- 1 year ago
Qualifying for Round 2 of the 2008 F1 season at Sepang.
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00:00:00The cars are in place.
00:00:05The off-season is over.
00:00:06Turn up the volume and get set for the start of the Australian Grand Prix.
00:00:14The bright lights reflected off the sleek new entries that comprise this year's grid.
00:00:18It was time to put these marvels of machinery through their paces in Australia, but few
00:00:23cars and teams would leave in the same pristine condition in which they arrived.
00:00:40Lengthy repair work and cross-continental travel will leave teams wary as the unforgiving
00:00:44heat of Kuala Lumpur awaits.
00:00:54Now far away from Australia and last week's success, the clock winds again as qualifying
00:01:00for the Malaysian Grand Prix starts now.
00:01:03Right now, boys, right now, victory for the first time it is to win.
00:01:19Come on, mate, he's ruining that race.
00:01:20Let's get past him.
00:01:21On a warm, partly cloudy afternoon with a strong threat of rain, welcome to the sessions
00:01:37when a Grand Prix driver least wants to see raindrops in the air.
00:01:41It's qualifying day for round two of the 2008 Formula 1 season here on speed, the Malaysian
00:01:46Grand Prix.
00:01:47Hello, again, everyone, I'm Bob Varsha with David Hobbs and Steve Matchett.
00:01:51Peter Windsor will be along.
00:01:53If you're not yet familiar with the new knockout qualifying format in Formula 1, it goes like
00:01:57this.
00:01:58Three sessions.
00:01:59The first one lengthened from 15 to 20 minutes.
00:02:01We still eliminate the slow six drivers at the end.
00:02:04Then we have a 15-minute session and eliminate six more drivers.
00:02:08Finally, the ten survivors have just ten minutes to get out on their fuel load that they intend
00:02:16to use for both qualifying and the race.
00:02:18No refueling after Q3 anymore.
00:02:21And thus no fuel burn period.
00:02:24Peter Windsor went up and down the paddock to gauge the driver reaction to the new format.
00:02:31It wasn't only the relative absence of driver aids about which they were talking after the
00:02:35Australian Grand Prix.
00:02:36It was also the new look qualifying format, specifically a longer Q1, a shorter Q3 and
00:02:42more emphasis on that important delta between lap time and fuel load.
00:02:47So as we go into qualifying now for the Malaysian Grand Prix, what lessons were learned from
00:02:51that first use of the new format and what do the drivers think about it?
00:02:55Well, it hasn't changed much, but I think it has changed a little bit for good.
00:03:03We don't have this fuel burn out at the end, which is very boring for the spectators.
00:03:09It doesn't really make any sense.
00:03:11So in the end, I believe it's slightly better.
00:03:14For Q1, it was good for me because you will have more chance to have a timed lap.
00:03:22And in Melbourne, actually, I had the chance to do three times of the flying lap.
00:03:30So for me, it's welcome to have such a change.
00:03:37I like to have more time in Q1.
00:03:40Obviously, if you are not in the top teams, then it's quite a hard job already to go to
00:03:45Q2 and therefore it gives us a bit more time.
00:03:49We can use the tyres we have.
00:03:53What do you think about Q1 now?
00:03:55It's a little bit too boring, to be honest, Q1, because it's just do one lap and you see
00:04:01that you have a reasonable good lap time just sitting there and waiting.
00:04:05So it's a little bit boring, to be honest.
00:04:08I don't know, it's so long like that, but that's the way it is.
00:04:14For sure, if you get more time, then people make a decision beforehand how many runs they
00:04:17want to do.
00:04:18If you're in one of the top three teams, then you probably go out right at the end, do one
00:04:23run because you're so confident you'll make it through.
00:04:25If you're one of the teams that's going to struggle, then you might do three runs and
00:04:28be out there first thing.
00:04:29So I think it'll change a little bit depending on the weekends.
00:04:35The rest of the qualifying session was, for me, I think, better not having the fuel burning
00:04:39because I think we're not being very environmentally friendly.
00:04:43And I think, honestly, all you're doing is giving commentary time.
00:04:46You're not actually seeing drivers pushing their car to the limit.
00:04:50All right, we're going to give David Coulthard a pass on that commentary wise crack.
00:04:56But aside from that, we will see a bit more action there.
00:05:00You see the clouds overhead, a 90% chance of rain.
00:05:04Although the official prediction, voila, no rain for the next 30 minutes.
00:05:09So hopefully we'll get through Q1 without raindrops.
00:05:12We want it to be fair for everyone.
00:05:15Actually unseasonably cool at 84 degrees.
00:05:18Well, it's somewhat similar to Milwaukee today.
00:05:23The one in Wisconsin?
00:05:24The one with 82 inches of snow today.
00:05:26Right, exactly.
00:05:27It'll be interesting to see how many of these guys are prepared to sit in the garage and
00:05:30wait this session out until going out until the last minute.
00:05:33Because if there's a threat of rain, of course, you want to get that time in the bank and
00:05:37get into Q2.
00:05:38Well, of course, I thought it was, you know, Felipe there was saying, you know, you only
00:05:42got to go and do one lap.
00:05:43But of course, obviously, Sebastian Vettel and David Coulthard are very different reasons
00:05:47to go out and do more laps.
00:05:48Well, we had an interesting final practice this morning as you look in the McLaren Mercedes
00:05:53garage at Lewis Hamilton, the championship leader coming in and winner a week ago in
00:05:57Australia.
00:05:59We'll talk about the morning practice and get cars on track when we return.
00:06:06Speeds coverage of the FIA Formula One World Championship is brought to you by BMW.
00:06:11BMW, the ultimate driving machine.
00:06:20Welcome back to the Sepang International Circuit just near the airport, about 45 miles from
00:06:25the capital city of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
00:06:28Lewis Hamilton with the harder of the two Bridgestone compounds this weekend, about
00:06:33to head out.
00:06:34The clock is now ticking in our first session, Q1, 20 minutes long, beginning this year.
00:06:40There is Sebastian Bourdais, the four-time champ car world series titlist who has lost
00:06:45significant track time this weekend on a track he has never visited before.
00:06:49No, that wasn't the best thing for him.
00:06:51That's for dead sure.
00:06:52An engine failure.
00:06:53Basically, as he drove out of the pits, I mean, he'd done about half a lap and smoke
00:06:56poured out the back.
00:06:57That was him done for a whole session, which is not what he needed.
00:07:03Just while we're in break there, we just heard a radio transmission from Truly and his engineers
00:07:07at Toyota saying, we do want to get out, we do want to get one in the bank because of
00:07:11the rain.
00:07:12However, we don't want to be the first out there.
00:07:14We want to get somebody out there to put a little rubber down and do a little exploratory
00:07:18workout on track.
00:07:19But we do want to get out.
00:07:21There is Nick Heidfeld, who was the fastest man in this morning's final session in the
00:07:25BMW Sauber.
00:07:26About two and a half tenths quicker than world champ Kimi Raikkonen as Raikkonen and Masa
00:07:31had their Ferraris on the pace.
00:07:33Yarno Truly was fourth in the Toyota, then Mark Webber, the Red Bull, followed by his
00:07:37teammate David Coulthard.
00:07:40Let's listen in.
00:07:41First rain is seven minutes past.
00:07:44Seven minutes past first rain.
00:07:47That's according to the Renault guys.
00:07:52Twelve minutes past and the official FIA forecast said rain in 30 minutes, so that's about two
00:07:56minutes ago.
00:07:57So I have to remember, of course, that all the teams have their own meteorologists working
00:08:01with them as well.
00:08:02They don't rely on the FIA figures and they certainly don't rely on local radio and TV
00:08:06stations to get them accurate.
00:08:09Up to the second weather reports, they all rely on their own guys.
00:08:13You have to remember, of course, that in all forms of racing, certainly in Formula One
00:08:18with the tyres, just the merest little bit of rain on track will alter the time significantly
00:08:23enough.
00:08:24When you, you know, from the guys at the top, McLaren and Ferrari, to the bottom, it's really
00:08:29not such a big spread in terms of time when you get a few specks of rain on track and
00:08:33you could very easily find yourself not elevated into Q2.
00:08:37Well, after this morning's practice session, I'm very impressed.
00:08:41Right down to 20th spot, Adrian Sutil, you're looking at 1.9 seconds separating them.
00:08:46If you go back to Sébastien Bordet, you know, you're looking at 1.6 seconds covering
00:08:5118 cars.
00:08:52So, it doesn't take much to mess up a lap and when you think of what 1.6 seconds is
00:08:59in really elapsed time when you're going three and a half miles around a track with 15 corners,
00:09:04it's not a lot of time.
00:09:05No, it isn't.
00:09:06We've already now got 19 cars on track, only three cars remaining in the garage waiting
00:09:10for that time.
00:09:11But you're right, they're all a little bit on edge about this weather.
00:09:15That was interesting in that morning's session.
