29/03/2015
NEWS STORY
Sadly, on a day there were so many positives, the (mainly British) media focussed on the negative, real or perceived.
On a day Sebastian Vettel demonstrated that Ferrari really is (almost) back in the game, when Marcus Ericsson made it out of Q1 for the first time in his (admittedly brief) F1 career, when Max Verstappen, in just his second race, equalled the best qualifying result achieved by his father Jos in 106 Grands Prix and also secured the best starting position by a teenager since Ricardo Rodriguez at Monza in 1961, the (mainly British) media focussed on a perceived spat between the Mercedes teammates, once again trying to build up the sort of jingoistic nonsense that belongs in Allo, Allo and Dad's Army.
Rather than trying to drive a wedge between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, if the (mainly British) media had focussed on the increasingly confusing saga that is Crashgate2, we could have understood. But sadly, not for the first time, it has opted for the easy option, bash Johnny Foreigner.
It's funny, but another thing we noticed yesterday was the praise for the Sepang circuit and its creator Hermann Tilke. Funny but we always thought that, other than Istanbul, his tracks were dire and weren't suitable, indeed prevented, real racing, but what do we know.
The mixed conditions in qualifying mean we have an interesting grid, and while there is no sign of rain at present we all know how quickly that can change.
Furthermore, in the wake of last year's tragedy at Suzuka, and mindful of the traditional weather patterns here, the race is an hour earlier than last year, and though we might still see rain there is also the problem caused by the higher temperatures encountered in the earlier start.
As expected the Silver Arrows are at the front, however, they are split by Sebastian Vettel, the German looking a lot happier than he did at this stage last year. Sadly, poor strategy from the Italian team leaves his teammate Kimi Raikkonen languishing in eleventh, although now he will start from the fifth row after Romain Grosjean's penalty.
That said, on Friday the red cars looked very strong on their longer runs in similar temperatures. Therefore, whilst most are contemplating three, possibly even four, stops, some believe the Maranello drivers could opt for just two.
Red Bull will hardly believe its luck, what with Daniel Ricciardo and Daniil Kvyat starting fourth and fifth, however, we know its race pace isn't good and other than the intervention of the weather gods or some serious mistakes or reliability issues elsewhere, they will be fortunate to finish in the same positions.
Toro Rosso continues to improve and while Carlos Sainz made a mistake which meant he was unable to post a strong time before the rain hit, we fully expect him to get the STR10 into the points by the end of the afternoon.
Of course, the incredible Verstappen is getting all the media attention, and rightly so, his is clearly a special talent, but Sainz is also someone to keep an eye on.
Quite what Williams was doing in terms of its tyre choice in Q3 is a mystery to us all, and even when on the correct (new inter) rubber the FW37 wasn't impressive. Clearly, not only has the Grove outfit failed to pick up where it left off in Abu Dhabi 2014, it has been leapfrogged by Ferrari.
Another strong performance from Sauber, and how interesting to note, given certain issues in Melbourne, Peter Sauber is present, as he was in Australia. The C34 is an obvious improvement on its predecessor, not forgetting the improvements made by Ferrari, whilst Marcus Ericsson and Felipe Nasr are doing all that can be expected in the cockpit.
It's disappointing to see Grosjean lose two positions for a silly mistake in Q2, the Frenchman naturally eager to get out as soon as possible, however, the Enstone outfit look quietly confident. All we can hope is that Romain and Pastor Maldonado can survive the first lap unlike Melbourne.
Force India has made it clear that we will not see any serious progress until later in the season, so in the meantime Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez will look to profit from the mistakes of others, no doubt hoping that the weather gods do play a part in today's race.
Ignoring the saga that is Crashgate2, McLaren is taking - or rather it is having to take - the 'softly, softly catchee monkey' approach. Like Ron Dennis, we have every reason to believe that things will improve, though not by the start of the European season, however, what really confuses us is Fernando Alonso's attitude, this new found positivity, loyalty and faith. Has he been cloned, does he still believe it is 1995? Anyway, like Force India, the Woking outfit will be looking for damage limitation today, maximum damage limitation.
Following the debacle of Melbourne, it's all systems go for Manor, and while Will Stevens was unable to post a time in qualifying and teammate Roberto Merhi was outside the 107% cut-off in Q1, both drivers have been given the all-clear to run.
However, less than an hour before the start of the race the team announced that "as we have not been able to get on top of the fuel system problem from yesterday, Will is unable to start today's race".
Nonetheless, the team, particularly its drivers, face a long, hot afternoon... and many more long afternoons.
