The Official 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix Thread ***Spoilers**

[IainT]

REALIST123 said:

That makes a shaky assumption that Mercedes have been using all the power they have at their disposal.

While we'll never know for certain I suspect they were running with things turned down a fair amount.

[Tyre Smoke]

Same result as Oz. Which will also reinforce the horrible dawning reality that the cars are finding it increasingly difficult to pass when following this season due to the aero changes. Martin Brundle voiced that concern last weekend and I'm inclined to agree.

Which doesn't bode well for a good 'spectator' season. Especially if Merc are as dominant as they appear to be.

But WTF is going on at McHonda? Have they morphed into Caterham and nobody noticed? Ron's comment on Martin's grid walk in reference to the engine blow up "that's the least of our problems"

[samvia]

Vaud said:

allergictocheese said:

Mercedes are not the quickest in a straight line this season (Ferrari and Williams are). With the long straight being the main overtaking opportunity, it might not be the cakewalk people expect, if Mercedes find themselves behind and having to pass.

This season? You mean after a few days of "testing" and one race.

I think they have gone for the RedBull strategy - downforce, tyre economy and base the strategy on run and hide. I don't think we have seen what they can do yet, or seen a low drag config?

A few people also pointed out that Rosberg hit 208mph at Barcelona without using DRS - I have no idea where that ranks on the overall speed trap table for the test, but the fact that it was being highlighted I imagine must mean it was relevant.

[Vaud]

samvia said:

A few people also pointed out that Rosberg hit 208mph at Barcelona without using DRS - I have no idea where that ranks on the overall speed trap table for the test, but the fact that it was being highlighted I imagine must mean it was relevant.

Here you go: last 4 days of testing speed traps:

Thursday
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-XFIDKIgAAB0zP.jpg:la...
Friday
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-XFLvXIQAAgWlE.jpg:la...
Saturday
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-YurAACQAAW80v.jpg:la...
Sunday
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/B-dzlSNIUAAOya3.jpg:la...

[scubadude]

IainT said:

REALIST123 said:

That makes a shaky assumption that Mercedes have been using all the power they have at their disposal.

While we'll never know for certain I suspect they were running with things turned down a fair amount.

Understatement of the season so far! :-)

I'd wager given the lead they had on Sunday the wick will have been turned down even further by the time we get to Malaysia, they will come home 1 & 2 about 6-10seconds ahead and everyone will rejoice at the triumphant revival at Ferrari. In the mean time Rosberg and Hamilton will have so much in hand Mercedes are installing FB and twitter on their steering wheels to give the boys something to do for two hours.

[suffolk009]

There's altogether too much bhing and bickering at the moment.

GvdG looking set to get 15million Euros from Sauber.
Bernie looking to get his money back from Manor.
Christian Horner getting uppity because their car is a bit st.

In amongst all that I've just seen this on twitter:
‏@nico_rosberg · 41 mins41 minutes ago
Dear Seb, this is the official invitation to join our debrief Friday 16.00 at Sepang. See you there, don't forget your notebook!

Can you imagine how that would go. "Okay, so we'll keep the engine set at 75% power, that should be enough for today. Anything other business."

[Spawn]

Gaz. said:

I predict some seriously thick social lepers are going to drag their saggy arses out of bed to watch another early race and then spend the remainder of the day spamming the forum about how the race they just watched was the most st race of all time!!!!!1111!!!1111!11! and they knew it would be st because it's been st for years and they'll still tune in to watch Bernie's Evil Circus live when it arrives at yet another soulless Tilkering while the dear, wonderful, enchanted Imola gathers dust, just to see and hope if the sport has done a 180 and suddenly become 1986 with 5 WDC's fighting tenths apart with no fuel saving, all in the space of a fortnight since Melbourne and bore us fking senseless as one team smash all comers and the rest of the field being spread over three laps as just 10 cars finish, just like the 1980's they are so fond of.