00:09:17Some of the hitters well back in the field, Lewis Hamilton, 11th, Fernando Alonso, 12th,
00:09:22Nico Rosberg, 15th, Robert Kubica, 17th, one spot behind Heike Kovalainen, the second
00:09:28McLaren Mercedes.
00:09:30So, either people were having problems or people were playing it very coy before this
00:09:35all-important qualifying session as Bordet gets off line.
00:09:38Well, of course, Robert Kubica is a very good example of how close that time is because
00:09:42obviously he was on the front row last week in Australia and drove a great race until
00:09:45he ran into back of Nakajima towards the end.
00:09:49Adrian Sutil bumps Sebastian Bordet and now in turn is bumped by Felipe Massa, right there.
00:09:54He has posted the fastest time.
00:09:56Remember, the idea is not to be fastest in this session, just don't be one of the slow
00:10:01six in danger of relegation.
00:10:04Now let's get to Peter Windsor.
00:10:05Thanks, Bob.
00:10:07Yes, it was Kimi Raikkonen doing what he's been doing quite a lot this weekend and taking
00:10:12P1 in the early stages of qualifying here for the Malaysian Grand Prix.
00:10:16And replay here of Lewis Hamilton doing what, well, looking pretty Lewis, oh, locking inside
00:10:22front there.
00:10:23Doing his Steve Kinzer impersonation.
00:10:25Doing exactly, yeah.
00:10:26But thanks, Bob.
00:10:27Yeah, great to be here.
00:10:28I wish I was in three inches of snow at Milwaukee, actually, because it is unbelievably hot and
00:10:31humid here in the paddock area, as we've all been talking about.
00:10:34But the other big talking point in the pit lane this morning, of course, the saga at
00:10:38Red Bull.
00:10:39If this was a team near the back of the grid with a small budget and poor facilities, you
00:10:42could understand perhaps some of the tribulations of getting a new car operating in this new
00:10:46season.
00:10:47But for a team with that sort of budget and those facilities to now be under notice from
00:10:52the FIA that the structural integrity of their car, despite the car passing crash tests,
00:10:58is under investigation, is really a slap in the face for that team.
00:11:01So that has been a huge talking point.
00:11:03They have Adrian Newey, they have Jeff Willis, they have great facilities.
00:11:06They have a huge budget and yet they seem to be having a lot of problems.
00:11:10OK, this morning the car was looking good.
00:11:12They've obviously beefed it up in a number of areas, but that is a big talking point
00:11:15here in the pit lane.
00:11:16Well, it was pretty extraordinary yesterday when Davey Coulthard went off and the thing
00:11:20just absolutely folded up.
00:11:21And of course, back in Australia last week, when he and Massa had their coming together
00:11:25at turn one, his rear wheel ran over the front wheel on the Ferrari, which never even budged.
00:11:31It ripped the rear wheel right off the Red Bull and as it slid onto the grass, it ripped
00:11:35the left front.
00:11:36It wasn't in the impact at all.
00:11:38Just crossing the kerb, ripped off the front left front of Coulthard's car last week.
00:11:43So the car does look a bit suspect and now, I'll tell you what, 35.6 is a pretty good
00:11:49time.
00:11:50I don't think there's any doubt that the car is a quick one, but we must remember, of course,
00:11:56they were very, very late in getting their crash testing certificate at the Australian
00:12:00Grand Prix as well.
00:12:01So definitely under the gun at Red Bull at the moment.
00:12:03Peter, I know you know Adrian Newey fairly well.
00:12:06Would it be fair to say that among Formula One designers, it is a bit of a trademark
00:12:12of an Adrian Newey car that he plays it very, very close to the edge in terms of keeping
00:12:17the car light and risking it being fragile?
00:12:22I think that's very fair to say, Bob.
00:12:24Just after the David Coulthard incident yesterday, I happened to be standing next to a McLaren
00:12:28engineer who shall remain nameless, but was around in the Adrian Newey McLaren days.
00:12:32And he said, well, I can't believe what's going on.
00:12:34They've got Jess Willis there.
00:12:35And what we always do, we just add 25% to everything Adrian wanted to do on the car.
00:12:40When he wasn't looking, of course.
00:12:42We're seeing a replay of David Coulthard's Friday accident as he flies over the curbing
00:12:47and he hits the curb a second time and the front wheels basically come off.
00:12:50Well, they said the steering broke and you could see there, he had quite a bit of left
00:12:54lock on and the car was going straight on and he had a lot of left lock cranked in and
00:12:58it went straight on.
00:12:59So that steering rod had already broken at that point.
00:13:01And then when it hit the curb, it just completely fell apart.
00:13:05Of course, the advantage of designing a car to be well under the minimum weight is that
00:13:09you have all of that room for ballast to move around and help with the balance of the cars.
00:13:14Massa goes to P1.
00:13:16Lewis Hamilton takes a shot, goes to P2.
00:13:19And there you see the six cars in danger of relegation right now.
00:13:23Bordet, Sato, Davidson, Heidfeld, Kubica and Kovalainen.
00:13:27Those last three have yet to turn a complete lap.
00:13:30This is Kovalainen on his first.
00:13:32So, Kovalainen out and both the BMW guys out on track now and Renault's prediction for
00:13:41rain is about right now.
00:13:43Yeah.
00:13:44And coming down the straight there, looking on that onboard camera, it looks a bit gloomy
00:13:48I thought in front, but obviously not because we're now where his camera was looking at.
00:13:53Kovalainen setting off Hotfoot on his quick lap.
00:13:55Timo Glock doing very well at the moment for Toyotas, lying there in fourth spot.
00:13:59Mark Webber in one of the aforementioned Red Bulls, his fifth.
00:14:03Jana Trulli in the second Toyota, sixth.
00:14:05Rosberg, seventh.
00:14:06Alonso in the Renault, eighth.
00:14:09David Coulthard, the second Red Bull, ninth.
00:14:11Fischer Keller in the first of the Force India cars, in tenth.
00:14:15So, running pretty strongly there.
00:14:17The spots we'll be watching right now are 17, 18, 19.
00:14:20Bordet, Sato and Davidson, because you have to assume Heidfeld, Kubica and Kovalainen
00:14:25when they get around and complete their hot laps, will leap well up into the survivor
00:14:30class.
00:14:31Well, of course, more of these guys are cranking out some quick laps now, which they don't
00:14:34normally bother to do more than one run in this first session, but of course, if it's
00:14:37going to rain in the next two, this might be the... to get a good lap in.
00:14:42Yeah, and you bring up a good point, David.
00:14:46It's no good trying to get a flyer in now, thinking that you're going to be able to set
00:14:49grid positions, because all these times do is nearly elevate you into Q2.
00:14:54So should it start to rain in Q2 and Q3, and we produce slower lap times, they are
00:14:59the lap times that will count, it's not the times that are set in Q1, so you can't get
00:15:03out and put a flyer in now and think, well, this will be good enough for pole, it don't
00:15:07work that way.
00:15:08Kovalainen looking pretty hot through those first two sectors.
00:15:12You see those patches on the racetrack, the drivers have been saying the track has been
00:15:18completely repaved, I'm not sure that's quite the case.
00:15:22No, probably bit by bit over the years since its inception, but certainly not all in one
00:15:27go, I don't think.
00:15:28Kovalainen to P1, and that bumps, we got Vettel, Bordet and Sato in 17, 18, 19 now, Anthony
00:15:37Davidson 20th, now 21st, as Kubica jumps up to 5th.
00:15:43That's Kovalainen's quickest lap of the weekend, he's just done.
00:15:48This may bump Nelson Piquet out of the top 16, and it does.
00:15:57So we're almost halfway through the Q1 session in Malaysia, Steve Madgett mentioned there
00:16:02is no carryover, the time sheet goes back to zero after six drivers have been eliminated.
00:16:09We'll be back.
00:16:15And back to Q1, the first session of qualifying for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix, Nick Heidfeld
00:16:21safely out of the bottom six on the time sheet, heads for the pit lane, meanwhile, Nelson
00:16:25Piquet and Kaz Nakajima are 17 and 16 respectively on both sides of the bubble line, Piquet trying
00:16:33to hoist himself out of the bottom six, Nakajima trying to avoid being sent down.
00:16:39Up to 7th goes the Japanese driver, Piquet to 7th.
00:16:43Now you notice that both these guys are on the soft tyres, they're not taking any chances
00:16:46to get out of this first qualifying session.
00:16:50Jenson Button in the factory Honda, you see him, he's 17 in red, he is in danger of relegation
00:16:55if he doesn't hoist himself up.
00:16:59Giancarlo Fisichella's on the bubble in 16th, Sebastian Bordet up to 12th, he's safe for
00:17:04the moment.
00:17:05Jenson Button of course on the front rear in 2006, this is down to that last very tricky
00:17:09corner we see a lot of people sliding around here.
00:17:11That would be the front row, not the front rear.
00:17:16I just want to highlight that, just because if you're wondering why it's asymmetrical
00:17:19on the front of the cars, Jenson Button goes up to P7, it's the camera, the on-board camera
00:17:23that they're carrying on the right-hand side.
