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[bud]

there's no way Mercedes stays in the top 5. 6 at best, i think.

If their race pace isn't as strong like in Australia then they could help McLarens build a lead.

All in all I think it's going to be wet. Rains forecast when the race is about to start so everythings up in the air.

[Hammer278]

there's no way Mercedes stays in the top 5. 6 at best, i think.

If their race pace isn't as strong like in Australia then they could help McLarens build a lead.

All in all I think it's going to be wet. Rains forecast when the race is about to start so everythings up in the air.

Yep. It's incredible it hasn't rained today....just stayed gloomy throughout. I'd guess they would start on a drying track tomorrow. Rains hard in the afternoons here nowadays.

[vlad]

Hello, Hamilton fans! Welcome to the topic!

[LRW]

I'm LOVING the Quali sessions so far this year.

Really food to see Schumi up in 3rd on the Grid.

Don't think Vettel's tyre choice is going to give him much of an advantage come the end of the race.

It's all going to be about weather.

Massa - better, but is he just keeping the seat warm for Perez for the next 19 races?

[vlad]

I think that we'll have dry or maybe mixed race. I can't remember the last dry race here, it was long time ago...?

Were you actually watching races in 2011? Or logging online to see the results at the end?

Not counting that one, haha!

[LRW]

Hello, Hamilton fans! Welcome to the topic!

I think you mean " Welcome to the pointless topic that's been created by a Vettel fan to try to hold onto the belief he is something special EVEN though it wasn't actually HIS choice, but the teams"!

So now we are here, were are the refreshments?

[Hammer278]

Hello, Hamilton fans! Welcome to the topic!

I think you mean " Welcome to the pointless topic that's been created by a Vettel fan to try to hold onto the belief he is something special EVEN though it wasn't actually HIS choice, but the teams"!

So now we are here, were are the refreshments?

[andrew]

I think that we'll have dry or maybe mixed race. I can't remember the last dry race here, it was long time ago...?

Were you actually watching races in 2011? Or logging online to see the results at the end?

Not counting that one, haha!

Not counting 2011, that would be 2010.

[zurich_allan]

Interesting quali. My prediction would depend very much on the start (shock!!), if Schumi can get off the line well into 2nd or 1st he could be VERY hard to overtake with the straightline speed. However if McLaren's both get off well and Schumi holds his 3rd place, the McLaren's will sail off into the distance. In sector two they are so strong that the straightline speed wouldn't be enough as he'd close down on the straights but then fall behind in the fast corners making somewhat of a stalemate. If that happens, we could see McLaren's in the distance and a bit of a train behind Schumacher unless the tyres really do go off quickly on the Mercedes - though I think that's actually somewhat of a myth this season, or certainly not proven at this stage.

I think at least one of the Williams may come through into the points again, possibly at the expense of Perez.

Slightly worried about the Force India though hoping their race pace is better than in quali.

[Roth]

Vettel's tyre choice is interesting. What do you guys think's behind that? A genuine strategy, mindgames, calculated gamble, desparation?

A bit early to be throwing the towel in - I can't believe RB would be getting the jitters so early; or is some of last seasons hubris still in the air - Vettel's so good he can pull anything off?

[bud]

VERY hard to overtake with the straightline speed.

Only thing is DRS is not available to use like it is in Quali and Practice so Mercs advantage won't be there.

Vettel's tyre choice is interesting. What do you guys think's behind that? A genuine strategy, mindgames, calculated gamble, desparation?

A bit early to be throwing the towel in - I can't believe RB would be getting the jitters so early; or is some of last seasons hubris still in the air - Vettel's so good he can pull anything off?

Well apparently his pace on the Option was a second down so they went to the Prime as he was happier on them. Not sure they made the choice with race strategy as the main reason, especially seeing as they will probably be on wet tyres anyways.

[Roth]

That's a huge difference, and he definitely didn't look happy after qualifying. WIll be interesting to see if it's track specific, or will be a general problem throughout the season. The thing that impresses me about Vettel, and there's not a lot to be honest that does impress me about him, is his approach to the technical side. Let's see if over 2 yrs in a superior car has taught him anything useful.

[Big Azza]

Vettel's strategy is an interesting gamble. A safety car or rain would negate any benefit to strategy.

My belief is that qualifying on the hard tires for 5th or 6th is as good as posting pole. Expect Vettel to be posting really fast lap times while everyone pits. Then they come out on hards, while Vettel comes out on the faster softs.

It really is a fantastic strategy. However, I did not watch the session so I'm not entirely sure. If he is a second slower on the softs, then that is a worry.

[Big Azza]

Hello, Hamilton fans! Welcome to the topic!

I think you mean " Welcome to the pointless topic that's been created by a Vettel fan to try to hold onto the belief he is something special EVEN though it wasn't actually HIS choice, but the teams"!

So now we are here, were are the refreshments?

I didn't watch the session, but I'm still going to flatly say "I don't believe you."

In Monaco last year I could see very well that Vettel is capable of winning the race on tire gambles which are his own decision. It makes sense. Vettel can't get the car on pole, so why not gamble and see how he can go with the primes?

It sounds like a decision by Vettel.

[bud]

Sebastian Vettel says his decision to qualify on hard tyres at the Malaysian Grand Prix was not part of a wider strategy but due to his struggle on the medium compound.

Vettel will start the race from fifth on the grid and under the regulations will have to start the race on the hard compound that he set his time on while the others in the top ten used the mediums. But Vettel denied that he was thinking about race strategy when he opted for the hard tyres, admitting he was struggling for performance on the mediums.

"There's not much strategy behind it to be honest," he said. "I was struggling with the soft[er] tyres and thought I had a better car on the hard tyres, which is why I made the call. We could have gone maybe a tenth or two quicker on the soft tyre but then we went significantly faster on the hard tyre. Whether that is an advantage tomorrow ... we are the only ones [in the top ten on hard tyres] so we hope it might be, but we'll see."

Red Bull was off the pace of McLaren for the second qualifying session in a row, but Vettel said that he expects his race pace to be much closer to Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button.

"We had not so good qualifying in Australia and not so good qualifying here, but we had a good race in Australia so we are hoping we can do a bit more there. Our race pace should be better, but nevertheless there is plenty of work to do. We are aware of that and we need to push harder."