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[What's Burning?]

Seems Schumacher's performance was disappointing. Any issues with his car?

Yes, apparently the problem was between the steering wheel and the overhead airbox.

Bit, harsh...

All I've got to say is 1 tenth boys, and girls, 1 tenth. The McLarens have picked up quite a good bit of pace against a KERS equipped Red Bull.

[scotty]

Wow, best qualifying end in ages. That McLaren is really sorted now. Hamilton's first Q3 lap was amazing to watch, you could see how bloody fast the car was through turn 5/6, incredible sight. Very quick down the straights too... i think it's probably their race because of that, but really it's going to be a mammoth race tomorrow, rain or not. Could see any of the top 4 winning, easily.

Strategy WILL win the race. Does anyone at all have a new set of softs they can run? The gap between tyres is ~1.5s i think, so you have to say that doing more stops but running softer tyres has to be the fastest way, rather than plodding around on the hards.

Lotus are much improved but i'm still amazed by the field spread we are seeing in qualifying this season.

[What's Burning?]

Wow, best qualifying end in ages. That McLaren is really sorted now. Hamilton's first Q3 lap was amazing to watch, you could see how bloody fast the car was through turn 5/6, incredible sight. Very quick down the straights too... i think it's probably their race because of that, but really it's going to be a mammoth race tomorrow, rain or not. Could see any of the top 4 winning, easily.

Strategy WILL win the race. Does anyone at all have a new set of softs they can run? The gap between tyres is ~1.5s i think, so you have to say that doing more stops but running softer tyres has to be the fastest way, rather than plodding around on the hards.

Lotus are much improved but i'm still amazed by the field spread we are seeing in qualifying this season.

I agree about the race, it may be an epic GP. On the tire front, I think it wont matter... Rain is going to make the tire strategy today meaningless, it will be about who can survive the wet.

BTW, Sauber is an established Q3 team, GO Kobayashi!

[LewEngBridewell]

Indeed, Lotus were better than in Melbourne. Also great to see HRT actually make it into the race!

If the current situation with Red Bull and McLaren remains in a neck-and-neck state, this season will be incredible!

[f1ea]

oh deer......
now how about a dose of heavy rain and 1/2 the points allocation??


couldnt watch q... but apparently it was great...

I think Ferrari are sandbagging they just have to learn to remove the bags.......

[scotty]

I think Ferrari are sandbagging they just have to learn to remove the bags.......

They are complaining about being slow but are actually closer than in Melbourne... Alonso was much quicker in the race there too.

[What's Burning?]

Ferrari's sole problem is qualifying.... it will be the death of them though this year if they can't sort it out... can you imagine what Monaco would be like?

The car was vastly improved though this race, you didn't see Alonso with the handful he had to deal with in Australia, but you could tell in the body language they knew they weren't shooting for anything close in Q. They're banking it all for when it counts tomorrow.

[vlad]

I still believe in Vettel's strategy for the race, he did the least laps of top 5 drivers, so he has tires on his side... Now, let's just hope he starts the way he did in Melbourne. That was fantastic.

[What's Burning?]

I still believe in Vettel's strategy for the race, he did the least laps of top 5 drivers, so he has tires on his side... Now, let's just hope he starts the way he did in Melbourne. That was fantastic.

I've got to give it to Vettel today, he was perfection in his qualifying. He *needed* that perfection, because of the McLaren pace, but qualifying today was EXCITING!

[bud]

Being last is always an advantage, but did vettel saving tires by going last? Sorry doesn't work like that!

[Hammer278]

I really wish for no rain tomorrow. The pace of the race is going to be red hot, something like Turkey last year. That was electric!!

Also I must say, I am proud of Lotus. Thats progress! Hope they keep moving upwards.

[Flux]

I still believe in Vettel's strategy for the race, he did the least laps of top 5 drivers, so he has tires on his side... Now, let's just hope he starts the way he did in Melbourne. That was fantastic.

he did two flying laps like the rest of the top 4. so why he has tires on his side i don't understand, still a great pole though and i do love how close the top two are, either would make great winners.

in other news

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/90580

Pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix was switched to the right hand side of the track following a pre-event request from drivers, AUTOSPORT has learned.

Traditionally the front grid slot at Sepang was on the left hand side of the track, because it gave a better line into the opening corner - which is a tight right-hander.

Sources have revealed, however, that following discussions between the FIA and F1's drivers in the build-up to the season about the impact of Pirelli marbles on the track, a decision was made to switch it.

Although the racing line is not as clearly defined as other tracks because drivers work their way over from the right hand side of the track to the left, a number of drivers felt that if there was a high level of marbles in Malaysia then they would most likely fall on the left hand side of the grid.

FIA race director Charlie Whiting agreed to make the change, and it means that pole position man Sebastian Vettel will now be forming up on the right hand side.

Speaking about the difference it makes after qualifying, Vettel said: "It is very important here to be on the clean side, especially as they changed sides, but we will see."

adds another dynamic to the start of the race, will be interesting.

oh and hi everyone.

[Hammer278]

The right side? Does this mean the side next to the pitlane? Or the one next to grandstands?? Depends which way we're looking at the track!

I'm guessing from the direction the cars face, so this means Lewis has the inside line into Turn 1. Very very interesting start tomorrow.

[Flux]

if pole is on the right* it would mean Vettle would have the inside line, or am i being silly? with Hamilton having the racing line, that is assuming they are wheel to wheel down the straight.

and the right hand side of the track would be determined by the direction the cars go around the circuit, so in this case by the pit lane.

*edit

[Robert12010]

great effort again from mclaren, lewis and jenson just looked so good round there, but where credit is due, well done to vettel on another pole position, race tomorrow is going to be intresting! i dont really want it to rain....