00:17:26There's Fisichella in the Force India car, the old Spyker team, he is 17th currently.
00:17:33This could get good in this next seven and a half minutes as drivers try to hoist themselves
00:17:37up or avoid being knocked down.
00:17:40Fisichella, Barrichello, Sutil, Sato, Vettel and Davidson currently in the red zone.
00:17:50Fernando Alonso on the bubble in 16th, Alonso out as Fisichella leaps up, Davidson does
00:17:58not improve, he remains 19th.
00:18:00Now Sebastian Vettel of course, he's very quick in Australia and was quick earlier on
00:18:04here in the weekend, but we'll see what he can do right now, but no, Vettel does not
00:18:11improve and Alonso is in the garage, he has not yet come out to take another shot at moving
00:18:18up.
00:18:20Ritjano, Trulli and the Toyota are also on soft tyres.
00:18:28One for Trulli, oh boy!
00:18:32That'll go down well in Tokyo.
00:18:34It will.
00:18:37Ooh, that was a big downshift.
00:18:39Here's Timo Glock, the rookie, who jumps up to 10th, yep.
00:18:45FOM prediction for rain is right at the end of this session now, right at the end of Q1,
00:18:49about six and a half minutes to go before FOM predict rain arrival.
00:18:53Fernando Alonso has left the pit area.
00:18:55He is now on track, along with Vettel and Davidson, trying to hoist themselves up out
00:19:00of that bottom six in red.
00:19:03Felipe Massa, yep, you heard him say earlier, he thinks this is rather boring to go out,
00:19:07post a lap and then wait in the garage.
00:19:09Of course, that's when you have the advantage of driving a Ferrari.
00:19:13Exactly, if you're talking to Alonso, Vettel, Coulthard, it's not very boring at all at
00:19:17the moment.
00:19:18In fact, it's very, very gripping.
00:19:23And here is, and Alonso has got to get cracking here, because apart from anything else, he's
00:19:27really under the gun now, because it just might rain before the end of this session.
00:19:30Surprised to see the Renault on soft tyres in Q1, with a two-time world champion driving.
00:19:35Well, he's got to get in somehow.
00:19:36Yeah, he has, and remember, you can't put down, this is not down to fuel load.
00:19:40Remember, this is all very, very light fuel, flat-out qualifying in this part of the qualifying
00:19:46period, Q1.
00:19:48And you're right, if a team is using soft tyres at this stage of the qualifying session
00:19:52in Q1, they are in trouble.
00:19:54Well, Alonso, you know, in Australia, he did his fastest lap on the last lap.
00:19:58He was three tenths quicker than he'd been all race, but that's when he was having that
00:20:02titanic battle with Kovalainen, which was unfortunately resolved when Kovalainen pressed
00:20:06the pit lane button.
00:20:07But, you could see poor old Alonso last week.
00:20:10I mean, he was just driving his heart out.
00:20:13The car looked awful, and it took a two-time world champion to get that fourth spot.
00:20:19And I'll tell you what, anything goes in racing.
00:20:21He's got to go to the soft tyres now to try and get out of Q1.
00:20:24This is a track he likes very much.
00:20:26It was here back in 2003.
00:20:28He became then the youngest pole winner, podium finisher, and youngest man to lead a race
00:20:34in the Malaysian Grand Prix.
00:20:35Now, look at, when you look at the camera at the front now, there's that sky in the
00:20:39distance there.
00:20:40I mean, it's really closing in quickly.
00:20:43So, Alonso really trying to trot along here.
00:20:46Yeah.
00:20:47Down to turn three.
00:20:48And he's very bumpy on braking here.
00:20:50He's fighting this car, David, isn't he?
00:20:55Alonso has never been eliminated in Q1 since the knockout format was adopted back in 2006.
00:21:04That's what he's up against right now.
00:21:12Gearbox problems yesterday for the Renault.
00:21:15In fact, it failed him entirely at the end of Friday practice.
00:21:23See, Alonso's thumb is constantly playing with the switches on the steering wheel.
00:21:28More and more, the driver's having to use the differential.
00:21:31So, Nico Rosberg is now on the bubble, if Alonso can maintain this pace.
00:21:36If you remember, Alonso, looking for poles, spun at this corner in, what, 2006, was it?
00:21:47There he is again.
00:21:48See, always playing with that, his left thumb playing with those controls there.
00:21:52Nico Rosberg is behind him on track in the Williams Toyota, and he is incrementally quicker.
00:22:01Yes, he did. P9.
00:22:05That's one spot ahead of his teammate.
00:22:06Nico Rosberg has been bumped into 17th.
00:22:09And Rosberg also on the soft tires, so they're not taking any chances either.
00:22:14Yeah, Rosberg, P17.
00:22:18Up to eight. He's in good shape.
00:22:19Here comes Mark Webber in the Red Bull Renault.
00:22:21He's on the bubble.
00:22:25And off it again. Fifth.
00:22:26Good time from Webber.
00:22:29So, Bourdais, Vettel, Coulthard, Davidson, Sutil and Sato.
00:22:34Nakajima's on the bubble.
00:22:36Bourdais, Vettel, Coulthard and Adrian Sutil are among the six drivers in danger of relegation,
00:22:41who are all on track right now.
00:22:42Here comes Coulthard.
00:22:44And this takes a certain amount of courage after that front suspension failure.
00:22:47If I was David Coulthard and Mark Webber, I'd just be driving with a heart in my mouth.
00:22:51Because if you start putting the car on the kerbs, which is what you do all the time,
00:22:55you'd be worried that something's going to break.
00:22:59Taking a very wide line into this last corner.
00:23:01It's a long, long corner.
00:23:02This puts a lot of stress on the car.
00:23:04But it's a very important corner to leap over the start-finish line.
00:23:09And he does.
00:23:10Twelve. He's up and in.
00:23:13Fisichella now on the bubble.
00:23:16A lot of cars still on track.
00:23:19Including everyone from 14th on down.
00:23:22Less than two minutes to go in the session.
00:23:24Lewis Hamilton sits serenely in the McLaren garage.
00:23:28He almost looks like he's thinking of going in again, doesn't he?
00:23:30Well, I can't imagine.
00:23:33He's just changed the channel there.
00:23:38They see the fastest sector times in the three timed sectors.
00:23:41Three different men, quickest in one sector.
00:23:45Making up the combined lap time, the ideal lap, about two tenths quicker
00:23:49than Jarno Trulli posted for fast time in the session thus far.
00:23:55Sebastian Bordet, currently 18th.
00:23:59Peter Windsor.
00:24:01Bob, as we speak, still no sign of real rain.
00:24:03But many furrowed brows in the garage areas.
00:24:05We see Sebastian Bordet.
00:24:07His attempt to make it through.
00:24:10Going nowhere.
00:24:12But spare a thought for the engineers who have to try to call these cars
00:24:15in terms of what is going to happen on race day
00:24:18and what's going to happen in terms of the wet.
00:24:20Some people might already have taken a gamble in terms of wet setup.
00:24:23We don't know.
00:24:24What we do know is that McLaren were saying as long ago as Thursday
00:24:27that if it was going to be wet, they'd want to run on Hitco brakes.
00:24:30If it was dry, they'd want to race on carbon industry brakes.
00:24:32So it'd be interesting to see, if we can, what brakes they're on now.
00:24:35Yeah, and you bring up a good point, Peter,
00:24:37the fact that as soon as the cars enter this qualifying period,
00:24:40as soon as Q1 gets underway, qualifying's underway,
00:24:43the cars are set until the race begins tomorrow.
00:24:46So you're right, the wing settings, the spring settings
00:24:49and everything else on the car must be set for tomorrow's race.
00:24:52This is important now. Sebastian Vettel, his team-mate,
00:24:56Sebastian Bordet, is not going to get out of Q1.
00:24:59Is Vettel going to be able to get out of Q1?
00:25:02If he does, Giancarlo Fisichella will find himself out.
00:25:09That'd be great for this.
00:25:11A bit of a lock up there, but recovered it pretty well.
00:25:14Come on, son.
00:25:15Come on, there, Sebastiano.
00:25:18There goes the flag.
00:25:21He's on the bubble. No, he's 14th.
00:25:26Timo Glock, who is 15th.
00:25:28Oh, my goodness me.
00:25:30Session is over, but these hot laps will count.
00:25:35They get this turn 15 without too much push.
00:25:39Very nice, he's done that.
00:25:43Oh, Glock's going to be OK, I think.
00:25:46No, Glock does not improve.
00:25:50Button.
00:25:51Nope, no improvement there.
00:25:57Fisichella trying to haul himself out of the relegation zone.
00:26:04He remains on the bubble.
00:26:07Ruben Barrichello.
00:26:09Nakajima's out.
00:26:11Barrichello bumps Fisichella.
00:26:15Sato does not improve.
00:26:20Anthony Davidson and the other Super Aguri Honda.
