19/03/2006
NEWS STORY
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Following a prolonged period of total confusion - check around the various F1 message boards and forums - the FIA has finally issued the definitive grid for today's Malaysia Grand Prix.
This is just as well, for in a little over fifteen minutes the 22 cars and drivers will be heading on to the track.
Therefore, without further ado, here is the starting grid for today's race.
Fisichella, Button, Rosberg, Webber, Montoya, Raikkonen, Alonso, Klien, Trulli, Villeneuve, Heidfeld, Speed, Liuzzi, M. Schumacher, Albers, Monteiro, Sato, Ide, Coulthard, Barrichello, Massa, Ralf Schumacher.
The grid looks wholly different to the order on the qualifying timesheets, and this is due to the sheer number of drivers who have had engines changes, either last week in Bahrain, or here at Sepang.
In case you switched off after qualifying thinking that the grid was 'sorted', here's the message given on the official formula One website: "The true grid won't be published until Sunday morning, and there are numerous complications in determining where the drivers with engine changes will ultimately be placed for the start of the eighth Malaysian Grand Prix"
So there you go. Despite all the back-slapping regarding the new qualifying format, there is still a lot of work rthat needs to be done, not only with the third part of the session, but also how the final grid placings are decided.
As we said, there have been a lot of engine changes, and one cannot help but feel that some drivers/teams are taking advantage, having seen what Kimi Raikkonen achieved in Bahrain, with a fresh engine and the correct (one stop) strategy.
The threatened storms never appeared this weekend, and today is pretty much like Friday and Saturday, the sun is totally hidden behind a vast swathe of cloud. In the distance there are some rain clouds, but the experts predict that they will by-pass the circuit. The air temperature is 33 degrees C, while the track temperature is 36 degrees. Humidity is 62%.
With fifteen minutes it's revealed that the FIA has revealed a number of teams have warned that they are considering protesting the legality of the front wing on the Ferrari. This, of course, relates to the flexibility of the wing, and comes at a time when there are murmurings regarding the legality of the rear wing.
This means that having waited over twenty-four hours to discover the definitive starting grid, we may have to wait a couple of months in order to discover the result of today's race - should Ferrari do well. Such is Formula One these days.
The cars head off on the warm-up lap, nobody is starting from the pitlane.
Fisichella makes a great start, as does Alonso, but, for reasons knows only to himself, Rosberg forces his teammate wide. Meanwhile, Raikkonen is off into the gravel, his race over before it has begun.
At the end of the first lap, Fisi leads Button, Alonso, Webber, Montoya, Heidfeld, Rosberg, Trulli, Villeneuve and Michael. Meanwhile, Raikkonen's car is lifted from the gravel trap. Christian Klien pits with a 'missing' left-front suspension - could be have been involved in Raikkonen's off? Liuzzi also pits, but is able to continue.
The replay shows at Raikkonen was indeed hit from behind at Turn 4, most likely by Klien.
With three laps completed, Fisichella leads Button by 1.5s, while Rosberg is all over Heidfeld for sixth. The WilliamsF1 driver, nails the BMW, no doubt causing tears to well up in Patrick Head's eyes.
Fisi is setting a blistering pace, posting a succession of fastest laps. Meanwhile, Michael is all over Villeneuve, who is in turn hunting down Trulli. Webber is also giving third-placed Alonso a hard time.
Biggest disappointment thus far, other than Kimi's demise, is to see Barrichello running in fifteenth, almost 2s behind Scott speed.
Tears indeed for Patrick Head, as Nico Rosberg's engine blows, a rare failure from Cosworth.
With seven laps completed, Fisichella leads by 3.7s, with Alonso 6.8s down on second placed Button. Webber is fourth, ahead of Montoya, Heidfeld, Trulli, Villeneuve, Michael and Coulthard.
With is front suspension replaced, Klien returns to the race, four laps down on nineteenth placed Yuji Ide.
Other than Webber, who is sticking to Alonso like glue, the best fight is for seventh, with Trulli shadowed by Michael, Coulthard, Ralf and Massa.
Michael goes through on the inside of his former nemesis, and sets off after Trulli. Meanwhile, Coulthard's pit stop goes horribly wrong, the Scot is stuck in sixth gear. The car is pushed into the garage in order that the mechanics can fix the problem. However, as DC climbs out of the RBR2 it appears that his race is over.