Tyre degradation means that, unlike 2014, we are expecting three stops to be the norm. The best three-stop strategy is: to start on the medium, switch to the hard on lap 11, hard again on lap 26 and a final stint on the hard from lap 41. An alternative three-stop strategy is to start on medium, medium again on lap 11, medium again on lap 24, and hard from lap 37. If degradation is sufficiently contained, the fastest two-stop strategy would be start on medium, hard on lap 15 and hard again on lap 36.
Yesterday's rain has washed the track clean of the rubber laid down previously, which makes the degradation rates more complex to calculate. There is theoretically very little time difference between a two and three stop strategy, which could make it possible for some teams to keep a flexible approach and switch from one to the other.
The pitlane opens, one by one the drivers make their way to the grid. First out is Vettel.
There's some minor drama when a Sauber crew member is clipped by Hamilton's car as it is pushed down the grid.
Five minutes before the field heads off on the warm-up lap, the air temperature is 34 degrees C, whilst the track temperature is 60 degrees.
As they head off on the warm-up lap Button and Alonso are the only drivers not on the option rubber.
They're away and despite Rosberg's best efforts Vettel holds him off into T1, a strong start by Hamilton who head the Ferrari, his Mercedes teammate, Ricciardo, Massa and Kvyat.
Bad start from Verstappen however, who has lost a number of places whilst Maldonado appears to touch Bottas. The Lotus driver is subsequently told he has a puncture to his right-rear.
On lap 2, another driver with a puncture is the hapless Raikkonen, who has been involved in an incident with Nasr who made a somewhat rash move on the inside of the Ferrari driver just after the final corner. In no time at all the tyre is falling from the rim and eventually disintegrates leaving Raikkonen to complete a whole before he gets back to the pits.
After 2 laps it's Hamilton, Vettel, Rosberg, Ricciardo, Massa, Kvyat, Hulkenberg, Ericsson, Verstappen and Grosjean.
After an early stop for a new front wing for his Sauber teammate following his clash with Raikkonen, Ericsson spins off at T1 and is beached in the gravel. Out comes the Safety Car. Replay shows the Swede making an overambitious move on Hulkenberg.
At the end of lap 4, behind the Safety Car, Hamilton pits, as do Rosberg, Ricciardo, Massa, Kvyat, Verstappen and a whole host of others. Vettel, Hulkenberg, Grosjean, Sainz, Perez and Merhi are the only drivers who don't stop.
Vettel claims that the Mercedes of Hamilton deliberately slowed before the pit stop.
At the end of lap 6 the Safety Car pulls off, Hamilton leads the field into T1 as Massa makes a move on Rosberg.
Verstappen, who like Hamilton has switched to primes, makes a great move on Kvyat to take ninth.
"Can I pass people, because they're not trying to catch the Safety Car," moans Raikkonen.
Pretty soon, Vettel leads Hulkenberg by 6.8s with Grosjean a further 0.5s behind. Sainz is fourth, 0.8s down on Grosjean and just 0.2s ahead of Hamilton.
Hamilton makes a great move on Sainz in T1 to take fourth at the end of lap 9 as Ericsson walks slowly back to his garage, his head down. Rosberg is still in seventh, 0.2s down on Ricciardo.
As Vettel enjoys a 9.6s lead, Hamilton passes Grosjean and sets off after Hulkenberg, the world champion making short work of the German. The Briton is a man on a mission.
Raikkonen is now up to fourteenth, chasing down former teammate Alonso.
A great scrap between Sainz, Ricciardo and Rosberg, the German nailing the Red Bull driver on the pit straight. Elsewhere, Raikkonen passes Alonso and sets off after Perez who is 4.8s up the road.
Currently 10.2s down on Vettel, Hamilton posts a personal best (46.352), as Rosberg passes Sainz and chases down Grosjean.
Going into T1 at the start of lap 14, Rosberg passes Hulkenberg to take third.
On consecutive laps Ricciardo is passed by Massa and then Bottas, the Australian now likely to be attacked by Verstappen.
At the end of lap 15, Hulkenberg and Grosjean both pit, rejoining in 16th and 17th.
Vettel's lead is now down to 8.8s as Rosberg is around the same distance behind Hamilton.
Perez is passed by Button as they fight for 11th, the Mexican tries to re-take the place but is unable to make it stick. Nasr keeps a watching eye.
At the end of lap 17 Vettel pits, 23.996s later he rejoins the race, still on options, in third, behind the Mercedes duo but ahead of the Williams pair.
