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Who wants to bet against the season’s new defensive-driving rules coming into play tomorrow? Last season’s official most-fighty starter and man-most-likely-to-make-it-hard-to-pass Michael Schumacher lines up third behind the McLarens for tomorrow’s Malaysian Grand Prix (see how quickly we got bored of Team GB’s dominance there).
So what odds Michael getting by the in-fighting Macs with Lewis (pole) more concerned with the bloke next to him (JB) and forgetting to keep the bloke behind in check? And God help us all if Michael arrives at Turn One first because over a race distance, the McLaren is still the car to beat. Expect lock-ups, fist waving, ‘stewards investigating….’ captions on-screen, drive-through penalties and stone-walling Germans.
Nobody wanted the Michael fairy tale to happen more than Sunday Afternoon club so, when we wrote him off at the start of the season, we did so based on two seasons of Michael getting blown off by Nico Rosberg (who, to paraphrase John Lennon, is widely regarded as “not even the fastest racer in the Rosbergs”). So we’re beaming this morning. We don’t think he’ll win tomorrow, but two qualis on the second row means this old man is sticking in to the young ‘uns. And we like that.
Both Mercedes and Pirelli have been saying all week that the FW-03’s tyre binging has been cured, without saying how or even what the problem was, so we’re inclined not to take it too seriously. So who will take the fight to the Macs? Not Red Bull. When Mark Webber again out-qualifies Sebastian Vettel you realise it’s not all going to plan. Even more so when Red Bull effectively abandons any hope of getting its champ further up the grid and sends him out on the hard tyres in the hope a strategic gain come the race. On-the-fly strategy switches aren’t Red Bull’s strength.
Webber starts fourth, Vettel sixth. Or would do, had Lotus not been forced to change Kimi Raikkonen’s gearbox meaning a five place drop which translates Kimi’s fifth fastest time to a tenth place on the grid, behind Romain Grosjean who we are starting to think it’s the sweetest fella on the grid. Like we said yesterday, the Lotus E20 is a fast car. Raikkonen meanwhile is giving every impression that he’s taking this all very seriously. Anyone who thought he might be at sea with the complexity of this year’s cars —DRS KERS and all — only need look at his qualifying lap. He wasn’t Googling a decent bar in KL with all that button pressing and knob turning.
There are changes afoot at Ferrari. A new car which might or might not abandon the pull-rod front suspension (you know, the opposite to the push-rod suspension Jezza so comprehensively explained on the boys last outing) is due when the circus lands in Barcelona. Meanwhile Ferrari has expressed its absolute faith in Felipe Massa. We all know what that means. Alonso starts ninth (eight after Kimi’s penalty). Massa didn’t make it to Q3.
Talking of Massa, Sergio Perez was the only mid-field interloper in the big boys game in Q3, setting tenth fastest time. Among the Q2 boys it’s reasonable to say that Williams’ form, if not as impressive as in Melbourne, continues to show promise. Force India meanwhile, who everyone expected to graduate to the major league, continue to confuse. 11th thru’ 17th is covered by half a second… Williams, Ferrari, Williams, Force India, Toro Rosso, Force India and Kobayshi’s Sauber.
Paul Di Resta will have been happy to have gone quicker than Hulkenberg, but he doesn’t seem to be the happy boy he was last year. Daniel Ricciardo meanwhile will no doubt have been delighted that team-mate Vergne didn’t make it to Q2 and joined the inevitable Caterhams, Marussias and HRTs lining up abreast at the back of the grid.
Toro Rosso is, as we know, F1’s most intense new driver hot house. And this year especially what with Schumacher and Webber spotted browsing lawnmower catalogues before the start of the season.
Mind you, after today, those gardens might need to wait a little longer.
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
Olli commented on this article
Saturday March 24, 2012 at 4:09 pm
“Like we said yesterday, the Lotus E20 is a fast car.”
No you didn’t! Admit it, Lotus mislead you into thinking their speed was comparable to a high-end tractor and you took the bait!
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steve12 commented on this article
Saturday March 24, 2012 at 4:19 pm
Micheal The Baron Schumacher, still got the magic as he
proving the last two weeks.
who cares if he over 40, age and experience count
for a lot in f1.
let hope his gearbox improve, and we have a race tomorrow.
watch out for Fernado The Great Houndi Alonso, can get that ferrari
high up in the points again.
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steve12 commented on this article
Saturday March 24, 2012 at 6:19 pm
the BBc have asked Fernado Alonso, to give a magic trick
and find them 250 million pounds.
he say it impossible, even for Fernado Alonso.
on a serious point, why hate Lewis Hamilton.
he fast, rich, talented and seems a good egg.
hope he have a good season.
come on let have some blogs.