Another fastest lap (35.488) for Fisichella, who now leads Button by 5s. The Englishman enjoys an 11s advantage over Alonso, but the Spaniard is most likely on a one-stop strategy, while the Honda driver will stop twice.
Michael is clearly a man on a mission, he forces his way past Trulli to take seventh. Meanwhile, his brother, running eleventh, makes his first stop.
At the end of lap 14, Webber is the first of the frontrunners to pit, returning to the action in tenth, behind Massa. Elsewhere, Klien has pitted again, having felt that his suspension was a little "loose".
Villeneuve makes a move on Trulli, but the Italian fights back, however, the Canadian is determined, and stands his ground. The move to BMW has clearly revitalised the 1997 World Champion.
As Fisichella posts another fastest lap (35.294), Webber pulls off track with what appears to be another Cosworth failure, though not as dramatic as his teammate's.
At the end of lap 16, Fisichella pits, 11.1s later he's heading down the pitlane, rejoining just ahead of Montoya in fourth. "If you want to beat Fernando, you've got to be blindingly quick now," the Italian is told over his radio. He responds by going just a little wide, clouting the kerb.
Therefore, with 18 laps completed, Button leads Alonso by 14.6s. Fisichella, third, goes quickest in the first sector.
As Button pits, Alonso leads, the Spaniard 5.5s up on his Renault teammate. Elsewhere, Massa is all over Villeneuve, likewise Barrichello on Speed.
Button pursues Montoya, who has yet to stop, the McLaren, running almost a second a lap off the pace of the leader, is holding up the Honda.
The two Renaults are the only cars lapping in the 1:36s, Alonso leading his teammate by 5.5s. Though it is Fisi who should be "blindingly quick", it is Alonso who posts 1:35.980, 0.3s faster than the Italian. Elsewhere, Ralf and Speed both pit.
At the end of lap 23, Montoya pits, as does Michael. The Colombian is stationary for 8.3s, the German 11.4. Villeneuve also pits.
Button is now third, 7.8s down on second placed Fisichella. His teammate, Barrichello, gets the call; "now is your time, now is your time". Meanwhile, fellow South American, Montoya, goes quickest in the first sector. However, he loses time in the second sector behind Ide.
At the end of lap 26, Alonso, who is currently fastest man on track, makes his (sole?) stop. It's just 7.3s, so it appears he will need to stop again. A change of strategy mid-race or was that always the plan?
Of the top ten, only Massa and Barrichello have yet to stop.
Elsewhere, Sato and Liuzzi are having the mother of all battles, almost catching out Barrichello, who is attempting to lap them. The Italian and the Japanese driver having great fun as the scrap for fourteenth.
A new fastest lap for Alonso (35.010), which is 0.8s quicker than his teammate, who hasn't responded to the call.
At the end of lap 29, Massa pits, as Sato has a moment, which costs him several seconds, and brings the Liuzzi 'bundle' to an end.
Alonso is told "to get on with it", as Fisichella posts a succession of quicker laps.
After 31 laps, it's Fisichella 9.8s ahead of Button, who heads Alonso, Montoya, Heidfeld and Michael, as Barrichello pits. Still recovering from his 'off', Sato is falling into the clutches of Monteiro. Elsewhere, Ralf goes quickest in the second sector.
Button posts a 1:35.652, as he falls 10s behind Fisichella. Elsewhere, both Toyotas have upped their pace, Trulli is currently running ninth, ahead of his teammate.
Fisi locks up as he attempts to build a safety cushion between he and his teammate, the two Renaults setting up a grandstand finish. Meanwhile, Alonso is told that he needs to take another second out of Button.
As Klien makes his third stop, Fisichella loses almost a second as he negotiates traffic. Meanwhile, Montoya posts a personal best (35.746), as Barrichello gets a drive-through for speeding in the pitlane.
Now it is Button's turn to tackle the back markers, and he's not having an easy time of it. Elsewhere, Fisi makes his final stop for fuel and new boots. Seeing that Button is having problems with the traffic, Honda opt to bring the Englishman in early.
Therefore, having been told that he has five laps until his final stop, Alonso leads Fisichella by 7.7s. Montoya is third, but has yet to stop, ahead of Button, Heidfeld, Michael, Massa, Villeneuve, Ralf and Trulli.
Barring a major disaster, or his usual bad luck, Fisichella appears to have the race sewn up. However, as for who will join him on the podium, that remains to be seen. Alonso is sure to be up there, but Montoya is under intense pressure from Button.