Great move by Kvyat on Ricciardo as the Russian takes seventh. Perez pits.
At the end of lap 18 Ricciardo makes his second stop, as does Maldonado.
"Plan A will require 10 more laps, is that possible," Button is asked. "Probably not," comes the reply. At which point the McLaren, suffering front-left tyre wear, is passed by Raikkonen.
Currently 2.4s down on Rosberg, Vettel posts a new fastest lap (44.452).
Rosberg is advised that he and Vettel have one more stop to make. So both are clearly on a two-stop strategy. "If he goes by me he's won," says Rosberg.
After 20 laps, it's Hamilton, Rosberg (7.1s down), Vettel (0.6s), Massa (13.6), Bottas (2.1) and Raikkonen (9.4).
As Alonso is told that he has a terminal problem and has to retire, Vettel makes short work of Rosberg in T15, the Mercedes left for dead.
In no time at all Vettel is just 4.2s down Hamilton who warns that his "rears are dropping off". Elsewhere, Verstappen is taking no prisoners as he passes Ricciardo to take 10th.
Seeing Vettel looming large in his mirrors (1.2s behind) Hamilton is clearly worried. Meanwhile, Verstappen takes ninth as he passes Hulkenberg.
On the back straight Vettel sweeps past Hamilton to take the lead, the Briton peeling off into the pitlane to pit. He rejoins in third, just 3.9s ahead of Bottas as Massa also pits.
Kvyat lines up his Red Bull teammate who is behind Hulkenberg.
On lap 26 Rosberg is told that it will be one more lap. Meanwhile, Raikkonen passes Bottas with ease to take fourth, the Williams driver subsequently pitting.
Ricciardo is told that his front wing damage is such that he shouldn't hold up Kvyat. He duly obliges but as the Russian passes him and gets slightly ahead of the Force India, the two touch sending Kvyat into a spin and dropping him to 13th.
Rosberg pits, but unlike his Mercedes teammate he sticks with the prime rubber. This, of course, promotes Raikkonen to third, 11.4s down on Hamilton.
A new fastest lap from Hamilton (44.293) as he seeks to close the 21.2s gap to Vettel.
"I'm a little bit surprised," says Button, "we appear to be catching cars". "They are stuck behind Hulkenberg," he is told. At which point Ricciardo passes the Force India which still has Kvyat, Perez and Grosjean in his wake.
As Rosberg, on fresh rubber, passes Raikkonen, it is revealed that the incident involving Hulkenberg and Kvyat will be investigated.
Verstappen passes his teammate to take sixth, which is exactly where he started.
"What's our target, what do you think we can get," asks Hamilton. "You can win, but you'll have to do it on track," he is told. Meanwhile, Rosberg is told that he can still take second.
Grosjean makes a move on Perez at T12 but the Mexican is having none of it, they touch and the Lotus spins off and down the standings to fourteenth. "I can't believe it," cries the Frenchman.
At the end of lap 31 Hulkenberg pits as the stewards reveal they are investigating the Perez/Grosjean incident.
After 32 laps, it's: Vettel, Hamilton (16.2), Rosberg (13.4), Raikkonen (10.4), Massa (13.5), Verstappen (4.3).
As Sainz pits, Perez is handed a 10s time penalty for the Grosjean incident. To compound Force India's misery, Hulkenberg is also handed a 10s time penalty for the incident with Kvyat.
Verstappen and Bottas having a great scrap for sixth, the youngster is passed but immediately re-takes the position. However, the Finn ultimately gets by at T5. In the Toro Rosso garage Jos Verstappen is smiling. And why not.
Raikkonen makes his final stop at the end of lap 34, the Finn now on the prime rubber. Ricciardo also pits. Raikkonen rejoins in seventh and the Australian in twelfth.
Perez and Button both pit at the end of lap 36. The Briton rejoins in 14th, the Mexican, who serves his penalty, 16th.
Vettel pits at the end of lap 37 as teammate Raikkonen passes Verstappen to take sixth. Taking on the primes, 25.092s later he rejoins alongside Rosberg, the Ferrari driver holding on to second despite the Mercedes driver's 'best' efforts around the outside in T1.
"Tyres aren't very good man," warns Hamilton, "getting slower and slower." At the end of the lap (38) he pits. Taking on the primes he rejoins in third, 1s down on his teammate who is 2.6s down on Vettel.
Massa has also pitted, the Williams driver rejoining in seventh.
"This is the wrong tyre man," says Hamilton. "He is told that this is the only set available, a decision that was basically made in qualifying yesterday.
