FORUMula1.com

[What's Burning?]

How is Kobayashi number 23?

[andrew]

How is Kobayashi number 23?

'Cos his hat will be from the 2010 season when he carried no. 23.

[What's Burning?]

I will be missing the Malaysia GP Sunday as I'll be competing a local autocross event. Wish me luck, the car isn't even 100% as I had to jerry-rig a resistor to bypass a cylinder head temperature sensor that decided to go bad on me. If I don't log on again on the forum, it's because I'm dead and ye shall convene and elect a new mod, white smoke will be the signal.

[darwin dali]

I will be missing the Malaysia GP Sunday as I'll be competing a local autocross event. Wish me luck, the car isn't even 100% as I had to jerry-rig a resistor to bypass a cylinder head temperature sensor that decided to go bad on me. If I don't log on again on the forum, it's because I'm dead and ye shall convene and elect a new mod, white smoke will be the signal.

Can't wait for the smoke, white, black, or spotted.

[Hammer278]

I will be missing the Malaysia GP Sunday as I'll be competing a local autocross event. Wish me luck, the car isn't even 100% as I had to jerry-rig a resistor to bypass a cylinder head temperature sensor that decided to go bad on me. If I don't log on again on the forum, it's because I'm dead and ye shall convene and elect a new mod, white smoke will be the signal.

And in 14 days, Hammer278 will be elected as the new mod.

[vlad]

Hmmmm... Talks have started around RB8. Words "Jet-engine-like" are being said. It has to do with cylinders.

[bud]

Hmmmm... Talks have started around RB8. Words "Jet-engine-like" are being said. It has to do with cylinders.

Then Lotus, Williams and Caterham will also get this Jet engine... considering Engines are frozen its just more stupid Redbull hype nonsense.

[What's Burning?]

Hmmmm... Talks have started around RB8. Words "Jet-engine-like" are being said. It has to do with cylinders.

Excellent, maybe they'll be ready by 2013.

[geetface9]

I will be missing the Malaysia GP Sunday as I'll be competing a local autocross event. Wish me luck, the car isn't even 100% as I had to jerry-rig a resistor to bypass a cylinder head temperature sensor that decided to go bad on me. If I don't log on again on the forum, it's because I'm dead and ye shall convene and elect a new mod, white smoke will be the signal.

Good luck!! When you hit it big can I be your #2 driver?!?!

[What's Burning?]

I will be missing the Malaysia GP Sunday as I'll be competing a local autocross event. Wish me luck, the car isn't even 100% as I had to jerry-rig a resistor to bypass a cylinder head temperature sensor that decided to go bad on me. If I don't log on again on the forum, it's because I'm dead and ye shall convene and elect a new mod, white smoke will be the signal.

Good luck!! When you hit it big can I be your #2 driver?!?!

Let me first begin by not embarrassing myself... I'll consider it a success if I can stay on track in the course layout. But if I do get on the podium, I'll smile... promise.

[myownalias]

I will be missing the Malaysia GP Sunday as I'll be competing a local autocross event. Wish me luck, the car isn't even 100% as I had to jerry-rig a resistor to bypass a cylinder head temperature sensor that decided to go bad on me. If I don't log on again on the forum, it's because I'm dead and ye shall convene and elect a new mod, white smoke will be the signal.

And in 14 days, Hammer278 will be elected as the new mod.

1 hour later, hell will freeze over... or HRT will finish a race 1 - 2!!!

[vlad]

Games begin soon!

[LewEngBridewell]

Just a reminder of how the tables are looking as we head into Sepang:

DRIVERS

1. Jenson Button - 25 points
2. Sebastian Vettel - 18
3. Lewis Hamilton - 15
4. Mark Webber - 12
5. Fernando Alonso - 10
6. Kamui Kobayashi - 8
7. Kimi Räikkönen - 6
8. Sergio Pérez - 4
9. Daniel Ricciardo - 2
10. Paul di Resta - 1

While it looks likely the drivers from McLaren and Red Bull will begin to pull away from the best, I expect there'll be a great deal of movement in the drivers' standings following the Malaysian Grand Prix. An interesting area is 5th place, currently occupied by Fernando Alonso. I certainly don't expect the Spaniard to be looking to move up the order from there, and I feel downwards is what is in store. It is my belief that, at this stage of the game, Mercedes and Lotus possess faster cars than the Scuderia, and given the fact that events in Albert Park proved very unkind to both teams, this position is going to be hotly contended for. Both Sauber drivers have made terrific starts, after being allowed to retain their points from Melbourne this time round! But advancing from 6th and 8th, or even maintaining these positions is unlikely at this stage. More quirky race strategies in order?

TEAMS

1. McLaren - 40 points
2. Red Bull - 30
3. Sauber - 12
4. Ferrari - 10
5. Lotus - 6
6. Toro Rosso - 2
7. Force India - 1

McLaren look solid at the top, with Red Bull keeping them honest, and it's a long gap to Sauber in 3rd. The Swiss team are doing well, it took them much longer to achieve this amount of points last year, but maintaining 3rd is nigh on impossible for a squad with so small a budget, compared to the teams that surround them in the standings. Even Sauber's best ranking of 4th in 2001 will be difficult to match (this stat doesn't include the period from 2006 to 2009, when the team was under BMW ownership).

I expect Mercedes and Lotus to make much bigger impressions on the standings in Sepang than what they achieved in Melbourne, providing they can complete the event without difficulties this time. Ferrari's position may be under threat. As for Williams, they were looking handy for 6 points in Albert Park until Maldonado's accident on the final lap... hopefully the Grove boys can get off the mark properly this time round.

[Hammer278]

I will be missing the Malaysia GP Sunday as I'll be competing a local autocross event. Wish me luck, the car isn't even 100% as I had to jerry-rig a resistor to bypass a cylinder head temperature sensor that decided to go bad on me. If I don't log on again on the forum, it's because I'm dead and ye shall convene and elect a new mod, white smoke will be the signal.

And in 14 days, Hammer278 will be elected as the new mod.

1 hour later, hell will freeze over... or HRT will finish a race 1 - 2!!!

I'd hope for McLaren and Ferrari to make some distance on Ferrari in Msia....we have a two week break after this and Ferrari can come back stronger. I'm hoping for another top 4 finish for McLaren (at the worst) with Renault and Merc beating Ferrari (thus Alonso ending up somewhere in 8th or 9th...and Massa maybe in 15th if he drives well)

[Hammer278]

Pos No Driver Team Time/Retired Gap Laps
1 4 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:38.021 19
2 1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:38.535 0.514 21
3 8 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:38.813 0.792 21
4 7 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1:38.826 0.805 19
5 10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1:38.919 0.898 17

The usual suspects of 2012, McLaren looking even more impressive here though. Button with some car issues, or it would've been a 1-2 for sure.

Just hope for absolutely no rain this entire weekend! I've yet to see McLaren dominate a race since 2005!