pole position/first corner defense

[race aficionado]

Bottom line is that its going to be a doozy.

This has all the callings of a fantastic duel between 2 protagonists that we did not necesarily expect to have center stage at this moment.


See? For me F1 is all worth it just because of situations like this. My man Juan may be gone, but I am still here because of exciting prospects and moments like this.

bring it on!!!!


race

can't wait . . . .

mokin:

[BeansBeansBeans]

It's going to be a thrilling start. Hamilton will be super-confident after his great starts in Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur. Massa will be anxious to get one over on Hamilton after Sepang, and will be feeling the pressure to perform.

[ShiftingGears]

Past champions wouldn't swerve at the start, partly a sporting issue, partly a danger issue. Not that I've seen anyway.
Now for the start, it should be a good one, Hamiltons good at starts as we've seen, we'll see if he can get around Massa. Kudos to him if he can!

[andreag]

In Sepang, just before formation lap, Fernando ask their mechanics to move the car 2 metres backward; the he started formation lap leaving a good rubber coat on the grid, and we all know what happened.

Nobody talked about it, but I saw it, and I was sure there would be a good start.

Let's see if he play the same game.

I think Felipe and Lewis are driving lighter (around two-three laps) than Kimi and Fernando; the differences between each pair are too similar, and tomorrow's strat it's gonna be great, though I think strategies (or failures) will decide the race.

But talking around the start, my bet is the first 4 places will change at the end of first lap (and not necessary on the first 2 corners).

[truefan72]

I sincerely hope this doesn't end badly. I can see LH having his nose ahead on the first corner and Massa trying to slam the door shut ( foolishly) and ruining both their races. If that doesn't happen then LH will have the lead. By some off chance that massa maintains his lead, then I clearly see hamilton overtaking him in the next 5-6 laps. Showing massa how it's done.

so in conclusion, LH eventually finds his way to the front IMO

can't wait for the race, won't sleep tonight!

[jjanicke]

... How they line up after the last lap may be the order in which they finish the race. ...

I would expect so!

[Ian McC]

I would expect so!

Oh cock!

I'm off to sack my proof reader

[race aficionado]

Massa came through.

It's an understatement to say that this is a huge moral boost to his tarnished season start.

Well done Felipe!

mokin:

[F1boat]

Yeah, this time he surprised me and proved that he is a real challenger for the crown.

[wedge]

Well done to Massa, drove the perfect race.

FM had the better start. They were evenly matched, Ferrari possibly having better straightline speed which was why Hamilton couldn't pass FM.

FM can be WDC contender, but not WDC material.