After 39 laps (of 56), it's: Vettel, Rosberg (4.5), Hamilton (9.3), Bottas (24.8), Raikkonen (2.6), Verstappen (12.1) and Massa (5.8).
Vettel posts a new fastest lap (44.012) but it is instantly beaten by Hamilton (43.161).
Verstappen pits, having taken a trip through the gravel at the pit lane entrance, as Button complains he has lost power. Rosberg and Bottas also stop, the German rejoining in third.
Elsewhere, Hamilton is told that his confusion over the tyres was caused by "chatter".
"Hey man, don't talk to me through the corners," complains Hamilton following a subsequent 'conversation', "I nearly went off."
"I know you don't like to hear this, but I don't think I can make it to the end on these," complains Hulkenberg, his tyres seemingly shot.
Button is finally back in the pits, the Briton being pushed straight in to his garage and retirement.
A new fastest lap from Rosberg (42.062) as he sets about closing the 11.2s gap to Hamilton who is 12.7s down on Vettel.
"Blue flag, blue flag, blue flag" says Vettel as he watches Hulkenberg and Grosjean squabbling ahead. He gets by the Force India but loses time behind the Lotus.
"We're doing 44.2, he's in traffic, we're going to need 42.7s if we're going to catch him," Hamilton is told, the gap to Vettel still at 11s.
Hulkenberg pits at the end of lap 45, his third stop of the afternoon.
45 laps and it's: Vettel, Hamilton, Rosberg, Raikkonen, Massa, Bottas, Sainz, Verstappen, Ricciardo, Kvyat, Grosjean, Maldonado, Perez, Nasr, Hulkenberg and Merhi.
Never mind the fight for the lead, all eyes are on the battle between Sainz and Verstappen for seventh. A similar scrap shaping up between the Williams duo as Bottas closes in on Massa.
A nice, mature move in T4 sees Verstappen take seventh from his teammate on his older, harder rubber.
With 8 laps remaining, Hamilton remains 10.7s adrift of Vettel with Rosberg a further 8.7s behind. Running a solitary fourth, following an eventful afternoon, is Raikkonen.
At the end of lap 49, Maldonado becomes the fourth retirement of the afternoon.
Ignoring the situation with the Mercedes, if ever proof were needed that Vettel and Ferrari are back, look no further than the sight of the German preparing to lap the two Red Bulls which are running ninth and tenth. Christian Horner watches from the pit wall, the irony clearly not lost on him.
As Vettel sweeps past the two Red Bulls, Kvyat seizes the opportunity to pass his Red Bull teammate who has front wing damage from earlier in the race.
Massa and Bottas still battling hard for 5th with just 3 laps remaining. In reality, it's the only battle currently taking place.
Bottas makes a move in T1, they appear to touch. Massa is having none of it. In T5 however, the Finn has great traction coming out of T4 and makes short work of his veteran teammate.
Vettel begins the final lap, 10.5s clear of Hamilton, Ferrari seemingly heading for its first win since Barcelona in 2013.
He takes the flag, much to the delight of his crew and the fans who can be heard cheering.
"Great drive, great drive," comes the cry over the radio from the pit wall, "numero uno, numero uno, Ferrari is back!"
"Fantastico, fantastico," shouts Vettel in his best Italian, "Forza Ferrari!"
Whilst this should not be taken as the end of Mercedes reign, it is a great result for the sport, for the fans, for Ferrari and Vettel.
Though Ferrari is clearly stronger than it was in 2014, much of today is down to those four bits of rubber.
Nonetheless, the fact is that Mercedes is going to be challenged at certain circuits this year, in certain conditions, which is good for all of us.
Whilst Mercedes, and in particular Hamilton, will be bitterly disappointed, the rest of us can savour the fact that this was a good race - not a great race, a good one.
Other than Vettel's win, which signals the fact that Raikkonen will also be challenging once his issues (and bad luck) are resolved) there is the depth of talent throughout the field in terms of drivers and the obvious pendulum of strength in terms of the teams.
As the trio, Vettel, Hamilton and Rosberg stand on the podium, the Ferrari driver, in particular, looks absolutely shattered. Eventually, all three succumb to the heat and opt to sit down for the podium interviews.
The German national anthem is followed by that of Italy, bringing back emotional memories of that legendary Schumacher era, Michael taking seven races to open his victory account with the Maranello outfit. How wonderful it would be to think of him savouring this moment, enjoying his protégé's success.
The day is best summed up by Rosberg, who admits: "Game on Ferrari. They did an awesome job today, but we'll be back next race."
Check out our Sunday gallery, here.