Marainsian Race Report Thread

[JHS18 0]

So, rather than doing a blow-by-blow account of what happened (haha it’s funny because I said blow) – I just thought I’d share my thoughts on the race and a few of the incidents in my kinda style.

I think that it is clear that Australia generated more questions than it answered. After the long winter and all the excitement over Kimi’s return and the throwing up over the look of the new cars, finally people realised they didn’t have a clue what would actually happen. It was cool to see how no-one in the paddock could really tell you who would be quick and who wouldn’t be. Going into Malaysia, fans were asking what had happened to Red Bull? What manner of terrible things had Ferrari created over winter? And more importantly, what exactly is the point in Georgie Thompson?

The Malaysian weather normally generates a lot of surprises. If it isn’t hot and humid, it is hot, humid and raining. Nevertheless after a dry Friday and Saturday (made even drier by a couple of Kimi Raikkonen interviews…) the rain turned up on Sunday to ruin the day of fans at the circuit, and, as it happened, McLaren’s day as well. After two races it is clear to see the McLaren have not in fact made a pram unlike in recent years, but a fairly quick race car. Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton had made it two poles from two races on Saturday, and was once again on the front row with Jenson Alexander Lyons Button. But, after a lightening start saw the duo pull away in the early proceedings of the race, things started to go wrong for the Woking based team.

Meanwhile, Romain Grosjean kept up his 100% record of making a mess of the first lap. Following up a poor start in Australia he made a great get away in Malaysia, but seemed to forget he was in a Formula One race and not Dancing On Ice. A beautiful synchronised pirouette by the duo of Grosjean and Schumacher was awarded ten points for style, but zero for everything else. His race would come to an end only a few laps later.

Those few laps later and the rain turned torrential. Following an inspired choice by Perez to pit for extreme wet tyres after just one lap – he now found himself in a strong position. McLaren’s race started to unfold after a slow pit stop for Hamilton dropped him to third, behind Fernando Alonso and Perez. By now however, conditions were undriveable and predictably, it wasn’t long before the safety car made an appearance and later the decision to stop the race was called.

I couldn’t really say much about the red flag, on the basis the BBC highlights (had to get my excuse in here somehow) didn’t show anything of what was going on. So if anyone slipped on a banana skin or something mildly exciting and or entertaining happened, let me know. What I do know is that the stoppage lasted for 50 minutes, which must have made for enthralling viewing for those who had got up to watch it live.

Quite a bit later, once the race was underway again, McLaren’s race continued to deteriorate, especially for Button. A clash with HRT’s resident cucumber damaged his front wing and that- to all intents and purposes – was Jenson’s race over. Up front, the order remained unchanged as Alonso reeled off fastest lap after fastest lap whilst Perez kept a consistent gap to Hamilton’s McLaren.

As the track began to dry out, it became clear that Perez had a very real chance of winning the race. Lap after lap he closed in, sometimes taking a second or more away from Alonso’s advantage. Despite the threat of rain, clearly whoever was in control of the weather was wanting to see a surprise Sauber victory and it wasn’t long before the leading contenders had switched from intermediates to slick tyres. Ricciardo had been the first to take the gamble, and it was immediately clear that rain threat or not, this was the way to go.

You’d have to say Sauber really dropped the ball here. After years of scrapping away in the midfield, perhaps they forgot what it was like to fight at the front. But, for whatever reason, Sauber elected to pit a lap later than Ferrari – and that arguably cost them the race. Thanks to that, the gap extended to as much as 7 seconds. Perez was soon flying again however and was closing in rapidly until he was right on the back of Alonso’s Ferrari, until he made an error on lap 50 that saw Alonso pull away once more. And that was that. Alonso was off the hook and predictably took an unlikely victory.

Over the last few months, it seemed as if the famous prancing horse had gone lame. But thankfully for Tifosi everywhere, Alonso the horse whisperer got it galloping again, for now at least. And yes, that’s the most over used horse related clichés you’ll see in two sentences.