00:26:25I didn't think.
00:26:26Nope, remains last in the field.
00:26:32By the slimmest of margins, Adrian Sutil
00:26:36keeps his streak going.
00:26:37He has yet to start a race from dead last in the field,
00:26:41despite the inferior cars the German has been driving.
00:26:45In fact, Sutil's name was mentioned
00:26:47in connection with the McLaren seat
00:26:49currently occupied by Heikki Kovalainen.
00:26:53Mercedes was looking for a German driver.
00:26:55They looked at Nico Rosberg.
00:26:56They looked at Sebastian Vettel.
00:26:57And they looked at Adrian Sutil
00:26:59before winding up with the Fin.
00:27:02There were the drivers knocked out in Q1.
00:27:04We'll be back to do the numbers in a moment.
00:27:07In the Williams Toyota.
00:27:09There's his countryman, Takuma Sato.
00:27:11He is also out for Super Aguri Honda.
00:27:14Let's see the drivers who have advanced, gentlemen.
00:27:16Wow, look at that.
00:27:17At the top of the time sheets.
00:27:18Jarno Trulli, the Toyota.
00:27:19And it was not a slow time.
00:27:20That was a 35.2.
00:27:21Quick, very quick.
00:27:22Then Kovalainen, McLaren.
00:27:23Then the Ferrari Massa.
00:27:25Hamilton, McLaren.
00:27:26Red Bull of Mark Webber.
00:27:27Then the second Ferrari, Kimi Räikkönen.
00:27:29Then Heidfeldt and Robert Kubrick together.
00:27:31Nico Rosberg and Jensen Button.
00:27:33Honda, Timo Glock, Toyota.
00:27:36Fernando Alonso, Renault gets it up into P12.
00:27:38David Coulthard, Nelson Piquet Jr.
00:27:40Vettel and Barrichello.
00:27:42All those guys go into Q2.
00:27:45These fellows go no further.
00:27:46Their grid positions are set.
00:27:48Giancarlo Fisichella, 17th.
00:27:50Kaz Nakajima, 18th.
00:27:51And Sebastian Bordet for STR.
00:27:54Takuma Sato, best friends.
00:27:56Adrian Sutil and Anthony Davidson.
00:27:58P22 on the grid.
00:28:02So still a very close thing as you look down on the Sepang circuit.
00:28:06There's the Kuala Lumpur Airport in the background.
00:28:10Disgusted looks there in the Force India garage.
00:28:13That man, Giancarlo Fisichella, has failed to advance.
00:28:15We'll be back.
00:28:19Welcome back to Sepang international circuit.
00:28:21The official prediction is for no rain during the next 20 minutes.
00:28:24But you wouldn't have guessed when the track went green.
00:28:27There was a line of three or four cars, including both McLarens, as you see,
00:28:32waiting for the track to go green while it was dry.
00:28:37Let's look at the weather conditions.
00:28:39Sort of a crosswind from the driver's right as he goes up the back straight
00:28:43and from his left as he goes down the front straightaway.
00:28:46Separated only by that very tight left-hander, turn 15.
00:28:49So track temperatures dropped down a little bit.
00:28:52FOM forecast for rain now, not for the next 20 minutes.
00:28:55So that should be out of Q2 and just at the start of Q3,
00:28:58when the times really do count.
00:29:00When they really do count.
00:29:01You notice both of the McLaren cars here, both the MP4-23s on the soft tyre.
00:29:05Absolutely, trying to get the best out of them.
00:29:07And that would be partly because your track temperature has dropped.
00:29:12Eight degrees Celsius.
00:29:13Hamilton giving himself some room behind not using the draft.
00:29:16The track has dropped since we came on air.
00:29:19The track has dropped in temperature.
00:29:21Well, it is built on a swamp.
00:29:23Yeah, very good, very good.
00:29:28You know, funny guys.
00:29:29You don't really mean that, funny guys.
00:29:35Across the line comes the championship leader.
00:29:44Start to keep our eyes out on the cars as well.
00:29:47Thinking what Peter's point was about, you know,
00:29:49which team has set the car up for rain, potential rain tomorrow.
00:29:52Have a look at the rear wing configurations,
00:29:54how much wing the cars are running to give an idea of who's doing what for tomorrow's race.
00:30:00Hamilton suffered through a bit of a clutch problem in yesterday's practice.
00:30:03We had a number of gearbox problems and several engine problems,
00:30:07many of which were disguised as gearbox, hydraulic, electrics, what have you.
00:30:13Boy, the way these cars change direction is just absolutely amazing.
00:30:16It's breathtaking, especially if you're sitting in the driver's seat, I would imagine.
00:30:24Hamilton had to figure that after the incredible year he turned in last year,
00:30:29that he might be a bit of a target this year, and so it has been this weekend.
00:30:32He's been criticized for everything from moving to the tax haven of Switzerland
00:30:37to not joining the Grand Prix Drivers Association to having his father Anthony as his manager.
00:30:42You name it.
00:30:44Well, you've always got to knock somebody when they're doing well,
00:30:46especially the British press, of course.
00:30:49He's slightly behind his teammate on this opening lap.
00:30:54He seems to be doing pretty well for himself, whatever he does, I should say.
00:30:59A new contract in the area of $26 million a year.
00:31:05OK, so Kovalainen sets the time at 34.7.
00:31:13Hamilton just a tick behind.
00:31:20The new Raikkonen comes across, seizes P1.
00:31:23Once again, in this 15-minute session,
00:31:26it doesn't matter where you are as long as you're not among the slow six.
00:31:32New helmets on those Ferrari mechanics.
00:31:34Looks like something out of the space program.
00:31:37Ron Dennis, you just saw on the McLaren pit wall, wasn't expected to be here this weekend.
00:31:42Our thoughts go out to Ron, whose older brother passed away last week.
00:31:46He has been home for the funeral and returned for this race.
00:31:52What a year Ron Dennis has had.
00:31:54Fined $100 million for something that he probably didn't actually do.
00:31:58Getting a divorce from his wife of a number of years,
00:32:01which I'm sure towards the end of last year they looked very strong together,
00:32:04and now his brother's died.
00:32:06So not a good year for poor old Ron Dennis.
00:32:08Brother Michael was just 67 years old.
00:32:11You know, thinking to Red Bull's situation with the fragility of the cars around here,
00:32:15it's worth mentioning, of course, that despite all the side impact tests,
00:32:19the crush tests front and rear, the crash tests at speed on the chassis,
00:32:23there is no test for integrity of the suspension components at all.
00:32:28I mean, the cars have to be fitted to the regulations with the wheel tethers
00:32:32we've talked about in the past to stop the wheels separating
00:32:35and the suspension separating from the chassis.
00:32:37But there's nothing at all to give structural strength tests to the suspension components.
00:32:43So this is, you know, the FIA are kind of caught in a rock and a hard place here
00:32:46because they've tested the chassis, scrutinized the car and passed the car fit to go.
00:32:51But of course, they have no real, no way of knowing how strong the suspension components are.
00:32:57Left front up off the ground for Lewis Hamilton through that downhill twisting right and left hander.
00:33:03The first turn complex here at this.
00:33:05Just shows how stiffly sprung these cars are.
00:33:07Sebastian Vettel who just squeaked through Q1.
00:33:12One of the original Hermann Tilke tracks.
00:33:14Tilke, the German who's doing all the Formula One track designing these days.
00:33:19Including a new one being built outside Moscow in Russia.
00:33:24Could be the home of a Russian Grand Prix in the near future.
00:33:27Another one in India.
00:33:29And one in Korea.
00:33:31Which is a long way off the pace here on those first two sectors.
00:33:42Lots of white stripes out there on those bridge stones.
00:33:50Yeah, it is.
00:33:52I don't think we've seen a set of the hard compounds.
00:34:0211th.
00:34:04Won't do.
00:34:06D.K.
00:34:08And Alonso.
00:34:10Nope.
00:34:12They remain 13th and 14th.
00:34:14Here's a program note.
00:34:16Join David, Steve, Peter and myself tomorrow morning for a live look at the race.
00:34:22They remain 13th and 14th.
00:34:26Here's a program note.
00:34:28Join David, Steve, Peter and myself tomorrow morning for live coverage of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
00:34:33We'll begin at 2.30 a.m. Eastern.
00:34:35Prime time out west with the Acura Prix race show.
00:34:38It will be live and only here on Speed.
00:34:41The Malaysian Grand Prix.
00:34:44Now, the Red Bull there had all four wheels on the ground.
00:34:47It went on a tight turn too.
00:34:49As we've seen the McLaren of Lewis Hamilton with that left front wheel.
00:34:52Obviously a very different suspension set up on those two cars.
00:35:01He had that sensational run in qualifying a week ago in Melbourne, Australia.
00:35:06Yeah, he was quickest in the morning session on Saturday.
00:35:10Yeah, he was quickest in the morning session on Saturday.
00:35:13Then second quickest in qualifying.
