Kuala Lumpur is where it's at in F1
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
THE second race of the 2007 Formula One season in Sepang, Malaysia is our best chance of getting close to the action. And what action it is going to be now that two top drivers have emerged for a possible epic battle for the championship. One has to defend his title while the other is desperate to prove his worth.
Reigning champion Fernando Alonso, now driving for McLaren, had a horrible weekend in Australia, unable to match the speed and agility of Kimi Raikkonen's scarlet racer around the tricky Albert Park street circuit in Melbourne.
He fought hard but the Finn simply had more power under his right foot and there was little that the Spaniard could do but watch the leading Ferrari disappear into the horizon.
The Sepang circuit can be a great equaliser for the field as they struggle to deal with the heat and weather uncertainties and this fact is not lost on Alonso and his team.
Although there appears to be a slight horsepower deficit, Mercedes is keen to make sure that their top man will have a good chance of beating Ferrari in the baking hot Sepang F1 Circuit.
Some are suggesting that the new rules regulating underbody and floor design may create a distinct aerodynamic advantage and these two top teams are known for their ability to accommodate rule changes to their advantage.
It remains to be seen whether Raikkonen's icy cool exterior will melt under a combination of scorching Malaysian sun and intense Spanish goading.
McLaren's spectacular second driver Lewis Hamilton, who found himself on the podium at the end of his debut weekend, has shown that McLaren is not lacking pace and even clocked the fastest time during testing last week.
Obviously, the top drivers are holding their cards close to their chest, and will not be displaying their full abilities during testing but Hamilton's good showing is certainly good news for Mercedes.
BMW finished a respectable fourth in Australia, 38 seconds behind in real terms and this significant performance deficit will be hard to claw back within the space of two weeks. However, Sauber still considers Sepang its home ground, albeit without Petronas as title partner, and the team may have a few tricks up their sleeves to gain ground on the competition.
If predictions are to be relied on, then the almost unanimous vote for Ferrari dominance this weekend should be an indication of the battle that will take place because the Woking team and their Spanish driver are not known for taking it easy.
At the back of the grid, attention is focused on the fledgling Spyker team which have elected to miss the first test session in Sepang to concentrate on improving their aerodynamics package, and they are confident of escaping the back row.
Things always look difficult for the smaller teams but money certainly does not necessarily translate into victory, just look at Toyota and how they have remained midfielders despite spending a mountain of cash.
Drivers Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli have had to apologise to fans in India, which has an airline sponsorship link, for their dismal performance and hope that support for the team will continue to be strong until they achieve their first victory. The Brunei Times
Reigning champion Fernando Alonso, now driving for McLaren, had a horrible weekend in Australia, unable to match the speed and agility of Kimi Raikkonen's scarlet racer around the tricky Albert Park street circuit in Melbourne.
He fought hard but the Finn simply had more power under his right foot and there was little that the Spaniard could do but watch the leading Ferrari disappear into the horizon.
The Sepang circuit can be a great equaliser for the field as they struggle to deal with the heat and weather uncertainties and this fact is not lost on Alonso and his team.
Although there appears to be a slight horsepower deficit, Mercedes is keen to make sure that their top man will have a good chance of beating Ferrari in the baking hot Sepang F1 Circuit.
Some are suggesting that the new rules regulating underbody and floor design may create a distinct aerodynamic advantage and these two top teams are known for their ability to accommodate rule changes to their advantage.
It remains to be seen whether Raikkonen's icy cool exterior will melt under a combination of scorching Malaysian sun and intense Spanish goading.
McLaren's spectacular second driver Lewis Hamilton, who found himself on the podium at the end of his debut weekend, has shown that McLaren is not lacking pace and even clocked the fastest time during testing last week.
Obviously, the top drivers are holding their cards close to their chest, and will not be displaying their full abilities during testing but Hamilton's good showing is certainly good news for Mercedes.
BMW finished a respectable fourth in Australia, 38 seconds behind in real terms and this significant performance deficit will be hard to claw back within the space of two weeks. However, Sauber still considers Sepang its home ground, albeit without Petronas as title partner, and the team may have a few tricks up their sleeves to gain ground on the competition.
If predictions are to be relied on, then the almost unanimous vote for Ferrari dominance this weekend should be an indication of the battle that will take place because the Woking team and their Spanish driver are not known for taking it easy.
At the back of the grid, attention is focused on the fledgling Spyker team which have elected to miss the first test session in Sepang to concentrate on improving their aerodynamics package, and they are confident of escaping the back row.
Things always look difficult for the smaller teams but money certainly does not necessarily translate into victory, just look at Toyota and how they have remained midfielders despite spending a mountain of cash.
Drivers Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli have had to apologise to fans in India, which has an airline sponsorship link, for their dismal performance and hope that support for the team will continue to be strong until they achieve their first victory. The Brunei Times
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