But surely, the star of the show was Perez. Had it not been for Sauber’s dodgy strategy and his error on lap 50, it is likely that he would surely have won the 2004 Skip Barber championship – I mean his first Grand Prix.

Two races in, two different winners, two great races and some unlikely results – 2012 seems to be shaping up to be a fantastic season.

So yeah, this rather was like a blow-by-blow account. Sorry about that! Hope you enjoyed it anyway. And now I pass over the race reporting baton over to…actually, who do I pass it over to?

[Rainmaster 7]

That was a great read - nicely done.

[Massa 0]

Good job. Another race report I enjoyed...

predictably took an unlikely victory.

...and it really made me think, too.

[JHS18 0]

Good job. Another race report I enjoyed...

...and it really made me think, too.

That was intentional.

Thanks for the kind words both of you - glad you've enjoyed it.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

lovely report, I enjoyed it... 2 things though...

1. get Sky! and you won't miss a thing

2. Go get dem journalistic degree, you are worthy

[Quiet One 15]

Great report, although you seemed to miss the part were Alonso is surrounded by white light and ascends to Heaven...maybe they didn't show that part on BBC?

[BradSpeedMan 6]

Great report, although you seemed to miss the part were Alonso is surrounded by white light and ascends to Heaven...maybe they didn't show that part on BBC?

[Volatilis 0]

I find your lack of Vettel disturbing. Where have you hid him?

[AleHop 0]

Great report, although you seemed to miss the part were Alonso is surrounded by white light and ascends to Heaven...maybe they didn't show that part on BBC?

Jesus Hominum Salvator

Good job, James.

[dribbler 6]

I seem to have woken with a heavy head; What are theses race reports actually for? Are they;

1. Because there is a journalism prize on offer

2. This is the only place on the internet you can find out what happened

3. They will always be comprehensive,unbiased and objective

4. No one watched the race so needs to be reminded through words which are so much better than actual film becuase you can trhen make the Ferrari lime green and give Adrian Newey a mullett.

5. There is no conversation left anymore so we pad the forum out with things we already know about, or things that have been written before

6. This is the only place on the internet you can find out what happened.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

I seem to have woken with a heavy head; What are theses race reports actually for? Are they;

1. Because there is a journalism prize on offer

2. This is the only place on the internet you can find out what happened

3. They will always be comprehensive,unbiased and objective

4. No one watched the race so needs to be reminded through words which are so much better than actual film becuase you can trhen make the Ferrari lime green and give Adrian Newey a mullett.

5. There is no conversation left anymore so we pad the forum out with things we already know about, or things that have been written before

6. This is the only place on the internet you can find out what happened.

something like dat...maybe all of dat. suppose to be a fun thing, yeah something like dat...

We walk like dat, talk like dat, eat like dat, smell like that, and if those Nigerians move next door to you like dat, you better scram to an alternative neighbourhood...

maybe just an alternative look on things like dat

always straight to the point Dribs, that why we love ...uhhmmm really like you... something like dat...

[Senna's Ghost 0]

Good report on the race.

The thing that struck me whilst watching the race at the weekend was what a great track Sepang is, probably the best modern track on the calendar now that Turkey has gone. I thought it a good track when it first appeared back in '99 but I am now beginning to really appreciate it more and more as the years go by. It qualities really stand out when the conditions are damp/wet as you have drivers able to take a range of different lines into corners, because of the width of the circuit, when they are attacking an opponent. The only problem is the weather and getting that right time when it is wet/damp and not when it is undrivable monsoon conditions, the difference in the two being about the same length of time as it takes to do a lap.

I thought Perez went really well, he showed great fight and it was a shame he didn't get his first win. It will happen. Alonso was Alonso, he drove the car with all his guile to ensure that he got the victory. You got a sense of the pressure and stress the Ferrari team have been under by the emotional pit-to-car transmissions after the race.