00:35:15And if he hadn't had that slight off, he probably would have been quickest.
00:35:18I think he would. I think that was the whole time.
00:35:20He left that little tent lost in the bubble.
00:35:23Halfway through the session.
00:35:257.17 to go.
00:35:29At the moment, Kubica is down in 16th spot as you can see there.
00:35:35Soon as he crosses the line.
00:35:36We'll take a quick break and be back for the dramatic final moments
00:35:39of this second knockout qualifying session from Malaysia.
00:35:45There he goes all the way up to third.
00:35:47So the Polish driver and the BMW Sauber is in good shape for now.
00:35:51We'll take a break and return with more in a moment.
00:35:54Raikkonen tops the time sheets.
00:35:57Heikki Kovalainen is third behind Heidfeld.
00:36:00Jarno Trulli, who led the first session, is fifth behind Kubica.
00:36:05As you look at Nelson Piquet,
00:36:07who is currently 14th and in danger of relegation.
00:36:10Peter Windsor.
00:36:12Well, he is indeed, Bob. He's been looking pretty good, though.
00:36:15Bouncing back beautifully from a terrible performance in the Australian Grand Prix.
00:36:18But I was castigated by him again yesterday.
00:36:21If you're calling him Nelson Piquet Jr., would you believe?
00:36:23He's emphatic now. He only wants to be called Nelson Piquet.
00:36:26I also thought it was quite interesting that in the Renault Press release,
00:36:28he said, it's good to be on a circuit that I know and I'm familiar with.
00:36:31Because, of course, Renault tested here with Ferrari before the Grand Prix last year.
00:36:35But on the same press release, Pat Simmons said,
00:36:37Nelson did very well adjusting to a circuit he'd never seen before.
00:36:40I'm not sure what Pat knew. They did do the testing last year.
00:36:43But other than that, they're in perfect harmony.
00:36:45There you go.
00:36:47Welcome to Formula One.
00:36:49Hello. Have you met your driver?
00:36:52But he also raced here before in the A1GP in 2005, where he came fourth.
00:36:56So he's actually raced on this circuit, not just tested.
00:36:59No show. Here comes Nico Rosberg.
00:37:02Are the drivers in the knockout zone?
00:37:05Sebastian Vettel.
00:37:07The only one of that group on track is the man you just saw roll out, Nico Rosberg.
00:37:11So everybody taking a deep breath.
00:37:14Heating tires.
00:37:16I haven't got much time left, but we are seeing the quickest times of the weekend.
00:37:19That time of Kimi Räikkönen's, a 1.34.1.
00:37:23That is absolutely outstanding.
00:37:26The lap record is 1.34.2 by Juan Pablo Montoya back in 2004,
00:37:31when, of course, they had another 300 horsepower over what they've got now.
00:37:34Yeah, you're right. These will be the fastest times.
00:37:37Because, again, the track temperature's dropped a little bit.
00:37:39As much rubber's going to be laid down as possible prior to the rain, if it's going to come.
00:37:43And, of course, start of Q3, the guys will be fuelled up.
00:37:46So the weight of the fuel will slow the cars considerably.
00:37:50In Australia, it was around 1.6 seconds slower from Q2 to Q3.
00:37:54So you're right, David. These are going to be the fastest times of the weekend.
00:37:57Certainly, as far as qualifying times, practice times are concerned.
00:38:01Well, I'm surprised those guys at the bottom of the heap aren't out on the track.
00:38:04Because the weather looks, A, very dodgy.
00:38:06And, B, they've only got four minutes to go.
00:38:09Nico Rosberg heads out of his way.
00:38:11Trying to hoist himself up.
00:38:13Sorry, Bob. Go ahead, Steve.
00:38:14I was going to say, maybe that Rosberg's gone a little bit early compared to the pack.
00:38:18But, if it starts to rain, he'll look like a genius.
00:38:21This is a good track for him.
00:38:23He has started in the top six in both of his previous appearances here.
00:38:27Peter Windsor.
00:38:29Well, yeah, Bob, don't want in any way to cast a damper on that brilliant drive of his to finish third in the Australian Grand Prix last week.
00:38:35But it was noticed by the powers that be that during the race,
00:38:38he not only had his gloves rolled backwards to get a bit of fresh air around his wrist,
00:38:42but he also had the top of his overalls unzipped.
00:38:44And that is quite clearly not allowed in the new 2008 regulations.
00:38:47I think the FIA is turning a blind eye to that.
00:38:49It'll be interesting tomorrow to see whether he's got full wet-weather winter regalia on,
00:38:53including a scarf and various other things, to be absolutely as hot as possible.
00:38:58He also looked very hot when they had the trio there.
00:39:02Being questioned by you, Peter, he looked very warm compared to the other two.
00:39:06Of course, Lewis Hamilton, not a drop of sweat on him anywhere.
00:39:09And poor old Rosberg was sweating quite profusely.
00:39:14I mean, that shot of Hamilton climbing out of the car for a Grand Prix and sprinting.
00:39:18Sprinting up those stairs.
00:39:22Gracious.
00:39:23Well, looking pretty good on this lap so far for tenth spot.
00:39:26He's up on tenth.
00:39:29If you spend a good part of your day at 3 and 4 G's lateral, you're going to get fit.
00:39:33Or broken, one or the other.
00:39:35There we go. Just two and a half minutes left.
00:39:39Rosberg in pretty good shape.
00:39:41Rosberg in pretty good shape.
00:39:43He'll launch himself up into the all-important top ten.
00:39:47Coulthard, Glock, Rosberg, Piquet, Barrichello and Vettel,
00:39:50the drivers in danger of relegation.
00:39:53Four of those six are on track.
00:39:55And while we're watching Rosberg, we're also seeing Hamilton and Massa
00:39:58have both rolled out of the garage with two minutes ten to go in the session.
00:40:02Wow.
00:40:05Well, Hamilton's a good bit slower than his teammates.
00:40:07He's down in seventh, Kovalainen in third.
00:40:09Well, as you can see there from this column on the left.
00:40:14Is he going to get in the top ten?
00:40:16It is vital, obviously.
00:40:18No!
00:40:19Wow, he lost a lot of time that last sector.
00:40:21Boy, howdy.
00:40:23Boy, and he may not be able to make it up now.
00:40:24These tyres really are their best on that first flying lap.
00:40:28Sebastian and Wife Claire looking on.
00:40:33Robert Kubica sits in the BMW Sauber.
00:40:35He's in good shape in fourth.
00:40:38Teammates in second.
00:40:39So the BMW's again looking good.
00:40:41It's taken old Kubica quite some time to get the thing up to speed this weekend.
00:40:44But apparently this new 2008 BMW is very tricky to set up.
00:40:48It's very different to last year's car.
00:40:50But, of course, once you've got it set up, it really is very fast.
00:40:58No rain for the next ten minutes.
00:40:59Bank on it.
00:41:01Well, we've gone 20 minutes, 20 minutes.
00:41:02They're dropping it down to ten.
00:41:04Well, they're getting kind of close.
00:41:08Sebastian Vettel up on tenth place.
00:41:13And they put Jensen Button out of the top ten.
00:41:17Barrichello deep in the relegation zone.
00:41:20So we may see both Hondas eliminated here.
00:41:23Timo Glock is also ahead of the pace.
00:41:26Vettel's going to have to keep an eye on him as well.
00:41:28Oh, wow.
00:41:30This is going to be nip and tuck.
00:41:37Everybody from fifth to sixteenth on the timesheet is on track right now.
00:41:45Hamilton and Massa, 24.5 for each driver through sector one.
00:41:50That's their personal best times in sector one.
00:41:5324.5 each for Massa and Massa.
00:41:55Timo Glock's half a second up.
00:41:57So he's ahead of Vettel, who's driving his little heart out here.
00:42:01Yep.
00:42:04Glock could hoist himself up to sixth.
00:42:11Vettel will cross the line first.
00:42:18No!
00:42:19Wow, he fell off in that last second.
00:42:21That long last corner.
00:42:24Here comes Timo Glock.
00:42:26Still nursing that sore wrist from that savage accident
00:42:30last week in Melbourne.
00:42:32Up to seventh goes the Toyota.
00:42:36Is he just shaking that right wrist?
00:42:39Massa just set the fastest mid-sector time.
00:42:4131.3, fastest, and here he is.
00:42:44Yeah, these checkers are out.
00:42:48And Hamilton right behind.
00:42:50Lassa to two.
00:42:51Hamilton to third.
00:42:54Mark Webber is on the bubble.
00:42:57And up to eighth.
00:43:00Jarno Trulli.
00:43:03Trulli is seventh.
00:43:05The Renault's Piquet remains out.
00:43:07He's done.
00:43:08Alonso on the bubble in ten.
00:43:10Oh, boy.
00:43:13Button is out.
00:43:14Barrichello.
00:43:16No, he doesn't do it.
00:43:18P13.
00:43:19Coulthard.
00:43:21Could bump a two-time world champion.
