Malaysian Grand Prix *official thread*

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Originally Posted by Hawkmoon

Considering how easy it was for the Ferraris to pull away from the field I find it surprising that others were able to turn as fast or faster lap times. Obviously Raikkonen wasn't pushed after Massa chucked it at the scenery so he backed off but the Ferrari must have been able to lap consistently quick to pull away from the rest without having to blitz the lap times.

Take Australia last year. Kimi won at a canter and set a lap time 1 second faster than anybody else. That didn't happen in Malaysia this year yet the victory was just as easy.

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Actually Ferrari decided to lower the RPMs in Kimis engine and saving it for Bahrain. After what happened in Australia there was no need to look for more trouble.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tazio

It is rather strange that Kimi's lap time right before his first pit stop wasn't among the fastest! Does anyone know how that time compares to the fastest laps of the race?

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Kimi and Massa were the only guys doing high 1:35's before the the first pit stops, others were doing 1:36.6's.

Kimi's lap times before his pit stop were fastest of the bunch at that time, which cost Massa the lead as he wasn't able to pull away before his stop.
Kimi's lap times
13 1:36.195
14 1:35.871
15 1:35.988
16 1:35.966
17 1:35.679
18 P 1:38.555

Massa's times
13 1:36.235
14 1:35.960
15 1:35.914
16 1:35.988
17 P 1:38.918
18 2:02.668

After the pitstops, Kimi ran 1:36.6's while Massa ran at 2-8 tenths slower until he spun off.
After that Kimi slowed down to until he ran couple of fast laps before his second pit stop
The last part he ran about the same pace as Kubica.

I've watched the Speed and ITV versions of the race and there is no explanation as to why Bourdais went off. There were no replays on either version of the race (probably due to the same feed.)

Was another car involved or did he just lose it or suffer mechanical failure? After OZ, I was looking forward to see how he would do this year.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wmcot

Was another car involved or did he just lose it or suffer mechanical failure? After OZ, I was looking forward to see how he would do this year.

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That one. He said as much to Goodman when she interviewed him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wmcot

I've watched the Speed and ITV versions of the race and there is no explanation as to why Bourdais went off. There were no replays on either version of the race (probably due to the same feed.)

Was another car involved or did he just lose it or suffer mechanical failure? After OZ, I was looking forward to see how he would do this year.

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Here is the explanation in Bourdais' words:
Sebastien Bourdais
(STR2B-03)
Retired
“I made a good start, but then I found myself stuck between two gears. Then I got as far as Turn 4 where I was being passed on the right and then in Turn 5 I found myself on the inside with someone alongside me and by Turn 6 I was back on the outside and when I tried to turn to the right, I ended up on the dirty side and the car snapped away from me and I spun into the gravel. And so my race was over.”

The old stuck between gears excuse! ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wmcot

I've watched the Speed and ITV versions of the race and there is no explanation as to why Bourdais went off. There were no replays on either version of the race (probably due to the same feed.)

Was another car involved or did he just lose it or suffer mechanical failure? After OZ, I was looking forward to see how he would do this year.

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Here is the explanation in Bourdais' words:
Sebastien Bourdais
(STR2B-03)
Retired
“I made a good start, but then I found myself stuck between two gears.
Then I got as far as Turn 4 where I was being passed on the right and then in Turn 5
I found myself on the inside with someone alongside me and by Turn 6 I was back on the outside
and when I tried to turn to the right, I ended up on the dirty side and the car snapped away from me
and I spun into the gravel. And so my race was over.”

The old stuck between gears excuse! ;)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Tazio

Here is the explanation in Bourdais' words:
Sebastien Bourdais
(STR2B-03)
Retired
“I made a good start, but then I found myself stuck between two gears.
Then I got as far as Turn 4 where I was being passed on the right and then in Turn 5
I found myself on the inside with someone alongside me and by Turn 6 I was back on the outside
and when I tried to turn to the right, I ended up on the dirty side and the car snapped away from me
and I spun into the gravel. And so my race was over.”

The old stuck between gears excuse! ;)

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Thanks. At least the mystery is solved. Let's hope Bahrain is better to him.