions as tough for the cars and drivers.

Ferrari haven't got long to change, after an awful race at Melbourne. I think Lewis has to be the odds on man, hasn't he?

GMT starting times.

Qualifying 6AM GMT
Race 7AM GMT

Dedicated to Muzaffar Musa...

DQuaN · Mar 18, 2008

Kimi will have a fresh engine and be able to turn up the wick. Now we really see how McLarens reliability is. Will they still be able to push hard on the second engine or have to be more conservative?

Appie · Mar 18, 2008

Well compared to last year, the Mercedes engine was alomost bulletproof. So i expect that both the driver will finish the race.

prisonermonkeys · Mar 18, 2008

I've always liked Sepang; it's easily the best of the Hermann Tilke circuits. It really needs an upgrade, though.

Muzaffar · Mar 18, 2008

WTF? Already posted? How dare you!!!!!!

Well its going to be interesting how this race is going to be like with the blistering heat of Malaysia. I wonder how those engines are gonna last thoughout the weekend especially the drivers who managed to finish in Australia. I find Ferrari may benefit from this as they can change their engines for this race since both cars retired from the race.

J-PaP · Mar 18, 2008

I was pretty sure that Malaysia isn't as hot as Australia was last weekend? I think we'll see a much less hectic race this weekend where at least enough cars finish to fill the points lol. My tip is for a ferrari comeback this race but mclaren splitting the 2 ferrari's and bmw and alonso close behind.

Muzaffar · Mar 18, 2008

Have you ever been to Malaysia before? There is a reason why the Malaysian GP is considered "the hottest race of the season" for a reason you know.

With the air temperature 30+°C with a high humidity, its a recipe for disaster. But the weather could act up around this time of the year with unexpected overcast which could play a big part in the race.......

Also, this is the 10th Malaysian GP so like yeah.......

J-PaP · Mar 18, 2008

no I haven't. I trust your info though over what I heard from last weekend regarding weather in Malaysia. Reporters had said weather would be around 30 degrees for next weekend with high humidity. It reached 41 last weekend hence I said I expected conditions to not be as bad this weekend.

mustang245 · Mar 18, 2008

Do you race?
I've always liked Sepang; it's easily the best of the Hermann Tilke circuits. It really needs an upgrade, though.

Agreed...
but then I like all the 'Tilke-dromes'.

Sureboss · Mar 18, 2008

Muzaffar Musa
WTF? Already posted? How dare you!!!!!!

Sorry for stealing your thunder.

Lee · Mar 18, 2008

Maybe Webber can finish his second race in seven attempts at Sepang!

MagpieRacer · Mar 18, 2008

Prediction:

Ferrari comeback with a Kimi/Felipe 1-2, Hamilton 3rd, Heidfeld 4th, Rosberg 5th, Button 6th, Coulthard 7th, Kubica 8th.

Alex. · Mar 18, 2008

Sounds good to me Ash

I want to see Torro 'for sale' Rosso do well, maybe one of the guys in the top 8 👍

Dougboy · Mar 18, 2008

MildAshers
Prediction:

Ferrari comeback with a Kimi/Felipe 1-2, Hamilton 3rd, Heidfeld 4th, Rosberg 5th, Button 6th, Coulthard 7th, Kubica 8th.

👍 .........except take hamilton out and put in Heikki. And swap Coulthard with Bourdais :sly:

ROAD_DOGG33J · Mar 18, 2008

Bubble Bunny
👍 .........except take hamilton out and put in Heikki. And swap Coulthard with Bourdais

then swap Kubica with Rosberg, and Alonso with Rosberg again

However that will work out:tup: :dunce:

I hope everybody has their reliability sorted out, since the humidity won't make this any better than Australia.

CAMikaze · Mar 19, 2008

Do you race?
I've always liked Sepang; it's easily the best of the Hermann Tilke circuits. It really needs an upgrade, though.

Any suggestiuons as to how?

As for me, I like the track as well, nice and wide with not a chicane to traverse.