Villeneuve (eighth) makes his final stop, as do Montoya, Heidfeld and Speed.
At the end of lap 43, Alonso pits, his lead over Button 23.8s. It's a 6.4s stop and he re-joins ahead of Button, the Honda crew looks on, despondent.
Therefore, after 44 laps, Giancarlo Fisichella leads the Malaysian Grand Prix, 11.7s clear of teammate, Fernando Alonso. The Spaniard is 4s ahead of Button, who enjoys a 10.1s advantage over Michael Schumacher, who has yet to stop.
Giancarlo might have the race in the bag, but someone has forgotten to tell Fernando, who posts a new fastest lap (34.803) and closes to within 9.9s of his teammate.
The Spaniard is taking over a second a lap out of Fisichella, leaving Button trailing in third, 23s clear of fourth-placed Montoya. Elsewhere, Speed has retired.
Alonso ease off, and one has to suppose that the Spaniard has been told to hold station rather than fight his teammate and risk losing everything.
With 8 laps remaining, Alonso is 8.2s behind Fisichella, with Button a further 6.2s behind.
Bitter disappointment for BMW as Nick Heidfeld's engine blows just 7 laps from the end. The German was running fifth, having driven a great race. Bitter disappointment.
The only real battle remaining, involve the Schumachers. Michael is shadowing his teammate, Felipe Massa, while Ralf is hunting down Villeneuve, who, having seen what happened to Heidfeld, will be worried about his engine's reliability.
With 5 laps remaining, Montoya is lapping almost two seconds off the pace, and is falling into the clutches of the two Ferraris. Meanwhile, Ralf is all over Villeneuve.
As Michael continues to shadow his young teammate, one has to wonder whether the Maranello outfit might employ the dubious team tactics employed in previous seasons. Let's hope not.
Giancarlo takes the third win of his 161 Grand Prix career, and a convincing win it was. On his slow down lap, Flavio Briatore congratulates him over the radio; "fantastico," says the Renault team boss, "fantastico, bravo!". However, it is one of the other members of the crew who best sums up the Italian's performance; "a perfect weekend mate, every single lap".
Sadly, the first lap demise of Kimi Raikkonen robbed us of a potential thriller, though if Juan Pablo's pace was anything to go by, perhaps not.
It would have been nice to see Giancarlo go head to head, but at this stage in the season it probably does make more sense to get both cars home safely.
Button did the best that he could, though Honda must now focus on making both drivers competitive, for clearly, Barrichello is having problems with the RA106.
As for Juan Pablo, one has to ask why the lack of pace, was it the car or the Colombian? If it was the former then the Woking team has to knuckle down or risk repeating what happened in 2005, when Renault, with a string of four successive wins, has the championship sewn up right from the outset, leaving the silver team with the ominous task of playing catch-up for the remainder of the season.
It's been a difficult weekend for Ferrari, what with the engine changes, and then the news of protests regarding the legality of its front and rear wings. Massa did well to finish ahead of Michael, and the Italian team is to be applauded for not executing team orders.
Sadly, BMW missed out on a double points finish by just 5 laps, however, the German team must draw tremendous encouragement from today's race, with both drivers giving strong, convincing performances. Particular credit must be given to Jacque Villeneuve, who really does appear to have rediscovered his form.
Eight and ninth hardly justifies Toyota's budget, but this weekend's performance was a hell of a lot better than that witnessed in Bahrain. It's not time for the guys in Cologne to crack up the Champagne but this was a definite step in the right direction.
However, it was a step in the wrong direction for both WilliamsF1 and Red Bull, the English team in particular will have been rocked by what appeared to be a double engine failure.
Both of the Midlands made it home, while Toro Rosso and Super Aguri both managed to get one car to the flag. On that note, particular praise to the Japanese team which really is making progress, with everyone clearly giving 100 percent.
Renault is clearly taking up where it left off in 2005, and it is to be hoped that McLaren, Ferrari, Honda et al, will now get to work and sort their cars in order that we have the championship battle we'd all hoped for. Furthermore, let's hope that Ferrari's aerodynamic legality issue can be resolved before Melbourne, the last thing F1 needs right now is controversy - F1 scraps should be about drivers, not lawyers.
In the meantime, as we lok ahead to Melbourne, and round three of the championship, let's echo Alan Permane's sentiments… it was a perfect weekend Fisi, just perfect!
To check out our Sepang race day gallery, click here