Ferrari Fumble, McLaren Master Malaysian GP
Written by George Katinger · April 9, 2007
So much for all the hype referencing Ferrari domination and McLaren inadequacies to win the Malaysian Grand Prix. With a McLaren 1-2 finish it’s safe to say the game’s afoot, and the racing will only get better as the season unfolds.
planet-f1.com: GP Report: Alonso scrubs off redwash
speedtv.com: F1: “We Were Expecting a Better Result,” Todt Admits
speedtv.com: F1: Barrichello: Honda Car a “Parachute”
So what happened? There wasn’t anyone who was predicting an outright 1-2 finish for the McLaren team yesterday. And for sure not in the dominating fashion in which they performed. How could this possibly happen? Several reasons come to mind.
The McLarens were faster on the long straights of Sepang. They made a concious decision to dial out downforce from their wings, to gain straight line speeds. As witnessed by Massa’s failed passing attempts at turns 1 and 4, he couldn’t overcome the straight line speed of Lewis Hamilton to execute a clean pass. That was one unhappy Brazilian at race end!
“It was a very tough race in which we suffered a lot. It was almost impossible to overtake. I tried to attack Lewis, but I made a mistake and ended up off the track. I cannot blame myself for trying and next time things will go better. The race we did not go the way we had expected and our pace was slower than we had expected.”
Kimi Raikkonen could not make any serious passing attempts on Hamilton, when he was obviously close to the rookie driver. Engine concerns? Overheating brakes? Overheating engine? Or just a superior performance from the McLaren team? Said Kimi:
“Today we lacked a bit of speed when up against our main rivals. I repeat that I’m a bit disappointed but I am also aware this is just the beginning of the season and that these points will definitely be important for the championship as it evolves.”
“The team did a good job, given all the uncertainties we had. We have to try and improve to get one hundred percent out of all the elements of the package. The first corner? Fernando and Lewis were just better than us.”
Fernando Alonso and Lewis Hamilton and their McLaren’s took advantage of a track that was better suited to their cars than the Ferrari’s. What I found amazing is how that fact was artfully disguised throughout the previous week’s testing as well as the weekend practise and qualifying sessions. True, the qualy times weren’t that far apart, but the spreads were significant enough to allow the belief that the Ferrari’s would dominate yet again.
And then there is the coolness under fire of Lewis Hamilton. The first 4-5 laps were the tale of the race, as Massa pushed the rookie for all he was worth. His jump from 4th to 2nd was impressive, but all he had to do was follow Fernando right through to the front, without initiating any contact with the Ferrari’s. A great driving effort by Felipe and Kimi as well. They didn’t give up the spots easily, but they also avoided unnecessary contact. Would Michael have been as accommodating? We all know the answer to that question!
Fernando took his turn one pass and developed it into a dominating win. But Lewis Hamilton fended off pass attempts demonstrating superior late braking techniques, AND posted the races fastest lap. Given a P1 starting slot, the right track and car setup, is there any doubt that he will win a race this year? My prediction will be Canada, with similar long straights to Sepang.
And what of the rest of the teams with lofty preseason expectations of competing for wins and titles this year? I found Honda driver Rubens Barrichello’s description of his car acting like a parachute most amusing. I’m sure that technical director Shuhei Nakamoto wasn’t as pleased. Especially with the team actively pursuing Ross Brawn.
And Renault? 6th and 8th place are hardly where they expected to be. And without any on track mistakes by rookie Heikki Kovalainen, who’s Flava-Flav got to kick around now? No-bod-y, but the team.
With another race this coming weekend from Bahrain, there isn’t much the teams can do to enhance their packages, just rely on their earlier test data and go race. I think it will be a track better suited to Ferrari than McLaren. But I thought the same about Malayasia.
It will only get better and better from here fans. With two races under our belts, I’ll leave you all with one last comment: Anyone missing that Michael guy yet?