I'd give you a medal if I had one! Brilliant.

[DanielSan]

It will rain, a Mercedes will win, the race will probably be delayed/stopped early, Kimi may have an ice cream again if it's stopped.

[NM62]

Spawn said:

Gaz. said:

I predict some seriously thick social lepers are going to drag their saggy arses out of bed to watch another early race and then spend the remainder of the day spamming the forum about how the race they just watched was the most st race of all time!!!!!1111!!!1111!11! and they knew it would be st because it's been st for years and they'll still tune in to watch Bernie's Evil Circus live when it arrives at yet another soulless Tilkering while the dear, wonderful, enchanted Imola gathers dust, just to see and hope if the sport has done a 180 and suddenly become 1986 with 5 WDC's fighting tenths apart with no fuel saving, all in the space of a fortnight since Melbourne and bore us fking senseless as one team smash all comers and the rest of the field being spread over three laps as just 10 cars finish, just like the 1980's they are so fond of.

I'd give you a medal if I had one! Brilliant.

+1

[RKi]

Bless the people who think anything other than a Merc will finish in the top 2. awwwwwww.

[speedysoprano]

RyanGazelle said:

1. Hamilton
2. Rosberg
3. Someone else

[Killer2005]

1. Rosberg
2. Hamilton
3. Kimi

[revrange]

IainT said:

While we'll never know for certain I suspect they were running with things turned down a fair amount.

I think they are running with things turned down during the race to ensure both cars finish. they have such a performance margin in hand, they don't need to take risks, especially with only 4 engines this year per car

[Jimmm]

1. Rosberg
2. Hamilton
3. Massa

Hamilton will have bad luck of some kind, a puncture perhaps? But will still finish second but won't catch Rosberg.

[IainT]

Jimmm said:

Hamilton will have bad luck of some kind, a puncture perhaps? But will still finish second but won't catch Rosberg.

Yay, predictions based on reading tea-leaves rather than likely outcomes based on car and driver performance...

[Jimmm]

IainT said:

Jimmm said:

Hamilton will have bad luck of some kind, a puncture perhaps? But will still finish second but won't catch Rosberg.

Yay, predictions based on reading tea-leaves rather than likely outcomes based on car and driver performance...

[Europa1]

NM62 said:

Spawn said:

Gaz. said:

I predict some seriously thick social lepers are going to drag their saggy arses out of bed to watch another early race and then spend the remainder of the day spamming the forum about how the race they just watched was the most st race of all time!!!!!1111!!!1111!11! and they knew it would be st because it's been st for years and they'll still tune in to watch Bernie's Evil Circus live when it arrives at yet another soulless Tilkering while the dear, wonderful, enchanted Imola gathers dust, just to see and hope if the sport has done a 180 and suddenly become 1986 with 5 WDC's fighting tenths apart with no fuel saving, all in the space of a fortnight since Melbourne and bore us fking senseless as one team smash all comers and the rest of the field being spread over three laps as just 10 cars finish, just like the 1980's they are so fond of.

I'd give you a medal if I had one! Brilliant.

+1

Yep, a big thumbs up from me too for that comment. The "the cars sound sh&t, bring back V8s/V10s and all will be rosy in F1" brigade have sadly been out in force already.

[BritishRacinGrin]

Nice one Gaz.

[suffolk009]

I've just read on a couple of F1 news sites (albeit the rumour-mill end of the market) that Kobayashi is in the picture for the second Manor seat. GvdG was being talked about, but his statement about Sauber earlier today seems to suggest that his time in F1 is over.

That obviously assumes that Manor get the car running and Bernie doesn't throw them out because he doesn't like poor teams.

[IainT]

Jimmm said:

IainT said:

Jimmm said:

Hamilton will have bad luck of some kind, a puncture perhaps? But will still finish second but won't catch Rosberg.

Yay, predictions based on reading tea-leaves rather than likely outcomes based on car and driver performance...