F1 fans - Heads up 24 Mar 2012 18:30 AEDT Malaysia Qualifying ONE HD

[gary]

The qualifying sesion for Malaysia begins at 19:00 AEDT
and is being broadcast on ONE HD.

Half-hour pre qualifying commentary program now on.

[gary]

Close call as Webber goes from 15th position to 1st position
in the last two minutes of Q1.

[Waxing_Gibbous]

I don't think MW will pull it off. He simply doesn't have that extra "nth' to be a top-flight GP driver. If he was going to win the championship, he would have done so by now.
Haven't seen the qualifying, but Hamilton/Button, Vettel/Schuey would be my guess.
Hamilton? Button? Vettel? (in no particular order) would get my money for the win.
But see below... :)

[mithrandir]

By time before any staring place penalties:

Hamilton, Button, Schumacher, Webber, Raikkonen, Vettel, Grosjean, Rosberg, Alonso, Perez, Maldonado, Massa, Senna, Di Resta, Ricciardo, Hulkenberg, Kobayashi, Vergne, Kovalainen, Petrov, Glock, Pic, de la Rosa, Karthikeyan

All drivers were under the 107% limit.

[Kal]

While Ferrari's speed is disappointing, I'm glad that some other teams are shaking it up at the top this season, with Mercedes quite fast and Lotus being a bit of a suprise.

Should be a cracker of a race tonight!

[gary]

As at 11:55 AEDT, the weather in Sepang is currently fine and hazy
but the forecast is 60% chance of rain with scattered showers and
thunderstorms predicted during the day.

Whether it rains at all and then whether the track becomes wet before
the race starts or after the race starts and then at what time, could turn
tyre and pit stop strategies on their heads.

Even if it remains dry, all teams have flagged tyre wear at Sepang as
a major factor with Mercedes in particular putting on record that their
car is consuming the rubber quickly.

In an interview on the official F1 web site, Vettel reports that the RB8
is missing grip and is sliding too much and is "not the easiest to drive".
See http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2012/3/13163.html
Lacking the blown diffuser seems to have made a major difference between
the RB7 and RB8. Certainly sounds like a car that you have to drive
from the seat of your pants at the moment.

Wet weather can often be an opportunity for those who don't have
the fastest car in the dry and there are some jokers in the pack
with the likes of the Lotus-Renaults that should make for an interesting
race.

[gary]

While waiting for the race, F1 fans might enjoy a 55 minute video
entitled "Lewis Hamilton: an unauthorized story" on the
Sydney Morning Herald web site here -
http://www.smh.com.au/tv/show/lewis-hamilton-an-unauthorised-story/lewis-hamilton-20111014-1loij.html

The documentary covers Hamilton's driving career from a young boy in
karts up to the end of 2008 when he became F1 world champion.

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Sepang is, if I'm not mistaken ( :) ) a circuit largely designed by Shuey and favours his style of driving with tight corners and long straights which would seem to be McLaren's strong suit ATM.

Lotus could also be a real contender and its great to see them partnered up with Renault again.
I was really looking forward to seeing how Grosjean would place at Albert Park - alas - no dice! Here's hoping he doesn't get taken out again.

Roll on 10:30.

PS - GO McLaren!!!

[mithrandir]

Unless you have digital, then it's live on One HD at 18:30.
Go Red Bull!

[Omaroo]

Should be good viewing tonight - and even better given that it is immediately followed by a screening of Aeon Flux. :D

Formula 1 is back from the doldrums and is exciting again. :thumbsup:

[kustard]

Hehe Chris, I'm watching that double as well :)

[mithrandir]

Alonso 1st, Perez 2nd, Hamilton 3rd
Shame about Perez's slipup with 5 laps to go. The way he was reeling in Alonso it would have been daylight 2nd. Sauber could do with a win after all these years.



I thought they might pull Aeon FLux since the GP ran so late. Then I do have it on DVD - both the animated and live versions.