2008 MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes drivers Heikki Kovalainen and Lewis
Hamilton finished the Malaysian Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit
in third and fifth positions respectively. After 56 laps (310.408
km’s), Heikki came home 38.4 seconds behind winner Kimi
Raikkonen whilst Lewis was fifth, 46.5 seconds behind. Both
drivers were on two-stop strategies. Lewis came in on laps
19 (19.9 seconds) and 44 (8.9 seconds) whilst Heikki made
his pit stops on laps 20 (10.2 seconds) and 45 (7.2 seconds).
During Lewis’ first stop there was a failure of the
wheel nut locking mechanism on his front right tyre causing
almost a 10 second delay. After the second of 18 Grands Prix,
Vodafone McLaren Mercedes maintains the lead in the Constructors’
Championship with 24 points ahead of BMW Sauber with 19 points
and Ferrari with 11 points. Lewis leads the drivers’
ranking with 14 points ahead of Kimi and Nick Heidfeld (tied
on 11 points) and Heikki, who is fourth with 10 points.
HEIKKI KOVALAINEN
"I am pretty happy with my third place today, considering
yesterday’s penalty, and it was probably the best possible
result for us in these circumstances. Our strategy worked
really well and it meant that I was able to be in clean air
for most of the race. The team really did a fantastic job
and I am happy to reward them with my first podium for the
team. I did have a small issue with graining during my first
stint; however, I was able to stay out until lap 20, which
helped me to overtake Jarno Trulli during my first pit stop.
After my second stop I was able to play it safe and secure
my third place, as it was not possible at this stage to go
one better."
LEWIS HAMILTON
"I got a really good start and was pretty happy as we
jumped five positions from ninth to fifth. I was pushing Mark
for a very long time, but being behind someone, no matter
how quick you are, it is really difficult to get past. We
were in a good position for a shot at third place at least,
but then I had the problem in my first pit stop which lost
me a lot of time. So I did the best job I could. However we
take away the fact that the car ran very reliably in these
extreme conditions, and I was able to push Jarno right until
the last second. I have to say that both Mark and Jarno drove
really well today, and it was great to fight them out on track
today."
RON DENNIS
"Two very strong performances from both Heikki and Lewis
following an eventful weekend, which despite the problems
yielded sufficient points to keep us ahead in both Championships.
Heikki had a great race dealing well with the traffic and
achieving a well deserved first podium position with the team.
Lewis’s race was hampered when a wheel nut locking mechanism
failed during his first stop, costing him valuable time at
a critical part in his race. The true pace of our cars was
masked today by the inherent understeer that comes when driving
in traffic. We now look forward to the Bahrain Grand Prix
in two weeks’ time."
NORBERT HAUG
"Heikki and Lewis did a good job following yesterday’s
relegation to eighth and ninth on the grid and after the wheel
nut problem during Lewis’s first pitstop. With third
and fifth place we scored 10 valuable points. Heikki made
the best out of his strategy and achieved his first podium
for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes - well done for him and the
team. Today Lewis obviously had two handicaps starting ninth
and losing more than 10 seconds in the pits, but still we
finished in the points with both cars in both races of the
season so far. We all will now continue to work hard to further
improve our performance."
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