If ever there could be a test for F1’s new technologies, Sepang would be it. The massive heat and rough surface would challenge the new tyres; the long straights and tight corners were tailor-made for the DRS. Everyone making their way into the jungle for the Malaysian Grand Prix got that shiver of excitement from stepping into the unknown. Here there be Tygers
Sebastian Vettel came to Sepang off a win in Melbourne – not that he wanted to dwell…
“Australia is history. We have got that one in the bag and a lot of points, but we have got to leave that behind us and focus on what is going on here."
Sebastian Vettel, Red Bull Racing
Meanwhile, Seb’s boss was very happy with how the team had hit the ground running in 2011
“We turned up in Melbourne, not knowing the true extent of how competitive we were in respect of our rivals so it was a great satisfaction to win the opening race in a place where historically we’ve had indifferent results. The only thing that was missing for us from that result was not to have the other car up there as well.”
Christian Horner, Team Principal, Red Bull Racing
Regarding that ‘other car’ Mark arrived to a media inquisition as to why he’d not been on Sebastian’s pace in Albert Park.
“There were a few issues we discovered post-race, and they were things that certainly did not help the situation. We want to do a better job this weekend, get more out of the car and hang out at the front like we normally have been. Beyond that I don’t want to go into it too much further. Let’s talk about Malaysia.”
Mark Webber, Red Bull Racing
© Getty Images for Red Bull Racing
Talking of Malaysia, the team announced KERS was back on the car…
“We’ll be using KERS. Obviously we haven’t tested since Melbourne and this is the first time it’s gone back on the car – but will get some confidence with it in Friday practice.”
Mark Webber
… And so was DRS
"You have a slow corner to open the lap, a braking point into a slow corner at Turn One and Heathrow Airport in between. If it doesn’t work here, it isn’t going to work anywhere.”
Mark Webber
Despite Mark topping the time charts in both Friday sessions, the talk was that McLaren were closing in.
“We don’t know what fuel loads the other teams were running. What’s important, though, is that we changed a lot of things on the car and they were all positive steps. We feel like we’ve found a good direction – and hopefully there’ll be more to come.”
Jenson Button, McLaren
As expected, everyone was burning through tyres is short time
“Somehow I don’t think we’re going to be two-stopping this weekend.”
Sebastian Vettel
© Getty Images for Red Bull Racing
Meanwhile, rumblings about Red Bull’s front wing were resurrected…
“To be honest, it gets a bit boring after a while. I’ve had a year of people moaning and whining about our front wing. The tests were made more rigorous by the FIA and the wing has been examined in great detail.”
Adrian Newey, Chief Technical Officer, Red Bull Racing
“The car complies with the regs. The FIA is happy with that and we’re obviously very comfortable with that.”
Christian Horner
“I read a few comments – I had to check the date because I thought we did this last year.”
Sebastian Vettel
Qualifying was very different to what the teams faced two weeks ago – but the same drivers, in the same order, took the top spots. Seb was on pole, followed by Lewis Hamilton and Mark – but the gaps were smaller.
“I am very pleased we made it because it’s very important here to be on the clean side. On the other hand there are so many things still to come. I’m surprised it hasn’t rained yet.”
Sebastian Vettel
“I’m really happy to be up on the front row. Hopefully, I’ll have a better start than I did in Melbourne, so we can have more of a fight and I’ll get a chance to compete with Sebastian at the first corner and for the first couple of laps.”
Lewis Hamilton – McLaren
“It was a better performance from me today compared to Melbourne and so I’m looking forward to tomorrow.”
Mark Webber
Teams were also becoming more confident about the new tyres.
"We've seen a performance gap of about 1.2 seconds per lap between the soft and the hard tyre and that obviously had a big effect on the strategies used during qualifying, which made for a thrilling session right up to the very final seconds. If today is anything to judge by, I think we're in for a very exciting race tomorrow, where once more the strategy will be crucial."
Paul Hembery, Pirelli’s director of motorsport
© Getty Images for Red Bull Racing
The race started with Vettel getting off the line well, only to face an unexpected challenge...
“KERS saved our life today at the start. I was focussed on Lewis behind me and all of a sudden Nick [Heidfeld] was there. I had to defend a little bit into Turn Two, focus on a good exit, which was crucial as then I was ahead and could use the first stint to build up a little gap.”
Sebastian Vettel
But Mark had a dreadful start as his KERS failed, dropping him back from third to ninth.
“It wasn’t a good start out of the box and we had a failure with the KERS which put me out of position on the first lap. On the first three or four laps, I was trying to pass people, but they were coming back on the straights; it was tough to clear people when I didn’t have KERS.”
Mark Webber
Seb’s KERS lasted until L29, when word came from the pitwall to stop using it. Mysteriously it came back later on.
“[After Australia] we worked very hard and we got it working, but in the race something happened, I don’t quite yet know what it was but we used it for the majority of the race.”
Sebastian Vettel
© Getty Images for Red Bull Racing
Mark’s problems were a bonus for the 65,000 spectators, who got to see a series of memorable tussles: he chased down first Lewis Hamilton and then Felipe Massa. The race reached its conclusion with Mark recording the fastest lap as he closed down Nick Heidfeld in what turned into a thrilling – but unsuccessful – attempt to salvage a podium position.
“I fought back with a good strategy and got some good points at least. It wasn’t our day today and I was disappointed not to get the podium. It was close but not close enough – but it will come.”
Mark Webber
“He came close, I guess he was on quite fresh tyres but then he must also have started to get some degradation and luckily that was enough to keep him behind me. On top of that, you know that we have KERS and I tried to use it not for lap time but for defending and I don’t think he had KERS, did he?”
Nick Heidfeld – Renault
While battles royale raged behind, Car Number One went serenely on its way and took the chequered flag with a comfortable margin over a Jenson Button, who drove a smart, tactical race.
“A good day. Good points, an exciting race I am sure to watch. I don’t think anyone really knew who was going to finish behind Seb, and nice to get 18 points on the board.”
Jenson Button
“All in all I think it was a difficult race today. You never knew how hard to push, how hard to save your tyres. I think there was a lot to learn today and a lot to take into the next race – but for today very, very happy.”
Sebastian Vettel
That’s four wins in a row for Sebastian Vettel – and absolutely no one believes him when he claims he doesn’t count. At the moment it’s looking very comfortable for the reigning World Champion – but the Chinese Grand Prix has a habit of throwing up strange results.
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