During the press conference following the Australian Grand Prix, Nico Rosberg made a comment to the effect of that it would be great if Ferrari would catch up to Mercedes. After this weekend, I think Nico is regretting his words. Not only was Rosberg outqualified by a Ferrari, he was outraced by a Ferrari. In fact, Sebastian Vettel outraced the whole field as he took his first win as a driver for Scuderia Ferrari.
Sepang
F1 Power Rankings: Malaysia Grand Prix
Two weeks removed from the season opener in Melbourne, Australia, and there are two things that F1 fans are hoping for: 1) More than 11 cars crossing the line at the end of the race; and 2) A race that isn’t so ungodly boring that it puts people to sleep in the middle of it. Our first trip to a Hermann Tilke designed track may help us answer the question of which of the Mercedes drivers will have the advantage this year and who is the favourite in the battle for 2nd in the Constructors’ Championship.
F1 Malaysian Grand Prix: Steady As She Goes
Testing isn’t the complete story but it certainly does give you an insight into how the season will play out. The Red Bulls weren’t expected to be in the same timezone as the Mercedes-powered cars but they’re running for podiums. However, the insight that said that Mercedes GP would be blindingly fast proved to be right as Lewis Hamilton led the team home in a 1-2 finish.
F1 Power Rankings: Malaysian Grand Prix
After seemingly rare two-week break to start the 2013, the 2014 Formula One World Championship is back for the second race of the season. After the race on the streets of Melbourne’s Albert Park, it’s to a Hermann Tilke designed racing circuit for the first time this season. The real battle for the World Drivers’ Championship begins this weekend. Who has the upper hand?
F1 Malaysia GP: Law and Disorder
Is Formula One a team sport or an individual sport? This has to be the question on everyone’s mind after this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix. Team orders played into the first four finishing positions. In one team, orders were ignored. For the other, team orders were followed when it was clear the other driver was faster.
In a surprise for many cynical race fans, it was the Red Bull Racing boys who ignored team orders. Sebastian Vettel went by teammate Mark Webber after the race was supposed to be over between them and went on to take the win.
F1 Power Rankings: Malaysia Grand Prix
We’re only days removed from the excitement of the season opener in Australia but it’s time to gear up for the second round of the 2013 Formula One World Championship. This time, it’s the Malaysia Grand Prix from the Sepang International Circuit. More often than not, the Malaysian round of the championship features heavy rain but will the forecast favour the Mercedes which is quite happy in the rain or the dry Tilke circuit loving Red Bulls?
F1 Malaysian GP: Slip and Slide
A race that would have been very straight forward for the McLaren if it stayed dry became an instant classic thanks to the changing conditions of the Sepang Circuit. In the end, it wasn’t the Mercedes-powered cars that led the way but the Ferraris that were in front at the end of the race. The first driver across the line was Fernando Alonso but he wasn’t the star of the race. The real hero of the day was Sergio Perez who hounded Alonso home to finish in second. Continue reading
F1 Power Rankings: Malaysia Grand Prix
We’re only four days removed from the start of the 2012 Formula One World Championship. Despite how the pecking order looked after testing and qualifying, the top two teams were still McLaren and Red Bull. After that is anyone’s guess. The Mercedes are fast but lack reliability. The two Ferraris are difficult to muscle around a single lap but much quicker over the course of the race. And, most importantly, does last weekend’s race on a street circuit indicate the course this season will take? Continue reading
F1 Power Rankings: Malaysian Grand Prix
One race into the nineteen race 2011 Formula One World Championship and I don’t think that the picture is any clearer. Some of the expect frontrunners were slow off the mark in Australia. Some of the midpack teams, like Sauber and Toro Rosso, had surprising runs which could have them thinking points in every race. So who looks good heading into this weekend’s Malaysian Grand Prix? This week’s Power Rankings takes a stab at it. Continue reading
The Lowdown 