2008 FORMULA 1 PETRONAS MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX

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Kuala Lumpur - 21,22,23 of March 2008

In the mid 1990s, Malaysia was undergoing a huge change. Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Malaysia's Prime Minister was determined that by 2020, the country would be a fully industrialised nation. The best way to do this, it was thought, was through the auto trade.

The nation's number one oil company, Petronas, began investing heavily in Formula One with Sauber, and Malaysia's national car company, Proton, bought Lotus Engineering. The most extravagant part of the plan however was the building of a multimedia 'supercorridor', linking Kuala Lumpur's new international airport with the capital city itself. Mahathir ordered that a Grand Prix track be constructed too, and not just any track. He wanted to create a track that would be the envy of the world in terms of its facilities and technology. What he got was the Sepang International Circuit, and it did not disappoint.

Designed by Hermann Tilke, Sepang is one of the most technical circuits in Formula One. The combination of long high-speed straights, and tight twisting complexes make the track very complicated, but also perfect for overtaking as the track itself is very wide. The drivers love it and, along with Malaysia's distinct atmosphere, it makes for an experience unique in Formula One.

Sepang International Circuit
Jalan Pekeliling
64000KLIA
Selangor
Malaysia T: (+603) 8778 2200F: (+603) 8783 1000

information provided by www.formula1.com

Well, i don't think we will se Australia over again!. People will be more conservative, and Ferrari would probably back off a bit... My guess for the winner would be Hamilton again, whit Bmw/Ferrari 2. and William/Renault 3...... The big surprise will be STR, whit Vettel and Bourdauis both in top 12.

I just hope for Kimi's sake that Ferrari sought out the reliability issues :o.

I think Kimi will win, Kubica coming second & Massa third !!!

I just hope for Kimi's sake that Ferrari sought out the reliability issues :o.

I think Kimi will win, Kubica coming second & Massa third !!!
No Mclaren's in on the podium?, that pretty unrealistic! Mclaren where one of very few teams, whit no problems at all whit there new car!... And Ferrari, can't manage to fix there engine problems on those few days they have available at the cars (takes a couple of days to ship the cars)
the only way i can think of they can get to the end, is if they slow down, or use there "Free Engine"

No Mclaren's in on the podium?, that pretty unrealistic! Mclaren where one of very few teams, whit no problems at all whit there new car!... And Ferrari, can't manage to fix there engine problems on those few days they have available at the cars (takes a couple of days to ship the cars)
the only way i can think of they can get to the end, is if they slow down, or use there "Free Engine"

I'm going on a gut feeling:

Kimi will wanna prove that he is a worthy world champion.

Kubica proved this race weekend that he can challenge for podium places so I expect to see him with a good number of podium places this season.

Massa will be like Kimi, knowing he got no points from last weeks race he too will also have something to prove.

I'm going on a gut feeling:

Kimi will wanna prove that he is a worthy world champion.

Massa will be like Kimi, knowing he got no points from last weeks race he too will also have something to prove.
That is very dangours now whiteout TC and engine break!... Kimi made 2 huge drive errors today, just because he was trying to hard. I don't think we will se a serious compatible car from Ferrari before Europe!

Kimi always pushes the engine really hard so that's why there would be engine issues.

A great example would be when he was driving the MP4-21.

Kimi always pushes the engine really hard so that's why there would be engine issues.

But that doesn't explain why both Massa and Bourdais also had engine troubles as well.

I think the temperature played a big part in it. Perhaps they didn't give it enough cooling for it to perform in 39ºC temperatures. It would be extremely strange for Ferrari to all of a sudden have engine problems.

I think the temperature played a big part in it. Perhaps they didn't give it enough cooling for it to perform in 39ºC temperatures. It would be extremely strange for Ferrari to all of a sudden have engine problems.
Well, whit all these changes there has come in F1, maybe, they didn't have time/resorces to put as many hours into reliabilty!
And i think Malaysia will be Australia all over again for Ferrari, unless they slow down by a bit!

Apparently it was the same part that broke on both ferrari drivers engines, so i'm sure that'll be fixed. I'm guessing the same happened with Bourdias to.

I don't care what part of the engine it was, I just hope Ferrari fix the problem before Malaysia :-k.


Seriosuly Melbourne was bad it killed me to watch Kimi down the pack :o.

Apparently it was the same part that broke on both ferrari drivers engines, so i'm sure that'll be fixed. I'm guessing the same happened with Bourdias to.

Remember there is a 5 year engine freeze. I haven't read the rule specifically, but I daresay no intenrals will be allowed to be touched. They wana hope it is just a cooling problem.

Remember there is a 5 year engine freeze. I haven't read the rule specifically, but I daresay no intenrals will be allowed to be touched. They wana hope it is just a cooling problem.
As far as i can remember they are allowed to fix the engine if there is a problem whit reliability, the engine freeze, is only about performance (the last part im not entirely sure about)... but Timbit probably know more about it!

Well, whit all these changes there has come in F1, maybe, they didn't have time/resorces to put as many hours into reliabilty!

But considering the engine freeze, the engine would have retained the same, basic design. I daresay that the higher temperatures caused a certain part in both Ferrari engines to fail, as it is possible that failed to allow for greater cooling.

As far as i can remember they are allowed to fix the engine if there is a problem whit reliability, the engine freeze, is only about performance (the last part im not entirely sure about)... but Timbit probably know more about it!

If they need to change the engine, then they will get a 10 spot grid penalty. That being said, even if it is only 1 part that failed, they would need to take the broken engine out and pull it apart, and then there are still no guarentees that the rest of the parts are ok, so don't be surprised if engine changes were done.