It makes for a pleasnt racing experience if it were 82 degrees farenheit with a cool breeze and low humidity. But this is the late-summer in Malaysia we're talking about here, and I don't know if a 2 liter bottle of ice cold Gatorade will do much to cool you off if it's in the high 90's in both temperature and humidity! :crazy:

EDIT: Just looked up the weekend forecast on AccuWeather, and saw that they're forecasting cloudy and humid with thunderstorms with the High teperatures to reach 31 °C all through the race weekend.

prisonermonkeys · Mar 19, 2008

CAMikaze
Any suggestiuons as to how?

Just stuff like the facilities, really. I hear it's fallen into disrepair lately; I watched the telecast of last year's race and part of the straight just before the final corner looked like it could do with re-surfacing.

JohnBM01 · Mar 19, 2008

Let me just offer some basic comments on Sepang. This track was created back in 1999(?). This is one of my all-time favorite Asian tracks. Maybe my favorite mainland Asia track. Favorite Asian island track? It's Suzuka. Sepang, to me, is two circuits built into one Malaysian demon. The overall flow of the track is just amazing. I love the rhythm of this track. Starting out slow from the first two corners can be tricky. I think Allan McNish described the first section as something similar to the Laguna Seca corkscrew (wouldn't you love to see F1 race Laguna Seca for a United States Grand Prix?). I can call it a very fast track, only not Monza fast. And just when you think you have this track figured out, it always finds some sort of way to surprise you. There's also another challenge with this track- the heat. Part of the reason why it's so hot is because it's so close to the Equator. So there's more heat from the sun, which warms up the place like an oven. So challenging a track like this while dealing with the heat make winning here even more of a challenge. I think the tropical kind of setting makes it unique as well. Kind of like a Malaysian racing paradise. I love tropical and urban settings, so I'm very fond of this track. My personal trickiest part of the track is the backstretch before Turn 15. You're going so fast trying to do drafting battles, but you have to slow it down and prepare yourself for the front stretch. I find it strange that the back stretch is followed by the front stretch connected by one crucial corner. It's a magical place.

To be honest, I consider myself pretty educated in geography. Trouble is, I don't know too much about Malaysia to say that I know Malaysia inside and out. I know it's where Proton cars are made (they even had a one-off MotoGP project with the Proton KR MX2). Kuala Lumpur is the capital city and famous for the Petronas Towers, which are the largest twin towers in the world and a true architectural marvel. It's also a country that has its own supercar (which name and maker fail me to this day).

One great thing about Formula One (as well as any other international-spec racing series) is that it opens you up to the world. I personally enjoy seeing all sorts of great sights from around the world. The Nürburg Castle at the Nürburgring is a wonderful sight. I love Austria. Such a beautiful country even when there's racing at the A-1 Ring. I especially enjoy F1 racing at Monaco. When I think of Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur comes to mind as well as the awesome Sepang circuit. Can't wait to see how this race ends.

Muzaffar · Mar 19, 2008

Sureshot
Sorry for stealing your thunder.

Its okay. Your acknowledgment is good enough for me.

Don't forget about me guys, I do live in Malaysia and not far off from Sepang (about a 1/2 drive from my place if I used the highway to go there) Its definitely one of the convenient circuit in the calendar. The circuit is not far off KLIA, which makes transportation very easy on the team and tourist. This track is also one of the first track to be designed by Hermann Tilke for F1. Well, I know many has said that Sepang seems to be "rusty" in a way, but hopefully the track is to be refurbish (I don't really know how to say it....) by 2009, when Sepang will host the 2nd night race in F1.

