MALAYSIAN GRAND PRIX PREVIEW
Malaysia welcomes Formula One this weekend for round two
of the 2008 World Championship, hot off the heels of a thrilling
start to the year in Melbourne last weekend. The season opener
didn’t fail to disappoint and delivered a well deserved
maiden podium for Nico Rosberg and Kazuki Nakajima’s
first taste of a points-scoring finish in only his second
race in the sport. The team will be looking to replicate the
promising performance shown in Australia at the dramatic Sepang
track and to reinforce its second position in the Constructors’
standings.
Nico Rosberg
Sepang is one of my favourite tracks on the calendar.
We should be stronger there than we were in Melbourne as well,
especially if we have the whole weekend to prepare properly,
so we’re looking for another good performance. Perhaps
not a podium, but another solid points-scoring finish. We
seem to have a car that isn’t too tough on its tyres
so, with the heat in Malaysia, that’s a positive.
Physically, these races are really difficult, particularly
for concentration, but that’s why I worked so hard over
the winter to be fit in these conditions. Every single minute
of pain I felt during training played through my mind in Sunday’s
race! I’m going to Singapore with RBS this week to visit
the new track there, then I’ll have a couple of days
to relax before making the trip to Malaysia.
Kazuki Nakajima
Firstly, we had a really good result in the opening
Grand Prix in Australia and that’s motivated all of
us. I’m going to have a ten place grid penalty for Malaysia
so it’s going to be difficult for me, but I’m
just going to concentrate on my race and do the best I can.
Sepang is a really nice track, it’s tough on the car
and tyres, but we have a good chance and I have a good feeling.
Like in Australia, temperatures will be extreme again, so
it’s going to be another hard weekend for everyone.
I’ll be heading to Malaysia straight away to get some
training in and to make sure I’m as ready as I can be
for the weekend
. Sam Michael, Technical Director, Williams F1
It is always hot and humid in Kuala Lumpur and the weather
forecast says this year’s race will be no different.
With only a week between these two Grands Prix, we will be
focusing on tidying up any reliability issues that we encountered
in Melbourne before Friday’s practice.
Although our qualifying performance in Australia wasn’t
bad, particularly considering the time we lost in practice
and then the red and yellow flags during qualifying itself,
it wasn’t good enough and didn’t meet our expectations.
We are therefore heading to Malaysia with a view to improving
that and to build upon our second place in the Constructors’
Championship. It seems that the field is very close this year
so any additional tenths that we can find will help significantly.
The track layout in Malaysia consists of mainly medium and
high speed corners and enough straight lines to place a certain
level of importance on engine power. With a two stop strategy
typical, and a few overtaking opportunities around the lap,
it should be an exciting race. If it’s anything like
Melbourne, then it will only be good news for Formula One.
Sepang, Malaysia
A purpose-built facility, Sepang’s 5.543km lap provides
a blend of medium and high speed corners interspersed with
several slow speed sections and blisteringly fast straights.
Such a dynamic track poses a particular challenge for the
drivers and their engineers as a quick lap depends on a car
with a well balanced set-up for the complex mix of corners,
plenty of power for the quick straights and sufficient cooling
capabilities to counterbalance the extremes of temperature
and powerful humidity.
With temperatures reaching 40°C in Kuala Lumpur, climatic
conditions can play a significant role in the outcome of the
Malaysian Grand Prix. Coupled with the high humidity levels
and the constant threat of heavy downpours, the drivers and
their cars will be pushed to thermal limits. As temperatures
soar so will the heat in the cockpit, and the driver’s
physical and mental fitness levels will be severely tested
as they lose over a litre of fluid per hour in the race. Engines
will also be strained as they are fired up for a second outing
in Malaysia. Sepang is not regarded as a power circuit, with
the time spent at full throttle relatively low, but containing
oil temperatures in the extreme heat, while not compromising
aerodynamic efficiency, will be imperative for their reliability.
STATS & FACTS
KEY RACE DATA
RACE DISTANCE/LAPS 5.543kms / 3.444 miles. 56 laps = 310.408kms
/ 192.887 miles
RACE START TIME Local: 15.00, GMT: 07.00
2007 FASTEST LAP L Hamilton, McLaren Mercedes: 1:36.701
2007 POLE SITTER F Massa, Ferrari: 1:35.043
2007 RACE WINNER F Alonso, McLaren Mercedes
PIT-STOP SCHEDULE
1 stop: Laps 27 - 33
2 stops: Laps 16 – 27, 35 - 41
3 stops: Laps 14 – 19, 25 – 30, 38 - 43
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