The Malaysian Grand Prix Preview
http://www.formula1.com/news/features/2008/3/7520.html

OMFG...

One glance at that awsome track conveyed feelings of excitement and dread at the same time...

That circuit looks damn fun and exciting!!! All those technical corners put chills up my spine! Can't wait to see the F1 cars sliding around on it! I hope there's as much action as the Aussie GP.....

OMFG...

One glance at that awsome track conveyed feelings of excitement and dread at the same time...

That circuit looks damn fun and exciting!!! All those technical corners put chills up my spine! Can't wait to see the F1 cars sliding around on it! I hope there's as much action as the Aussie GP.....

The Sepang circuit is pretty good. It's very wide though, with parts of it being 20m across! Therefore, I don't think we will see as much carnage this time around, but I guess it could still happen. The first two corners are, I think, the narrowest in the whole circuit.

Ill tell you why all ferrari engined cars failed last race.

There is probably a line in that ECU that read:


{
If Ferrari Engine>1; ////// (>1) determines a Ferrari engine in use.
(i=o) Continue;

(i=1) kill engine;

end;
}......

Ill tell you why all ferrari engined cars failed last race.

There is probably a line in that ECU that read:


{
If Ferrari Engine>1; ////// (>1) determines a Ferrari engine in use.
(i=o) Continue;

(i=1) kill engine;

end;
}......
...

LMFAO!!!

I don't see why only McLaren worked on the standard ECUs. I feel that with McLaren manufacturing the ECUs, it's simply unfair for the rest of the F1 teams.....

I don't see why only McLaren worked on the standard ECUs. I feel that with McLaren manufacturing the ECUs, it's simply unfair for the rest of the F1 teams.....

It wasn't McLaren the F1 team, it was an independant company apart of the 'McLaren Group' called McLaren Electronic Systems, which is only affiliated with the Formula 1 team by name. MES makes electronic systems for other racing series apart from F1.

Although some argue that even that close link is enough for McLaren to have an advantage over the field.

well apparently the only advantage was that McLaren didn't have to re-configure some of their eqiupment to fit the new ECU, will others did. Hardly cheating to be honest

I think the argument that Ferrari's retirements were due to the ECU were pretty daft. Joking about it is ok, by all means, but there were serious neews articles going around that rumoured that the failures were due to the ECU. Of course, the article twisted the words of what the Ferrari spokesman said, who only stated that they didn't fully understand the ECU, and perhaps that was the cause of the failure, but sure enough the article tried to make out that it was the ECU's fault, and Ferrari were the innocent party.

Pretty stupid.

Practice 1 - Massa blitz's Sepang
http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2008/788/6486/

Practice 2 - Lewis pips Ferrari duo for top spot
http://www.formula1.com/results/season/2008/788/6487/

Massa seems really on form this weekend. Lets just hope it stays that way :P

I hope both ferraris fail again as they are not quick. Just proves winter testing means nothing.

It will be a all Mclaren front row wit willams & BMW occuping the next 2 rows.

It will also be a Mclaren 1-2 & a BMW in 3rd

I hope both ferraris fail again as they are not quick. Just proves winter testing means nothing.

So, wait, you want Ferrari to fail only because you think they aren't quick?

huh?

Australia was not exactly the greatest indication of how quick the teams are compared to each other, either.

McLaren have gone well at this circuit for the last couple of years, so I'm going to say that Hamilton will be on pole and I hope he wins the race.

Ferrari, by the looks of things, have got their gremlins out of the way but the practices mean nothing when it comes down to the actual race.

We'll see if Kimi's got his racing boots on this weekend when it comes down to the qualifying.

Hopefully Kovalainen can get a podium finish; as he deserves one.

Oh, and I hope Honda will do well aswell, I'm hoping for some good points.




What, you think I'd forgotten about them? ;)

_

GP thread up and running in 5 mins.

The pace of the Ferraris look quite ominous. Especially Massa, he has really found some extra pace. Lewis had a pretty scruffy first practice, Kovi drove better and wound up 3rd. But in the afternoon Hammy showed the pace that is in the McLaren.

Again, it looks quite close, i think the McLarens are better on a 1 lap out and out speed, but the Ferraris look better over the longer runs, seeimingly getting faster results as they settle into it.

What stood out for me is, Button was 4th in the afternoon. 4th. IN A HONDA!!! Really hope they carry this speed into quali, the race and beyond.

My prediction for qualifying is Massa, Hammy, Kimi. Then Kovy, Rosberg, Kubica and Heidfeld.

It wasn't McLaren the F1 team, it was an independant company apart of the 'McLaren Group' called McLaren Electronic Systems, which is only affiliated with the Formula 1 team by name. MES makes electronic systems for other racing series apart from F1.

Although some argue that even that close link is enough for McLaren to have an advantage over the field.
I had already known it is a different branch of McLaren...

...but I am one of those that applies to your last line. It's an unfair advantage. I am seriously thinking that McLaren is actually screwing with Ferrari's ECU, or maybe I'm just being paranoid...


I'm hoping BMW, Honda, and all the "underdog" teams can get a winning chance, I wish all the teams good luck on this race.....

I am seriously thinking that McLaren is actually screwing with Ferrari's ECU, or maybe I'm just being paranoid...

I think you are being very paranoid. I mean, where's the proof in that? Ferrari went a whole winter testing period with no major engine problems running the SECU, and now that the Ferrari engines have problems, all of a sudden it's down to the ECU?