Official Malaysian GP 2009 thread. ***Spoilers***

[stifler]

So what Malaysian snacks do I have to buy?

And how about a very early doors guess at Kubica for the win.

[Alex97]

I know its next weekend, but the last GP only finished an hour ago!

Edited by Alex97 on Sunday 29th March 10:09

[woof]

it's a lower downforce circuit - and with those long straights, the cars with Kers will have a big advantage.
I think Mclaren will have a better platform then Melbourne - but with that Ferrari will be stronger as well.

Toyota win for me - Glock ?

[stifler]

The Australia thread went on for a week before. Seems to be a custom round here.

[stifler]

woof said:

it's a lower downforce circuit - and with those long straights, the cars with Kers will have a big advantage.
I think Mclaren will have a better platform then Melbourne - but with that Ferrari will be stronger as well.

Toyota win for me - Glock ?

With the new rear wings!

[Alex97]

stifler said:

The Australia thread went on for a week before. Seems to be a custom round here.

Fair enough! Ferrari will be stronger I think, Brawn will feature in the top 6 but may struggle for victory.

Because the circuit requires lower downforce than Melbourne, does this mean the 'diffuser teams' have less of an advantage?

[Jungles]

Alex97 said:

Because the circuit requires lower downforce than Melbourne, does this mean the 'diffuser teams' have less of an advantage?

Not necessarily. The diffusers have the ability to provide downforce with minimal drag, so having more downforce available via the diffusers won't be "less" of an advantage. It could even be MORE advantage.

But I think engine power - delivered reliably in extreme heat and humidity - will be a big factor here.

[ajprice]

Alex97 said:

stifler said:

The Australia thread went on for a week before. Seems to be a custom round here.

Fair enough! Ferrari will be stronger I think, Brawn will feature in the top 6 but may struggle for victory.

Because the circuit requires lower downforce than Melbourne, does this mean the 'diffuser teams' have less of an advantage?

Toyota have a second rear end design with a normal diffuser, they could use that. They brought them to Australia just incase the diffusers got disallowed.

[woof]

Alex97 said:

stifler said:

The Australia thread went on for a week before. Seems to be a custom round here.

Fair enough! Ferrari will be stronger I think, Brawn will feature in the top 6 but may struggle for victory.

Because the circuit requires lower downforce than Melbourne, does this mean the 'diffuser teams' have less of an advantage?

Melbourne is a level 5 downforce circuit, Malaysia is 3.5 downforce circuit, so yes it means the diffuser teams will have slighty less of an advantage.

Ferrari are traditional strong here.

[Craig@CMR]

crikey, were off early here, my money is on button, hamilton, kubica.

[GTO Scott]

Craig@CMR said:

crikey, were off early here, my money is on button, hamilton, kubica.

Yep, i'd go with that. All three should be in points finishing positions, hopefully podium positions, barring the usual mishaps.

[groomi]

Vettel, Kubica then Button for me at Malaysia. I think that Red Bull is going to be seriously hard to beat on a low downforce circuit. Just a hunch.

[CommanderJameson]

I think that if Ferrari can pick themselves up and survive the kicking they're surely going to get off the Italian press, then they'll make a decent fist of things in Kuala Lumpur; history would tend to suggest this outcome.

That said, this is one of those "all bets off" seasons, so anything is possible.

[The Boy Lard]

For me it depends on how much 'worse' the Brawn Merc unit is compared to the McLaren one.

Didn't seem too bad today so they should be okay,

More overtaking than today too - circuit design will help.

[Oily Fingernails]

What the Hell Chaps (and ladies) bit quick off the mark with this one aren't we?

OK Very Early Prediction would be Ferrari,Brawn,Toyota and Red-bull leading the charges in practices and Quali.
Definitely Brawns on the first two rows of the Grid along with either a Toyota or Red-bull in between and probably a light Fezza bringing up the rear.

Race Day..... gonna say
Barmi Barri for the win (last chance to win Championship, competitive car and only 2 points behind Button),
Vettel 2nd (he'll be after redemption)
Button 3rd (just fancy he'll make a slip in the race, like barri off the start)


Hmmm might have to go have a flutter down the bookies

Edited by Oily Fingernails on Sunday 29th March 11:03

[benoli]

Oily Fingernails said:

Barmi Barri for the win

this time, he'll just barge his way to the front

havn't checked the start times yet, is it another early start for us ?

[Tripe Bypass]

Am I right in thinking the race starts at 10.00 am BST? Autosport website is too busy at the moment and I need to set recorder before I leave for the Czech Republic in the next ten minutes....

[ffelan]

I think those tipping Vettel need to remember his 10 place grid penalty....

[DangerousMike]

brawn has slghtly less of an advantage in Australia than they had at Barcelona - which is a big aero track. I expect Brawn to be even further ahead in malaysia than they were today in Melbournce.

[Marcia]

Tripe Bypass said:

Am I right in thinking the race starts at 10.00 am BST? Autosport website is too busy at the moment and I need to set recorder before I leave for the Czech Republic in the next ten minutes....

Yep 10 am for both quali and race.