Malaysian GP 2011 - Sepang

[ringo]

Webber is taking out vettel in this one i feel.
I just don't think much has changed from last year when it comes to their rivalry.
Webbo will be a thorn in vettel's sidewall; pirellis that is.

[andrew]

Speaking of Pirelli's, they reckon it will be a 3 or even a 4 stop race.

[WhiteBlue]

Webber is taking out vettel in this one i feel.
I just don't think much has changed from last year when it comes to their rivalry.
Webbo will be a thorn in vettel's sidewall; pirellis that is.

I take you up on that one and say that Webber will be outqualified and outraced by Vettel just as in the last five race weekends. Nothing will change in the pecking order at Red Bull.

[andrew]

Being German is apparently worth 0.01s per lap!

I think it will be much closer given the nature of the track, plus Webber's car will be fixed by then (if that really was the problem).

5 day weather force cast for Sepang here.

[ringo]

Webber is taking out vettel in this one i feel.
I just don't think much has changed from last year when it comes to their rivalry.
Webbo will be a thorn in vettel's sidewall; pirellis that is.

I take you up on that one and say that Webber will be outqualified and outraced by Vettel just as in the last five race weekends. Nothing will change in the pecking order at Red Bull.

Outpaced by vettel but not out raced. Vettel's no racer.
Webber just needs to be in p2, he doesn't need pole position.

Being side by side with vettel, with vettel knowing that by lap 3 he's going to need to be more than a second up the the road to prevent an overtake, will play with his head.
Vettel may burn his tyres out trying to make that gap, or Webber may try to rough him up in the first turn.

I don't this will be a straight forward race like Melbourne for the champ.

[forty-two]

Being side by side with vettel, with vettel knowing that by lap 3 he's going to need to be more than a second up the the road to prevent an overtake, will play with his head.
Vettel may burn his tyres out trying to make that gap, or Webber may try to rough him up in the first turn.

But of course Red Bull would press the magic "Break the engine" button for Webber's car!

I am joking of course!

[raymondu999]

You won't get any arguments from me there mate

[CyleB]

is there anywhere i can watch the race online?????

[beelsebob]

is there anywhere i can watch the race online?????

BBC iPlayer.

[beelsebob]

Speaking of Pirelli's, they reckon it will be a 3 or even a 4 stop race.

My bet:

Sauber: 2 stops
McLaren: 2/3 stops
RedBull: 3 stops
Ferrari: 4 stops.

[raymondu999]

I think McLaren could possibly be better on the tyres than RB to be able to play more flexibly on strategy, but not so much that they will be able to reduce a stop. So far the only one we've seen with that capability has been the Sauber. Lotus might (I believe Trulli did in Melbourne, but it was lost in the hoohah of Perez's 1-stopper, and in the fact that the Lotus is still a far backmarker) I actually think Ferrari will be on a 2/3 stopper. The issue in Melbourne seemed to be inability to heat up the tyres, rather than a general chewing up of the tyres. Cold tyres would mean you have little grip, and that would mean increased slip angles

[horse]

Update from Ian Fergusson:

SEPANG OUTLOOK: F'cast offers steadily increasing % chance of showers / t-storms for Sat/Sun... finely balanced fortunes for quali & race?

Who has the best rain car this year, then? It was a toss up between the RB and the McLaren last year, right?

[raymondu999]

The Macca seemed to be best at first, where they demolished everyone in China. Spa was too much of a mixed-up race to judge much methinks. Korea, Vettel dominated, often pulling out 2 or 3 seconds ahead of Alonso in single laps. We know from Monza 08 and China 09 he's very good in the wet. The McLaren wasn't exactly on racewinning pace in Korea. But they had superstiff suspension last year, so we'll see if their new suspension is any better.

[myurr]

The Macca seemed to be best at first, where they demolished everyone in China. Spa was too much of a mixed-up race to judge much methinks. Korea, Vettel dominated, often pulling out 2 or 3 seconds ahead of Alonso in single laps. We know from Monza 08 and China 09 he's very good in the wet. The McLaren wasn't exactly on racewinning pace in Korea. But they had superstiff suspension last year, so we'll see if their new suspension is any better.

Wasn't China before McLaren got the EBD going? That was why they held that early advantage. This year it's probably more equal with all the cars having EBD's, but different cars will use their tyres differently. With their tyre usage being so good we could see McLaren struggle relative to some of the others.

[raymondu999]

Why would the EBD be a disadvantage in the wet? I can see the EBD having LESS of an advantage in the wet, but why would it be a disadvantage?