FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[SingaporeSling]

[quote="cap-dude"]Looking at the weather forecast for Malaysia
http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/1478
It's gonna be pretty darn wet.

Weather forecasts on this side of the World don't mean much. It looks almost the same around the year. It's unlikely to have a day without showers and even more unusual to have a day without sunshine.

No matter what the forecast says rain and thunder comes usually in local showers, so it might just rain 1km away from Sepang or on half of the course. But when the rain comes, it sure rains, so that can add a bit more challenges to the drivers.

According to that same bbc forecast I should be under heavy rain showers at the moment, but whole day has been mostly blue skies with some clouds, not a drop of water.

[irons_4_ever]

this race wont finish

[TheOak]

I hope it stays dry. If the practice times are anything to go by it could be a close race between several teams.

[irons_4_ever]

hamilton just got another penalt £1000 for spending in the pitlane

[McLaren Fan]

hamilton just got another penalt £1000 for spending in the pitlane

To be honest, a lot of drivers do that over the course of practice. It's only get widely reported this time because Hamilton is in the headlines.

[EwanM]

Well a mixed bag in practice today. I was laughing when Kimi's fire extinguisher went off and when he told his mechanic to not talk to him during the corners hahah!

Its weird that Massa is claiming without KERS Ferrari wouldn't be fast at all. That KERS is key to their package.

Brawn doing a solid job, and Rosberg was quick again - Friday's are weird now. Mclaren had their aero paint out again, its harder to tell who has the speed on Friday because everyone is running or doing different things.

So I guess P3?

[McLaren Fan]

It's very hard to read into what happened this morning. I can't wait for the race.

[Denthúl]

It's very hard to read into what happened this morning. I can't wait for the race.

Neither can I. And saying that about the Malaysian grand prix feels weird

[EwanM]

No rain though.

[EwanM]

A bit of light relief from Vettel
April 3, 2009 by James Allen

In an intensely feverish atmosphere here in Sepang, as the situation around McLaren and Lewis Hamilton ramps up and threatens to spiral out of McLaren’s control, a bit of light relief has been offered by Sebastien Vettel.

The German driver says in the Red Bull press release reviewing today’s track action,
” It’s very hot and no matter how much you prepare, the first outing is a bad surprise. Fortunately I’ve got a bag with dry ice in it, which I put next to my balls, so at least they stay nice and cool.”

Two questions, Seb.
1. What happens if you have a shunt and the bag bursts?
2. Does this reveal which part of your anatomy really does the thinking?

[EwanM]

BMW officially joins diffuser appeal

By Jonathan Noble Friday, April 3rd 2009, 02:51 GMT


BMW Sauber is to officially join the FIA's International Court of Appeal hearing into the diffuser row as an affected party, as teams continue to ponder about lodging a fresh protest at this weekend's Malaysian Grand Prix.

Ferrari, Red Bull Racing and Renault have already appealed against a decision by the Australian GP stewards that the diffuser designs on the Brawn GP, Williams and Toyota cars are legal. That hearing is to take place in Paris on April 14.

BMW Sauber had originally planned to protest the diffuser gang in Australia too, but its complaint application was not completed in time.

Despite missing out on the initial appeal process, the team has now notified the FIA that it wishes to join the hearing so it can put forward its belief that the diffusers are illegal.

"We have announced that we want to be heard in the Appeal [hearing], and that has been confirmed by the ICA," BMW motorsport director Mario Theissen told AUTOSPORT. "We are joining as an affected, or concerned, party."

BMW Sauber is currently evaluating whether or not to protest the diffusers in Malaysia, perhaps after the race, with Theissen being seen in discussions with Ferrari in the Sepang paddock.

Theissen said: "It is open what we do here."

Red Bull Racing team principal Christian Horner said in Malaysia that his team was unlikely to join any protest in Malaysia, but could not rule out another outfit doing so.

"I wouldn't be surprised if there were a protest this weekend," he said. We've been through our process in Australia and we have our appeal date and that is what we are working towards."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74169

[EwanM]

Alonso struggling with fitness

By Edd Straw Friday, April 3rd 2009, 09:19 GMT


Double world champion Fernando Alonso believes he will be only 90 per cent fit for tomorrow's Malaysian Grand Prix qualifying session after being hit by an ear infection.

Although the Renault driver is confident that he will be at full strength by the time the race starts on Sunday, he was forced to restrict himself to just 32 laps in Friday practice - fewer than any other driver.

"Tomorrow in qualifying I will be 90 per cent and Sunday hopefully 100 per cent," he said of his health. "The team doctor and physios are looking after my health, so I'm in good hands.

"I have an infection in my ear, a temperature and am not feeling very well from two days ago. Today we tried to do the minimum number of laps to not lose too much water. The race is on Sunday, so we tried to do some set-up work but it's very light."

Alonso added that despite the team struggling in practice, he expects a better performance from the Renault R29 in qualifying and the race.

"There is more to come from our car," he said. "We need to find a better set-up. We tested some interesting things today, so tomorrow we need to put everything together."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/74187

[McLaren Fan]

He'll still make Piquet look amateur.

[EwanM]

Latest - RUBENS needed to change his gearbox. 5 place pen.

[Denthúl]

Latest - RUBENS needed to change his gearbox. 5 place pen.

A race and a bit on the gearbox? Not good. Still, he can have another battle through the pack this week. And provided he doesn't damage his car, he could still fight for the win.