00:43:24Oh, close, but not quite.
00:43:26Wow.
00:43:28Alonso just scrapes into Q3.
00:43:32Keeps his streak alive.
00:43:34Nico Rosberg in 16th.
00:43:36Cannot be happy with that session.
00:43:38Oh, no.
00:43:39It's a great run last week in Australia.
00:43:44Well, we'll take another break.
00:43:46And then check the numbers.
00:43:48Those who are gone and those who will move on to the run for pole.
00:43:52A ten-minute session for the ten fastest drivers.
00:43:58Welcome back to Sepang International.
00:44:00The rain is holding off.
00:44:02We are down to one session remaining to set the grid for Sunday's race.
00:44:06Here are the drivers advancing.
00:44:08Well, that two Ferraris set some staggering times.
00:44:10Kimi Räikkönen at one minute 34.1.
00:44:12The quickest of the weekend by far.
00:44:14Then McLaren of Hamilton.
00:44:15Nick Heidfeld in the Sauber BMW.
00:44:17Then the second McLaren.
00:44:19Kubitsch in the second BMW.
00:44:20Then Jarno Trulli in the Toyota.
00:44:22And Timo Glock in the Toyota.
00:44:24And, of course, the Red Bull of Weber.
00:44:26Alonso in the Renault.
00:44:27Struggling, but making it into ten.
00:44:29And these boys go no further.
00:44:31Their grid positions are set after the end of Q2.
00:44:33Button, Coulthard, Nelson Piquet Jr.,
00:44:36Rubens Barrichello, Sebastian Vettel and Nico Rosberg.
00:44:3916th went just a little bit early, I think, there.
00:44:42These guys go no further.
00:44:43These fellas were knocked out after Q1.
00:44:45Giancarlo Fusichella, Kaz Nakajima, Sebastian Bordet,
00:44:48Sato, Sutil and Anthony Davidson.
00:44:52So the drivers will load up with fuel,
00:44:55burn off what they can in the next session
00:44:57and use the remainder to start the race on Sunday.
00:45:00That's the new format in Formula 1 qualifying.
00:45:03And now to come with the help of possible rain,
00:45:06the most dramatic session of all.
00:45:11Back at Supang International Circuit.
00:45:13Heavy clouds now overhead, but no sign of rain just yet.
00:45:17You have to know that the ten remaining drivers
00:45:19about to make a bid for pole are going to want to get out
00:45:23as early as possible to get a lap on the board
00:45:27in case the rain comes.
00:45:29Right now, Heikki Kovalainen of the McLaren Mercedes
00:45:31is sitting out at the pit out.
00:45:33He will be first on track when the light goes green.
00:45:36There is the fin.
00:45:37And he's got hard tires back on again.
00:45:39He does.
00:45:42I'm a little surprised nobody else is out there with him
00:45:44as you look at the weather conditions.
00:45:46I thought Hamilton would be there.
00:45:48I thought Hamilton would be there.
00:45:49Because old Hamilton is always right there
00:45:51at the beginning of the front of the lineup.
00:45:53Robert Kubica.
00:45:55Electric tire warmer still on the wheels.
00:45:58Let's take this moment and go to Peter Windsor.
00:46:01Well, Bob, yes, just out the back of the garage area.
00:46:03Difficult to predict the rain here because of the wind
00:46:05and everything else.
00:46:06But I'd say right now there's more chance of rain
00:46:08than we've had in the session so far.
00:46:13Mark Webber did a great job to get himself up
00:46:16into this final ten.
00:46:20OK, we've got about ten seconds to the green light.
00:46:22Now you see Lewis Hamilton, Kimi Raikkonen, Felipe Massa,
00:46:27Robert Kubica coming out.
00:46:29There's the light.
00:46:31The two Ferraris and Kubica's car on the soft tires.
00:46:34The two McLarens on hard.
00:46:36Slow getting away.
00:46:37Yeah.
00:46:39Hard Bridgestone compounds on both of the McLarens.
00:46:46Now, why have they done that, Steve?
00:46:49Well, they've got more fuel on board.
00:46:54They're probably going to take these off
00:46:56and put another set of soft ones,
00:46:57would be my guess, towards the end.
00:46:59You know when we see them come in,
00:47:00do a flying lap, come in,
00:47:02put the set of softs on.
00:47:04Of course, you've got to gamble against the rain.
00:47:06That's not when it's going to rain at any time
00:47:08within the next five or ten minutes.
00:47:10Well, it's this thing about either looking like geniuses
00:47:12or looking like chumps.
00:47:14Right, yeah.
00:47:16Well, after the Australian Grand Prix a week ago,
00:47:18winner Lewis Hamilton gleefully told our Peter Windsor
00:47:22that he probably had a lot more fuel on board
00:47:24than anybody believed.
00:47:32Lupe Massa drops back a little bit,
00:47:34gapping his world champion teammate
00:47:37and the other Ferrari.
00:47:41The teams have got to be just a little bit careful
00:47:43of the sporting regulations if it does start to rain.
00:47:46You cannot...
00:47:47Once qualifying gets underway,
00:47:49and we are underway now, obviously, in qualifying,
00:47:51you're not allowed to use wet or extreme wet tyres
00:47:54until Charlie Whiting posts a sign
00:47:56on the time when scoring monitors say
00:47:59changing climatic conditions, it is raining
00:48:01and you can use wet tyres.
00:48:02Well, I understand talking to the engineers
00:48:05over the past couple of years
00:48:06that the first sign of rain,
00:48:08he will do that to get rid of any sort of
00:48:11possible irregularities or confusion
00:48:13between the teams and the FIA,
00:48:15but they will have to wait
00:48:16because one of the other competitors
00:48:18quite easily protest.
00:48:20If somebody goes out on wets
00:48:21just prior to Charlie posting that message,
00:48:24they could land themselves in all sorts of trouble.
00:48:26Oh, Lewis Hamilton trying to put some heat in his tyres
00:48:28on that long back straight coming down
00:48:30parallel to the pit straight,
00:48:33trying to get some temperature to go into turn one and two.
00:48:36A McLaren on pole for this race
00:48:38would be a bit of history
00:48:40because in the previous runnings of this race
00:48:42only Ferrari and Renault
00:48:45have ever been on pole here.
00:48:48Alonso and Glock,
00:48:50Renault and Toyota respectively
00:48:52still sitting in their pit garages.
00:48:54Hamilton just set the first as far sector
00:48:56being immediately superseded by Felipe Massa
00:48:58who beat him by three tenths of a second
00:49:00on that first sector.
00:49:01Massa was on pole for this race a year ago
00:49:03and it was rather memorable.
00:49:05He was beaten away from the line
00:49:06by both of the McLarens
00:49:08and then he threw the Ferrari off the road
00:49:09trying to get by Lewis Hamilton
00:49:11who suckered him into a
00:49:13out-braking manoeuvre at one corner
00:49:15that sent the Ferrari into the toolies
00:49:17and down into turn three.
00:49:19It cemented Hamilton's reputation as a racer.
00:49:21You could say it was only his second Formula One race.
00:49:29Raikkonen sets afast the second sector.
00:49:36A little rain would be fun right now.
00:49:38Oh boy.
00:49:39Yeah, it would.
00:49:42They wouldn't agree with you there on that, Bob.
00:49:44You think not?
00:49:45No.
00:49:46But it might be fun tomorrow.
00:49:48Raikkonen, go to the line
00:49:52and becomes first.
00:49:54Is Hamilton going to beat him?
00:49:56It's going to be close.
00:49:58Should do.
00:49:59No.
00:50:00Nope.
00:50:01Second, here comes Kiki.
00:50:02Kiki?
00:50:03Kiki.
00:50:05With Elton John?
00:50:06Right on Kiki.
00:50:07Massa, P1.
00:50:09Here comes Robert Kubica.
00:50:12Your turn, Bob.
00:50:13Turn four.
00:50:15Mark Webber.
00:50:20Six.
00:50:25Robert Massa.
00:50:26He was fastest in sector one and sector three.
00:50:30Raikkonen was fastest through sector two.
00:50:33Both together, the Ferrari drivers have got it locked up.
00:50:38Two seconds slower, that was, than they did in Q2.
00:50:41Oh, here you go.
00:50:42High front line wide there.
00:50:44He's on the hard tyres as well.
00:50:46I like his teammate, Kubica, who's on the softer tyres.
00:50:50Yeah, we see it on board.
00:50:52Get round here, brute.
00:50:54Wow.
00:50:57Got a big old handful of steering wheel there, too.
00:50:59He did.
00:51:00Here's Alonso.
00:51:01I see.
00:51:02I must say, Alonso, he's got a big old handful of steering wheel there, too.
00:51:06I must say, Alonso did a staggering time in that Q2 to finish up in fifth in Q2 in that Renault.
00:51:13It just didn't look good last week to me at all.
00:51:16Whoa, see there.
00:51:17Big twitch.
00:51:19He's also on the hard tyres.
00:51:20Goes wide there.
