As expected, Sebastian Vettel once again dominated the race at Sepang, and, like Melbourne, was chased home by a McLaren and a Renault. As in Melbourne, Webber failed to impress, and with his several pit stops, it looked more like a tyre test for him than a competitive event.
The expected downpour did not materialize, though there was enough drizzle to make everyone a bit nervous. Red Bull says their KERS system is not working, and yet they continue to be faster than everyone else. Are they sandbagging? Spreading disinformation? The clear radio calls to Vettel telling him to turn his KERS off could be heard in garages up and down the pitlane, yet no one could really make an impression on him.
Trailing Vettel to the flag were Button, showing that McLaren are as close to the Red Bulls as anyone, and, in a drive that had to do as much for his confidence as Petrov's had in Melbourne, Nick Heidfeld. A result which should bode well for his confidence as long as he has the drive.
Robert Kubica must be quite unhappy that he is not behind the wheel of this car, as the Renault clearly has speed and potential. Heidfeld's teammate Petrov was looking to be in the points until the last few laps, when he suddenly decided to try out for the next round of Red Bull's Flugtag competition, missing a corner, and then launching himself over a kerb so hard that the Renault's steering was broken when it landed.
Tyres were as much an issue as expected, but the degradation seemed to affect most cars about the same, and the strategy of when to change wound up significantly affecting Hamilton more than anyone. The Ferraris came home fifth and sixth, unable to generate enough pace even to match Webber, despite all his tyre stops. Kobayashi brought his Sauber home 8th, and the last two points positions went to Schumacher and Di Resta. Mercedes continue to struggle, and, as frustrated as Ross Brawn undoubtedly is, when he goes home and is alone with his thoughts, he must laugh himself silly that the diffuser he and his people cooked up for the 2009 Brawn has guaranteed his family's economic security for a few generations.
Now it's on to Shanghai this weekend, and more Tilke tedium. I've been driving the track on my computer, and I don't think I have seen a turn anywhere quite like the 270 degree turn one here, except perhaps on some amusement park ride. Its steadily tightening radius virtually guarantees a first-corner crash, as the accordion closes in on itself. The long back straight will give as good evidence as any as to the effectiveness of the movable rear wing in terms of encouraging passing, which did work better at Sepang than at Melbourne.
The engineers at Pirelli must be going crazy, trying to make the tyres grip and last, and to keep the degradation under control. If it had been one of Hercules' tasks, I think he would still be at it. My BMW needs new tyres. Perhaps out of sympathy for what their people are going through I'll get a set of Pirellis.
As he has dominated both races so far, I'll take Vettel for the win again this weekend, with Alonso chasing him home this time, Hamilton third, Webber fourth, Massa fifth, Petrov sixth, Button seventh, Kobayashi eighth, Rosberg ninth, and Schumacher tenth. When the races are just one week apart it keeps my thirst for the sounds and sights of F1 fully slaked.
Jim Casey
jim.casey@pitpass.com
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