Malaysian Grand Prix Results - 8 April 2007 - 56 Laps
POS DRIVER NATIONALITY ENTRANT LAPS TIME/RETIRE
1. Fernando Alonso Spain McLaren-Mercedes 56 1h32m14.930
2. Lewis Hamilton Britain McLaren-Mercedes 56 17.557
3. Kimi Raikkonen Finland Ferrari 56 18.339
4. Nick Heidfeld Germany BMW 56 33.777
5. Felipe Massa Brazil Ferrari 56 36.705
6. Giancarlo Fisichella Italy Renault 56 1m05.638
7. Jarno Trulli Italy Toyota 56 1m10.132
8. Heikki Kovalainen Finland Renault 56 1m12.015
9. Alexander Wurz Austria Williams-Toyota 56 1m29.924
10. Mark Webber Australia Red Bull-Renault 56 1m33.556
11. Rubens Barrichello Brazil Honda 55 1 Lap
12. Jenson Button Britain Honda 55 1 Lap
13. Takuma Sato Japan Super Aguri-Honda 55 1 Lap
14. Scott Speed United States Toro Rosso-Ferrari 56 1 Lap
15. Ralf Schumacher Germany Toyota 55 1 Lap
16. Anthony Davidson Britain Super Aguri-Honda 55 1 Lap
17. Vitantonio Liuzzi Italy Toro Rosso-Ferrari 55 1 Lap
18. Robert Kubica Poland BMW 55 1 Lap
R Nico Rosberg Germany Williams-Toyota 42
R David Coulthard Britain Red Bull-Renault 36 Brakes
R Christijan Albers Netherlands Spyker-Ferrari 7 Gearbox
R Adrian Sutil Germany Spyker-Ferrari 0 Accident
FASTEST LAP:
Lewis Hamilton Britain McLaren-Mercedes 22 1:36.701
Comments
6 Responses to “Ferrari Fumble, McLaren Master Malaysian GP”
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“Anyone missing that Michael guy yet?” Yes. Mainly in wondering what it would be like if he and Kimi were in the same team. I know. I talked up Massa all winter. I thought he had matured. Well, two failed attempts at a pass in a row at the same corner showed he still needs to learn patience. Not passing is better than trying and losing 2 spots.
I think Ferrari’s biggest mistake was to run the same car they had in Melbourne. Almost everyone else brought their upgrades, especially McLaren. They learned from their test and acted accordingly. Ferrari did not. They need to keep improving the car and not listen to how everyone says Ferrari is soooo dominant.
I new McLaren wouldn’t have a problem with the switch back to Bridgestone. They usually did better on them than Ferrari.
Anyway, it will be interesting to see what Ferrari does this weekend in response to being thouroghly wipped by McLaren.
Tim said:
“I think Ferrari’s biggest mistake was to run the same car they had in Melbourne.” Michael will be missed more in the garage than on the track. He would not, in conjunction with Ross Brawn, allowed the team to sit on their butts with the same car as in Melbourne.
As previously stated, Michael’s leadership and team building was a vital component to the team’s success.
yes, to see him park his car in the first corner to stop Fernando from whipping him. Just to see how Fernando is so much better than Kimi and just as fast and how he makes Mclaren a contender from day one is great.
I differ a little on your read of the race, I think the race was Ferrari’s to lose & their pace was quite good. Lewis Hamilton brilliant start - & braving it around the outside - was the turning point. He then then kept his head & drove as fast as the car would allow him & defended against Massa, allowing his team mate to bolt at a rate of a second per lap for the first 12 laps, making hay whilst the sun shone. Although I’m confused as to why - when Massa went off - Kimi was unable to cut into Hamilton’s pace & yet, in the final stint Kimi was able to reel Hamilton in, at that stage they were both on the hard option so perhaps that was the reason.
Massa’s ham fisted overtaking attempts were a return to the impetuous Massa of old, I laughed my head off at the post race interviews when Lewis - in only his second race - humbly walked the audience through the pass/repasses & innocently dropped the line ” & then I was able to trick him (Massa) into out braking himself” Brilliant!!!
That’s the second time Lewis has demonstrated a decisiveness at the start that is a mixture of skill & aggression, yet in no way dirty. I predict more overdriving from Filipe; yes in a superior car he can put it on pole & win by leading from the front, however, put him in a situation that requires race craft & the cracks appear.
While McLaren has taken a step forward from Melbourne I think it’s basically even between Ferrari & MM at the front, with Ferrari having a slight edge. Yesterdays 1-2 was all about the drivers not the car.
How the mighty have fallen, Renault who have won the past two championships, now fighting over the last points in a race. The switch from Michelin seems to have hurt them more than others.
I think the missing link in the discussions above is that Kimi had a limited engine as a result of a water leak (either that or take a ten spot penalty). When the end of the race was near and the engine was at ‘less risk’ he wound it up and was making up almost a second a lap on Hamilton. I think the Ferrari squad are a lot closer than this last race indicated. So, next race with a bit more water for Kimi and a few more brain cells for Massa and they will be at the top fighting it out. Great stuff to see such close fighting
Actually, the link tied to “engine concerns” in my posting goes on to describe the rev limited engine Kimi raced.
But your comment about Ferrari regaining dominance in Bahrain is spot on….including a lack of brain fade from Felipe.