00:51:22I mean, he's trying hard for this car.
00:51:24Yeah.
00:51:25You can see that in Q2.
00:51:26Parts of the track, it works well.
00:51:27Parts, it doesn't.
00:51:28Yeah.
00:51:29The back end is very lively, but there was, you describe it in Q2,
00:51:32a lot of diff work going on with Alonso in this car.
00:51:35Remember, because they haven't got traction control any longer
00:51:38and braking stability on the car any longer,
00:51:40you're having to use the electronics in the diff
00:51:42far more than they did last year
00:51:44to try and compensate for the loss of the driver.
00:51:52He's a second over second off the pace,
00:51:54so he's going to be down in
00:51:59seventh or eighth.
00:52:00We know Alonso not only is a very skilled driver,
00:52:03he's also a very proud one.
00:52:07He's going to try to extract every tenth out of this car
00:52:12before he switches to the soft compound tyres, we would assume.
00:52:16And that's going to have to happen pretty quickly
00:52:18with just four minutes and ten seconds left to go.
00:52:23Alonso's got a complete lap to do.
00:52:25If he's going to come in and change tyres,
00:52:27he's cutting it very close.
00:52:28You see that car, it does twitch,
00:52:30but he is very, very quick on the old wheel.
00:52:33Does a grand job.
00:52:37Off and on for Glock.
00:52:38Timo Glock doing what he did last week in the Australian Grand Prix.
00:52:43Except keeping the parts on the car.
00:52:48Alonso at the moment in sixth.
00:52:50Soft tyres for Jarno Trulli.
00:52:56There's not a lot of time for hanging around, is there, in Q3 this season?
00:52:59Unlike last season, you can just afford to wait a little bit,
00:53:02but only 3.26 left on the clock now
00:53:04as the guys are coming in for that change of tyres.
00:53:07Remember, no refuelling.
00:53:09Now Q3 is underway.
00:53:26Lewis out on those soft compound tyres.
00:53:29Yeah.
00:53:33So, although technically there's no fuel burn period in Q3,
00:53:36you still have that little leeway at the start of the session.
00:53:39That first flying lap just gives you a little bit of a leeway
00:53:42to burn some fuel off before.
00:53:44This is the point now where the guys are really shooting out for pole.
00:53:47You can see they've dropped a little bit of weight.
00:53:50Two and a half kilos of fuel per lap.
00:53:53That massive going into the pitch across the top of the pitch.
00:53:55Every time I see that, I think someone's crashing.
00:53:59So, Ryker then sets off on...
00:54:02Well, he'll have time to do another one,
00:54:04but these tyres, really, these soft tyres,
00:54:06certainly just one lap kind of does it.
00:54:14This is the last thing Lewis Hamilton wants in traffic.
00:54:20Oh, that looked awfully close.
00:54:22Lewis, to confirm, you have fuel for two laps.
00:54:24It's your choice what to do in the second lap.
00:54:26I won't say anything.
00:54:27If I see you backing out, then we can save fuel and come in.
00:54:30Oh, locked up that right front there.
00:54:32Yeah.
00:54:34Well, he may need this.
00:54:35Massa for Ferrari, purple in sector one.
00:54:3724.8, 24.9 for Massa.
00:54:40Kubica takes it away.
00:54:48You just heard Hamilton's engineers discussing fuel load.
00:54:51You can go for another flying lap,
00:54:53but, of course, you may need to want to save that fuel.
00:54:55Ryker in goes.
00:54:57Green in sector...
00:54:58Well, purple in sector two.
00:55:00Green for the lap.
00:55:01Massa fastest in sector two.
00:55:0331.9 to 32.
00:55:06Trying to come back with a Ferrari front row
00:55:08after the debacle of a week ago in Australia.
00:55:11Kovalainen says his personal best in sector two, 32.3.
00:55:14So, again, it is Ferrari and McLaren.
00:55:21Yeah, you see the McLaren of Hamilton
00:55:23does a 32.3 in that second sector.
00:55:26Massa did a 31.9.
00:55:28Good last corner for Kimi Räikkönen.
00:55:31Less than a minute to go.
00:55:3256 seconds on the clock.
00:55:33P1, provisional P1.
00:55:35Here comes Massa.
00:55:36Here comes Felipe Massa.
00:55:37Massa has time in hand over his teammate,
00:55:40and he takes it away.
00:55:4135.7.
00:55:42He's calling it a day.
00:55:43He's off it.
00:55:45Yeah, Massa backs out of that.
00:55:4731.9, sector two.
00:55:48Kovalainen third.
00:55:4938.9.
00:55:50Robert Kubica.
00:55:51Kubica looking good.
00:55:52Fourth.
00:55:53Fourth.
00:55:54Here comes Hamilton.
00:55:55Now, does Hamilton back out of it?
00:55:57Fourth.
00:55:58Oh, wow.
00:56:00He's going for it, I'm sure of it.
00:56:02I wonder if Räikkönen is.
00:56:03I'd like him to.
00:56:04We haven't seen the sector time for him yet.
00:56:07Massa's stopping.
00:56:09Is Massa grumpy?
00:56:11Don't celebrate yet.
00:56:14What's he keep looking over to the right for?
00:56:16Is he celebrating or grumpy?
00:56:20Difficult to tell.
00:56:22I think he's going to be right in the middle of the road.
00:56:25Hamilton's right behind him here,
00:56:27so this is going to mess up Hamilton here.
00:56:29Chequers is out.
00:56:30Räikkönen has slowed.
00:56:31There are the McLarens.
00:56:33Heidfeld is still trying.
00:56:36Yeah, all those other guys
00:56:37wandering around in the middle of the road.
00:56:38Yeah, that was dangerous.
00:56:40Wow, the stewards will be all over that
00:56:41if they believe they've held up Heidfeld on this first lap.
00:56:44You betcha.
00:56:45Get out of the way, son.
00:56:46Here we come.
00:56:51Timo Glock is in the garage.
00:56:53Everybody else is on track,
00:56:55pretending to be chicanes.
00:56:57Here's Heidfeld.
00:56:58There's Alonso coming to fix you now.
00:57:00Massa's crawling, crawling in,
00:57:01remember, to save as much fuel as possible.
00:57:03He's not doing this deliberately to block,
00:57:05but he has got to get out of the way.
00:57:09Heidfeld more than a half second off Massa's pace.
00:57:13You'll see all the guys do that.
00:57:14Once they've set their time,
00:57:15they'll back right out of it.
00:57:22Looking for that.
00:57:24Alonso going long well.
00:57:26Nick Heidfeld here.
00:57:27I think he got bogged,
00:57:28but he could just displace Hamilton.
00:57:30He was able to push Hamilton down to the third row.
00:57:32Wobbled through that final corner.
00:57:34Come on, Nick. Get after him.
00:57:38Seven.
00:57:39Only seven.
00:57:40Here comes Alonso.
00:57:42Ninth.
00:57:43Nine.
00:57:44Wow, that is it.
00:57:45Now the question is...
00:57:49Well, there was 18th green golf applause.
00:57:51Now look at these cars all moving slowly.
00:57:53Yeah, they're all back right out of it.
00:57:58That was not...
00:58:00Look at this from his perspective.
00:58:04Boy, that was pretty...
00:58:06pretty hair-raising for him.
00:58:07That was pretty hair-raising for him.
00:58:09That was pretty hair-raising for him.
00:58:11That was pretty hair-raising for him.
00:58:13Pretty hair-raising for him,
00:58:14because those guys all going slowly.
00:58:16He wasn't sure that they were sure he was coming,
00:58:19and they could have moved around.
00:58:20He couldn't be sure where they'd be going.
00:58:22And again, just to give a little explanation,
00:58:25they can't refuel,
00:58:26so they've got to save as much fuel as possible now,
00:58:29which is why they backed right out of it.
00:58:30But the stewards will be watching them.
00:58:32You cannot deliberately bulk any competitor.
00:58:35Second straight pull here for Felipe Massa.
00:58:37He had a quick look at his new bride, Raffaella.
00:58:41And an all-Ferrari front row,
00:58:43followed by the McLarens.
00:58:45Good job by Jarno Trulli again for Toyota,
00:58:48the two BMW Saubers,
00:58:50and the rest of the field.
00:58:51We'll be back.
00:59:04Well, we managed to get all three rounds
00:59:06of knockout qualifying in Malaysia
00:59:08complete without raindrops.
00:59:09I guess we can call that a success.
00:59:11Let's join Peter Windsor with the top three.
00:59:14Congratulations to the fastest three qualifiers
00:59:16for the 10th Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix,
00:59:19third for Vodafone McLaren Mercedes,
00:59:20Hecky Kovalainen,
00:59:21second for Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro,
00:59:24Kimi Raikkonen,
00:59:25and heading an all-Ferrari front row
00:59:27with the second successive pole here at Sepang,
00:59:30Felipe Massa.
00:59:31Felipe, fantastically, a beautiful lap to watch.