Button made a mistake and held his hand up, Vettel made a mistake and held his finger up. Hamilton drove an understated race, not helped by his pitstops but he didn't appear to have the pace in the second part of the race anyway.

Massa is driving himself out of the Ferrari seat. If it carries on like this he'll be out by Silverstone.

Stars of the race; Perez, Alonso and most importantly Sepang.

[dribbler 6]

something like dat...maybe all of dat. suppose to be a fun thing, yeah something like dat...

We walk like dat, talk like dat, eat like dat, smell like that, and if those Nigerians move next door to you like dat, you better scram to an alternative neighbourhood...

maybe just an alternative look on things like dat

always straight to the point Dribs, that why we love ...uhhmmm really like you... something like dat...

You appear to have turned into Brad Sugar Puff Diddy.

At least this psychosis thing going 'round is not confined to England.

[dribbler 6]

The thing that struck me whilst watching the race at the weekend was what a great track Sepang is, probably the best modern track on the calendar now that Turkey has gone. I thought it a good track when it first appeared back in '99 but I am now beginning to really appreciate it more and more as the years go by. It qualities really stand out when the conditions are damp/wet as you have drivers able to take a range of different lines into corners, because of the width of the circuit, when they are attacking an opponent. The only problem is the weather and getting that right time when it is wet/damp and not when it is undrivable monsoon conditions, the difference in the two being about the same length of time as it takes to do a lap.

I thought Perez went really well, he showed great fight and it was a shame he didn't get his first win. It will happen. Alonso was Alonso, he drove the car with all his guile to ensure that he got the victory. You got a sense of the pressure and stress the Ferrari team have been under by the emotional pit-to-car transmissions after the race.

Button made a mistake and held his hand up, Vettel made a mistake and held his finger up. Hamilton drove an understated race, not helped by his pitstops but he didn't appear to have the pace in the second part of the race anyway.

Massa is driving himself out of the Ferrari seat. If it carries on like this he'll be out by Silverstone.

Stars of the race; Perez, Alonso and most importantly Sepang.

I agree with the bold bits.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

You appear to have turned into Brad Sugar Puff Diddy.

At least this psychosis thing going 'round is not confined to England.

I wish you could see the real Joburg... sad sad story my friend, a city in ruins...They're trying to get it back up though...

[dribbler 6]

I wish you could see the real Joburg... sad sad story my friend, a city in ruins...They're trying to get it back up though...

If the people have half of your spirit, there is a chance.

[freaky2 1]

Good report James, and entertaining. There might have been something else worth of note I guess, but we all saw the race anyway and it's my fault if I don't remember how Senna got to 6th and not at all your duty to remind me of it

[JHS18 0]

I'm not entirely sure of how that happened either. On the basis I didn't see it live, it must be aliens.

I thought about including the Vettel thing, but that's been discussed to death in another topic already, so...

Thanks for the kind words all. It was surprisingly fun to write, so I may be greedy and do another one towards the end of the season if we're running short of candidates.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

If the people have half of your spirit, there is a chance.

Thanks for the compliment my friend

Good report James, and entertaining. There might have been something else worth of note I guess, but we all saw the race anyway and it's my fault if I don't remember how Senna got to 6th and not at all your duty to remind me of it

I only noticed this like 2 days ago and went...WWHHHAAAATTTT???

[Caesar 0]

photo from Autosport forum.

image tells more than thousand words, btw great job jhs.

[JHS18 0]

photo from Autosport forum.

image tells more than thousand words, btw great job jhs.

Haha that's a great picture. Thanks Caesar.

[yurp 0]

If the people have half of your spirit, there is a chance.

If people had half Brad's spirit, wouldn't that turn Brad into some kind of zombie?

EDIT - or Luke Skywalker?

[LabradoRacer 2]

Entertaining read, Jim.

[dribbler 6]

If people had half Brad's spirit, wouldn't that turn Brad into some kind of zombie?

EDIT - or Luke Skywalker?

He would just have less vodka.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

He would just have less vodka.

ah... vodka, good plan for tonight!