Malaysian GP: Results Don’t Match Expectations
Written by George Katinger · March 19, 2006
Giancarlo Fisischella drove a flawless race from Sepang today in winning his third GP event, followed by teammate Alonso and Jenson Button in third.
speedtv.com: Fisichella Leads Renault 1-2 in Malaysia
grandprix.com: MALAYSIAN GP - SUNDAY - RACE INCIDENTS
planet-f1.com: Fastest laps: Renault confirm dominance
sport.guardian.co.uk: Flying Fisichella leaves Button flat out in his wake
speedtv.com: Update: Todt Dodges Revised Wing Questions, Denies Deal
crash.net: Williams wilt in Malaysian heat.
itv-f1.com: RALF DELIGHTED TO OPEN ‘06 ACCOUNT
Some half-wit actually predicted that Williams would take second and third, due to the bullet proof Cosworth engines. The Cosworths of Rosberg and Webber each took a bullet to the manifold and neither finished the race. Nico was retired on lap 11 and Webber out on lap 15. A total let down, especially based on Sam Michael’s predictions of possible victory.
In fact the race was more about failures rather than successes. Eight cars did not see the checkered flag, seven due to mechanical break downs and poor Kimi from broken suspension due to contact with Klien. And of the fourteen cars finishing, only eight were on the lead lap. If the first two cars were red I would have thought it was a race from 2003 with a boring Ferrari 1-2.
With the grid mixed topsy-turvy with fast cars spread throughout the starting lineup I had high hopes of some close racing and some thrilling passing. If it happened, the passing moves weren’t televised, or I was dozing at the time, because there were not that many.
The drives of the race were from Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso. Massa did a Kimi, coming from dead last, finished 5th and held off his teammate in the closing laps. It is going to be one of the mysteries of this season, how cars from the same team cannot match each other in performance. Massa from last to 5th, but Michael can only get to 6th place, and mostly due to attrition. What’s wrong with that picture? Barrichello cannot even approach the pace of Button. JPM does not appear nearly as quick as Raikkonen. Other than tire compound selection and stop strategy, anyone have a clue, because I sure don’t.
Alonso made a typical brilliant Renault start, coming from seventh to third by turn two. The two Williams drivers were so preoccupied with each other, Fernando passed them both on the outside of turn one. A great move, from a driver that some think doesn’t know how to pass. Ha, take that! He then proceeded to effectively block Webber, and worked his fuel load down untill his first stop. He picked up the pace in his second stint to the point where the frustrated Button could not keep up, and came out of his second stop in second place, in front of Button. In the process Alonso also managed to grab fastest race lap. And so ended the race.
The writing is on the wall as to the tempo of this season. Whichever race has the most fresh engines will have potential for excitement, with the following race a lackluster affair as we witnessed today. And that would play exactly into Renault’s hands, as they seem to have the only bullet proof engines so far.
Malaysian Grand Prix Results - 19 March 2006 - 56 Laps
POS DRIVER NATIONALITY ENTRANT TIRE LAPS TIME/RETIRE
1. Giancarlo Fisichella Italy Renault 56 1h30m40.529
2. Fernando Alonso Spain Renault 56 4.585
3. Jenson Button Britain Honda 56 9.631
4. Juan Pablo Montoya Colombia McLaren-Mercedes 56 39.351
5. Felipe Massa Brazil Ferrari 56 43.254
6. Michael Schumacher Germany Ferrari 56 43.854
7. Jacques Villeneuve Canada Sauber-BMW 56 1m20.461
8. Ralf Schumacher Germany Toyota 56 1m21.288
9. Jarno Trulli Italy Toyota 55 1 Lap
10. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Honda 55 1 Lap
11. Vitantonio Liuzzi Italy Toro Rosso-Cosworth 54 2 Laps
12. Christijan Albers Netherlands MF1-Toyota 54 2 Laps
13. Tiago Monteiro Portugal MF1-Toyota 54 2 Laps
14. Takuma Sato Japan Super Aguri-Honda 53 3 Laps
R Nick Heidfeld Germany Sauber-BMW 48 Engine
R Scott Speed United States Toro Rosso-Cosworth 41 Clutch
R Yuji Ide Japan Super Aguri-Honda 33 Mechanical
R Christian Klien Austria Red Bull-Ferrari 26 Hydraulics
R Mark Webber Australia Williams-Cosworth 15 Hydraulics
R David Coulthard Britain Red Bull-Ferrari 11 Hydraulics
R Nico Rosberg Germany Williams-Cosworth 6 Engine
R Kimi Raikkonen Finland McLaren-Mercedes 0 Accident
FASTEST LAP:
Fernando Alonso Spain Renault 45 1:34.803
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9 Responses to “Malaysian GP: Results Don’t Match Expectations”
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Some half-wit predicted a Williams’s podium? Well you’re not alone with that one! Several aspects of a disappointing race intrigue me & we are left with more questions unanswered.