00:59:35Half a second quicker than your teammate
00:59:38in Q3, a little bit slower in Q2.
00:59:40Talk us through that.
00:59:42Yeah, so I managed to make a fantastic lap
00:59:47just on the Q3,
00:59:49which is the most important one,
00:59:51so I was really pleased for that.
00:59:53I did two great laps,
00:59:55the first try and the second try,
00:59:57so without any mistake.
01:00:00On Q2, I didn't make very good laps.
01:00:03I was struggling a little bit
01:00:04on the grip on the tyres,
01:00:07on the lap,
01:00:09and also I didn't do a very good last sector as well.
01:00:14I was just braking a little bit too early in turn 14,
01:00:17but just stupid mistakes, you know?
01:00:21Not really mistakes, but just stupid lap, let's say.
01:00:24And then I could manage to put everything together
01:00:26to Q3, and I did a great lap.
01:00:30Laugh at the disappointments of Melbourne.
01:00:31You always felt confident coming here,
01:00:33different track surface, different track, of course,
01:00:35and Ferrari a great record here,
01:00:36seven out of ten poles of the Malaysian Grand Prix.
01:00:40Yeah, definitely our championship is starting now
01:00:44because what's happened in the last race was incredible.
01:00:48I mean, we didn't expect that,
01:00:50and we did a very good job during the winter,
01:00:53but coming to the first race
01:00:55and having a lot of problems like we had,
01:00:57it was not expectable.
01:00:59But hopefully now we can manage
01:01:03to put everything together
01:01:04to have a very consistent and quick and good championship.
01:01:09Felipe, a lot of talk before qualifying
01:01:11about the potential for rain here on Saturday
01:01:14and perhaps even tomorrow.
01:01:15How did that affect preparation for qualifying
01:01:18and the way you ran qualifying?
01:01:20To be honest, it didn't affect so much.
01:01:22I mean, you just need to be starting the session.
01:01:26You just need to go out straight away
01:01:28and try to, if it's raining at least,
01:01:30you can manage to put one lap on the paper.
01:01:34So that was what everybody did.
01:01:37I mean, you saw in the beginning of the qualifying
01:01:39everybody going out just a little bit afraid.
01:01:42If the rain comes, at least you have a lap.
01:01:44So I think it was not a big difference
01:01:47compared to a normal qualifying.
01:01:48And what were the conditions like right at the end there?
01:01:50It was okay.
01:01:51I mean, we had a couple of drops,
01:01:53but it didn't affect the performance on the track.
01:01:56So it was no problem at all.
01:01:59Thanks very much and congratulations.
01:02:01Kimi, turning to you.
01:02:02Very quick lap in Q2.
01:02:0434.1 fastest lap of qualifying.
01:02:08Talk us through your Q3
01:02:10and how you feel in terms of the race tomorrow.
01:02:13Yeah, I was not so happy with the Q3,
01:02:15but I mean, the car is good
01:02:17and I just couldn't get the grip really.
01:02:20So I couldn't get the best out of it.
01:02:22But anyhow, we're in the second place.
01:02:24I think it's a good place to start.
01:02:26We should have a strong race car.
01:02:27So it's going to be a long, hot race tomorrow
01:02:30and we don't know about the weather yet.
01:02:32So I think so.
01:02:34We're looking forward.
01:02:35We are quite happy how things went.
01:02:37Once the race began in Melbourne,
01:02:39even from where you started on the grid,
01:02:41you were very, very quick.
01:02:42How does the car compare here in terms of its feel,
01:02:44its grip level compared with Melbourne?
01:02:46I think so.
01:02:48This is more traditional circuit,
01:02:50more normal circuit.
01:02:52So the car has been quick all week here.
01:02:56So I mean, I think so.
01:02:59It's completely two different circuits.
01:03:02So I think so.
01:03:04Our car should be pretty fast everywhere.
01:03:06But when you start from behind,
01:03:07it's very difficult to use your own speed.
01:03:09So tomorrow should be a bit more clear
01:03:13who is where and what kind of speed everybody's doing.
01:03:16Felipe obviously has the clean side of the road off the line.
01:03:19Without traction control now,
01:03:21how do you anticipate it's going to be
01:03:22on the dirty side of the grid?
01:03:23I don't know.
01:03:25It's very difficult to say yet.
01:03:27But we see hopefully we get a good start.
01:03:29It's up to us much more now than it was before.
01:03:32So in the last race, we had a very good start.
01:03:36So hopefully we can manage to do those also tomorrow.
01:03:40Thank you very much, Kimi.
01:03:42Congratulations to you, Heki.
01:03:44Your second successive P3 in qualifying,
01:03:46just ahead of your teammate Lewis Hamilton.
01:03:49First of all, from a personal point of view,
01:03:51your feelings about qualifying third behind the two Ferraris
01:03:53and fastest McLaren driver?
01:03:56Well, of course, we were hoping to do a couple of places better.
01:04:01And obviously Ferrari, they've both been very fast here all week.
01:04:05And we had nothing more to give today.
01:04:08And I think third place was the maximum we could achieve today.
01:04:12And I'm happy about that.
01:04:15It was a clean lap without any big mistakes.
01:04:18Pretty much the same story as I've had in Melbourne.
01:04:21I tried to go step by step, increase the pace
01:04:24as I get used to the team, to the car.
01:04:26I think we're on a good track
01:04:28and it's still a good position to start for tomorrow.
01:04:30And we'll see how the strategy goes.
01:04:33I will still aim to do maximum job tomorrow.
01:04:36And we'll see.
01:04:38Does the McLaren feel more difficult to drive here?
01:04:40Does the grip level feel lower here than in Melbourne,
01:04:42if you could compare the two?
01:04:45No, not really. It feels pretty similar.
01:04:49I think our balance is very similar to what it was in Melbourne.
01:04:52And I think the fact is that we didn't see the true pace of Ferrari in Melbourne.
01:04:56They both had some problems, either in qualifying or in the race.
01:05:00So I think this is more representative.
01:05:03A read between the teams and between the pace of the teams.
01:05:07But anyway, like I said, the race is tomorrow.
01:05:10We are still in a good position.
01:05:12And by no means the game is over.
01:05:14Tomorrow, big attack and we'll see what we can do.
01:05:18Congratulations to you.
01:05:20Felipe, just returning to you for final thoughts.
01:05:22Every race win you've had, you've had from the pole.
01:05:24So this is a good start to the weekend, obviously.
01:05:26And this is always a difficult race physically for the drivers.
01:05:29Perhaps if you could just reflect on both those points
01:05:31and how you anticipate the race is going to be from a physical point of view tomorrow.
01:05:34Yeah, the race will be pretty physical here.
01:05:37It's not really a lot physical, but it's also very hot.
01:05:41I mean, the humidity we have here is so high
01:05:43and we lose a lot of water in the body.
01:05:48And for sure, you know, when you get from the middle to the end of the race,
01:05:52you start to feel a little bit just because you're sweating so much.
01:05:57But I'm really looking forward to have a strong race
01:06:01and strong physical preparation as well.
01:06:05Well, there you have it.
01:06:06Seventh pole in ten Malaysian Grand Prix for Ferrari.
01:06:10But they haven't won since 2004.
01:06:12We'll be back.
01:06:17Welcome back to Sepang.
01:06:18Qualifying is now complete and the grid is set
01:06:21for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix, round two of the 2008 season.
01:06:26Let's take a look at the lineup.
01:06:27David, Steve.
01:06:28Well, you see the front row, all Ferrari, Massa and Raikkonen.
01:06:31Second row, Kovalainen beating out his teammate, Hamilton.
01:06:34The Arno truly having his best qualifying position since Brazil 2006.
01:06:38Robert Kubica there in the BMW and Nick Eiffel right behind him.
01:06:41Mark Webber doing a good job in the old Red Bull.
01:06:43Then Fernando Alonso driving the wheels off that Renault up to ninth spot.
01:06:47Timo Glock again doing well in the second of the Toyotas.
01:06:51And 11th through to 16th there, Jenson Button for Honda.
01:06:54Behind him, David Coulthard for Red Bull Racing.
01:06:57Nelson Piquet, Jr.
01:06:59Rubens Barrichello.
01:07:00And then 17th through to 22, Fizikela, Nakajima, Bordet, Sato, Sutil
01:07:05and Anthony Davidson, P22.
01:07:07And no word of any stewards' inquiries, so we'll leave it at that.
01:07:10Tomorrow, get your favorite brand of coffee in hand and join David, Steve, Peter and myself
01:07:14at 2.30 a.m. Eastern time for live coverage of the Malaysian Grand Prix
01:07:19beginning with the Acura Free Race Show.
01:07:21Peter will be down live on the grid, and the cars will roll off at 3 o'clock.
01:07:27For David Hobbs, Steve Matchett, and Peter Windsor, I'm Bob Varsha.
01:07:30We'll see you tomorrow for an exciting Malaysian Grand Prix.
01:07:33Until then, so long, everyone.
01:07:37.
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