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Rayton commented on this article
Saturday March 24, 2012 at 9:53 pm
You´re so smart in your verdict, no one bother reply..
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Vettel1 commented on this article
Saturday March 24, 2012 at 9:58 pm
I hope Red Bull’s pace picks up in China, these new regulations were designed to hurt them and they have…lets just hope Mclaren don’t dominate, even I started to get bored of the Red Bull domination last year, and if it repeats itself the FIA will look like idiots.
I hope Vettel is as strong in the race as he was in Australia.
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James95 commented on this article
Saturday March 24, 2012 at 10:05 pm
I’m glad Raikkonen’s doing well, fair play.
Trading WRC for F1 is no easy switch, deserves a round of applause if you ask me
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Chris commented on this article
Saturday March 24, 2012 at 10:21 pm
Too many people hate Hamilton for no reason and that sucks, but he is no Schumacher nor Senna, he is truly overrated! Everyone praise him cause he had a fantastic debut in F1, but let us not forget where he started: at Mclaren who had the best car then, along with Ferrari! He is also fast, but he often loses focus.
Anyway, nice of Raikkonen to have such a good return and great to see Schumacher back in shape, hopefully he manages a podium tomorrow. I hope Ferrari can recover too. I think Vettel will surely up some places, he evolved a lot (not that he was ever bad driver, but he learnt a lot after 2010!)!
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Vikram458 commented on this article
Saturday March 24, 2012 at 11:07 pm
These 2 grand prixs have been a welcome change from red bull’s domination last year, i’m sure everyone will agree! Looking forward to the race today!
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ogheeren commented on this article
Saturday March 24, 2012 at 11:49 pm
Can’t really agree. The overall domination of RBR and McLaren is still existing. Until other teams, except the rare Ferrari successes, are winning too it is the same thing to me. I hope Ferrari and Mercedes will close the gap and then we can have a really interesting season.
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Blobner commented on this article
Sunday March 25, 2012 at 1:33 am
Yeah, RedBull was really dominant with 8th in quali, muhaha. Oh and Hamilton got 2 pole positions in a row because he is overrated, yeah right
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f2004 commented on this article
Sunday March 25, 2012 at 2:17 am
hamilton’s in trouble if he doesn’t beat jenson this race. The early part of his career was unbelievably impressive but the fact is he hasn’t finished higher than 4th in the wdc since he won the title. let’s see how he does this year, he’s an unbelievable talent but needs to prove his critics wrong this year.
You could argue that he’s been hurt a lot by the current regs but imo if you look at all of the truly great drivers they’ve been able to adjust to rule changes very well. look at schumacher. He’s been one of the top drivers in three different decades now
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f1 fan commented on this article
Sunday March 25, 2012 at 4:54 am
I think its nice that McLaren has the dominant car, now Lewis has no excuses not to win the title, this year he can win the title and make his fans happy. The cars are relatively close behind the McLaren. McLaren has done a good job, now the have the best car, its up to everyone to challenge them. F1 has always had a driver or two in a dominant car, remind me of a season in the past 2 or so decades where this was not true?
MS did great, was good seeing him in the interview. Renault and Mercedes both have good cars this season. Vettel and Webber should fair well, though Vettel is struggling with the car.
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I like it so far commented on this article
Sunday March 25, 2012 at 9:40 am
We are one race into the season and this is looking interesting.
Yes the McLaren are looking strong but I love what Lotus is doing! If just Williams and Ferrari could step it up one notch we will a dream season.
Can’t wait for the race today. I was a bit worried about Sky’s coverage, but I think its good. Miss Eddy though
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steve12 commented on this article
Sunday March 25, 2012 at 9:52 am
The Baron is proving that age is no barrier.
he old enough, to be a father fugure to the younger drivers.
Schuy has always been my favourite.
Lewis Hamilton is a great tame racing driver.
will be world champion again, as he has both
the speed ans ablity.
JB has always been quick, he finally got a car
that he can show his talent.
and Lewis is bring out even more, from old JB
as he need to be quick. or Lewis will show him up.
Vettel will come good, so watch out for Red Bull.
and Ferrari should improved, Fernado Alonso
is the man.
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OliverCathryn commented on this article
Sunday March 25, 2012 at 7:48 pm
my friend’s step-aunt makes $74 every hour on the laptop. She has been laid off for 6 months but last month her check was $13107 just working on the laptop for a few hours. Go to this web site and read more CashLazy.com
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