Is JPM off the pace or was that car in engine trouble in both Bahrain & Malaysia? He seemed to be just holding station. Kimi’s early exit means we did not get to see what the McLaren is capable of, which should be impressive if Bahrain is an example. The same goes for the Williams, what is their overall pace & where would they have finished?
Were the Bridgestone’s the reason Schumacher not up with the leaders, or was Bahrain a false dawn?
Finally, did anybody notice Sato, before the pit stops, was running as high as 14 th?
If Alonso can qualify & race that well, after a refuelling error in final qualifying saw him sent out with a such heavy load, then a second championship is possible.Fresh engines for Melbourne please.
The in car shots of JPM’s drive, when they showed the telemetry, indicated his engine was revving near 19K, which would mean a healthy mill.
JPM did say they took a lot of down force out of his car to reduce strain on the engine. It could also be tire choice? Still seems bogus to me, I need to see both drivers with new engines for a real comparo.
As far as tires, the two Ferrari’s were the only top Bridgestone finishers. I still have to believe, besides possibly Toyota not solving the rubber question, that the tires are rather equal right now. At least in durability, maybe the Michelin’s are grippier.
Webber stopped quite early, lap 10 I think, was this a low fuel qualifying or were they trying to change tactics as he was stuck behind Alonso? I guess we will never know but I think that Williams is on the pace this season & not doing low load qualifying wonder laps. They seem to be on par with the Honda’s & Ferrari’s, Melbourne will give us a better picture & there will be plenty of runners on new engines. The competitiveness of a lump on its second race must be a real concern for all teams.
My heart sank when Nico pulled off, then Webber followed & all I could do was shake my head, combine this with Kimi out on the first lap & the seemingly anonymous JPM & the race fell somewhat short of my expectations. Oh well, that’s motor racing.
Point of interest, Rubens had better get his act together quick smart, Anthony Davidson is not exactly struggling on Fridays in the same car. Did anybody notice how (in the post race interview) Button named Scott Speed for holding him up on “one” lap as the main reason he could not challenge & then contradicted himself by saying the Renaults were too quick. Dry your eyes Jenson, there were plenty of back markers & you were not alone in fighting your way through. What does the child expect a red carpet? He is in a front running team with huge development resources & he is being paid a fortune. Shut up & get on with it!
Fresh engines: By my count, there are 8 finishers who will get fresh engines, plus the 8 that did not finish today will mean at least 16 fresh mills for Melbourne. Plus the usual changes before the race should get us 18 new motors.
As a team director would you prefer two fresh and two stale engines for races, or one fresh and one stale engine at each race? At the least I would have a better chance of scoring if I had one fresh engine at each race. Although it sure didn’t seem to matter to Alonso! The Renault’s need to be brought down next race or they may scamper off to another insurmountable lead!!
With a new engine formula you would think the FIA would change the limits and allow one moter per race in lieu of two. It’s almost as silly as the one tire per race rule!
It’s a sad day when I defend Max, the new engine rules were designed to lower costs & free up production so that independents could find a supply of customer units. As you say, a used lump did not hurt Alonso so it’s up to the others to lift their game. If you can make an engine go fast you can make one last two races, no manufacturer has an advantage as they all have the same starting point with the all new V8 for 06. The manufacturers do need to be saved from themselves; if they were left alone to run wild we would have a practice engine, a qualifying engine & a race engine at each event. Don’t quote me but I think the engines in the DTM have to go half the season without a change, sure that’s a strictly cost controlled formula but you see my point. Actually the DTM, or rather its predecessor the ITC, is text book example of cost blow out & a series collapse at the hand of manufactures.
The boffins can knuckle down & produce reliability & speed, God knows they claw back aero after every regulation change; they can put their collective heads down to this task as well. If the manufacturers are controlled the late 00’s will be a golden era of F1. I’m with Max, encourage the manufacturers but don’t indulge them.
But, but, but, Peter, Ferrari used five engines this weekend, two for Michael and three for Massa! Where’s the savings???
And how about the impact on the racing? It’s great to change the regs for cost cutting reasons, and I too can see the logic of it, but it needs to be implemented with a little more rationality. For the sake of the racing.
Amen, George. One engine per weekend would have been much more sane. This is a new engine formula, not a continuation of the old one.
We don’t have to return to the many engines per weekend that perterg fears. Limit one engine per weekend and hand out penalties if that engine is changed between Friday and Sunday. Make it like tire choice. Declare the engine each driver is going to use on Friday morning and go from there. Simple.
Yeah I argee with George- Where are the savings? Also, JPM while finishing fourth did look as though he was saving the engine to get to the end of the race. As Webber and Nico looked to be pushing hard it cost them perhaps. As Tim said,limit one engine per weekend.
You guys appear to have swung me around, perhaps Tim’s one engine per weekend suggestion falls in between my opinion & George’s desire for rational implementation.