As for the weather, its very unpredictable because of the tropical weather. It could be very hot one day, and could be a thunderstorm the next. Currently, it does rain a lot these past few days (especially during the evening), but hopefully there will be a sunny race all weekend long (as it usually is) but like I said, it can be very unpredictable. But still, a wet race with no driver aids does bring some excitement and a bit of drifting action in the race. 👍

I don't really have a prediction for the race, but I have a feeling that Ferrari may come out victorious, while McLaren, BMW and Renault will have to nurse their car to the finish line as the engine has already last through one race. I do hope that Nelsinho would have a better run here than in Melbourne. As for the midfield runners, I think Honda could shine again here with the performance in Melbourne (although I feel that Barrichello and his "rookie" mistakes did cost him those points....) unless of course their engine is a reliable as last years car. :indiff:

Williams recent form really does prove that the team can run against the bigger teams and surprise everyone, Nico could get another podium if he race as good as last weekend....

Sureboss · Mar 19, 2008

resurfaced is the word I think you mean.

Muzaffar · Mar 19, 2008

Sureshot
resurfaced is the word I think you mean.

Well..... there is certainly more to do than resurfacing the road. I think they need to improve the grandstand more (like replacing seats, repaint the stands, etc.) maybe improving the facilities (this track is getting old you know....) , and of course, getting those floodlights for the night race (if confirmed) Yeah, still can't find a suitable word for it..... oh well.

KSaiyu · Mar 19, 2008

One of the Ferrari engines blows up over the weekend.

Yeah I said it.

Alex. · Mar 19, 2008

My prediction is:

Hamilton wins the race, he wins the championship. If ferrari cant beat mclaren on new engines then what hope is there?

Only_in_f1 · Mar 19, 2008

Alex.
My prediction is:

Hamilton wins the race, he wins the championship. If ferrari cant beat mclaren on new engines then what hope is there?

Im not sure. If by Monaco Ferrari hasn't won a race then yes, the championship is Lewis Hamilton's. I think this was just a blip. Kimi's raw pace was good he just ruined his own race with some stupid overtaking moves. Massa, well i've always said he to erratic. With Sauber he crashed alot. Last year was was good, unlucky, but good however I think this was down to the Ferrari being so good. Kova is another who will do better because of the car but I think he is a better driver than Massa.

BMW and Williams are my ones to watch for this race. Nico and Nick are in with a chance of a podium. I think here a few years ago Rosberg got the fastest lap. Honda are another outside team in with a shout of a point, providing they stick to the rules and complete the first lap.

Red Bull and Torro Rosso are quite even I believe. Vettel is a decent and talented young driver and Bourdais looks quite consistant and sensible so this season looks quite solid for STR. Webber's bad luck continued and hes due a good position and DC solid as ever also will bring rewards I believe.

Roo · Mar 19, 2008

Alex.
My prediction is:

Hamilton wins the race, he wins the championship. If ferrari cant beat mclaren on new engines then what hope is there?

Ferrari haven't been great in hot conditions the last year or so. We'll see when we're back in Europe how they're shaping up. Remember, in both 2007 and 2006 Ferrari were well behind half way through the season and came right in the hunt at the end.

Only_in_f1
I think here a few years ago Rosberg got the fastest lap.

He's only had one, on his debut in Bahrain.

Only_in_f1 · Mar 19, 2008

Roo
He's only had one, on his debut in Bahrain.

Ah I knew it was somewhere like that. He had an engine failure in Malaysia the next race I think.

Cheers Roo.

Z · Mar 19, 2008

KSaiyu
One of the Ferrari engines blows up over the weekend.

Yeah I said it.

A Ferrari will probably spin before that happens. Yay for the rainy season without TC. :scared:

http://www.weather.com/outlook/travel/businesstraveler/tenday/MYXX0008?from=36hr_topnav_business

Robin · Mar 19, 2008

I always thought Bahrain comes next, guess they changed it this year...

Only_in_f1 · Mar 19, 2008

Robin.
I always thought Bahrain comes next, guess they changed it this year...

In 06 when Rosberg got his fastest lap Bahrain was the 1st race. Then 07 and 08 Bahrain is behind Malaysia.

kjb · Mar 19, 2008

Let ask you guys a question. Does anybody think the lacking of driving aids will be a factor in this race? I think they might have contributed to some of the problems last race JMHO

2008 Malaysian Grand Prix

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