Malaysian Grand Prix – Sepang, 23rd March 2008
Driver Position Time Gap Laps Chassis
K. Raikkonen 1st 1:31.18.555 - 56 268
F. Massa R 48.59.371 Lap 31 30 267
Weather: air temperature 32 °C, track temperature 44/42,
partially cloudy
A win and a retirement is the final outcome of the Malaysian
Grand Prix for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro. Kimi Raikkonen took
the sixteenth win of his career, bringing Ferrari’s
total to 202 from 760 Grand Prix participations. Felipe Massa
retired on lap 31 because of an off-track excursion, when
he was right behind his team-mate
Stefano Domenicali: “This has been
a bittersweet Easter day. We are very happy with Kimi’s
victory, but equally disappointed with Felipe’s retirement
as it robbed us of a possible one-two. This weekend, we have
shown what the team can do after our very bad weekend in Melbourne.
So, we were not cart horses in Australia and we did not become
phenomenons today. We know we still have much to do to improve
in terms of performance and, above all, reliability. The team
carried out its tasks well, showing in style that it knows
how to react. Congratulations to Kimi, who drove a superb
race and thanks to our commercial and technical partners,
first and foremost, Philip Morris and Shell.”
Kimi Raikkonen: “I am very happy with
this win, for me and for the team. It’s a shame that
Felipe was unable to let us bring home a result that was within
our grasp. At the start I came alongside Felipe, but I did
not take any risks, knowing I was stopping one lap later than
him at the end of the first stint. When that time came, I
pushed to the maximum and I managed to come out of my pit
stop ahead of him. From then on, with a clear track ahead
of me, the car was perfect I was able to control the situation
without having to stress the car or the tyres. We are struggling
a little bit in qualifying, but in the race we have a very
high potential. We have had a very complicated start to the
season, but I have certainly not lost faith in the team: we
can still do better.”
Felipe Massa: “On lap 31, I clipped
the kerb at the exit to Turn 6 and hit it quite hard and then
I lost the rear end going into the next corner. We have to
check to see if the impact with the kerb damaged the car.
It’s a real shame because we could have brought home
a one-two finish. Obviously this has been a very difficult
start to the season for me, but there is still a very long
way to go. We have great potential, as was seen today and
so I am still confident. Naturally I hope to make up for this
soon, starting with the next race in Bahrain.”
Luca Baldisserri: “Today we showed
we had a clear advantage over the opposition, but obviously
there a slightly bitter feeling that we did not manage to
bring home maximum points today. It’s a real shame,
because we could have made up for the bad start in Melbourne
in fine style, but there’s no point in crying over spilt
milk. Incidents such as the one that befell Felipe are part
of racing. We now have to prepare as well as possible for
the next round in Bahrain: our rivals will not be twiddling
their thumbs and we have to improve, especially in terms of
overall reliability.”
|
