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Thread: Malaysian GP - Two sides to Malaysia for the Scuderia

  1. #1
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    Malaysian GP - Two sides to Malaysia for the Scuderia

    The history of Scuderia Ferrari at the Malaysian Grand Prix can be divided into two phases. The first, from 1999 to 2008, was full of success, some of them astonishing: like Michael Schumacher in the wet in 2001, the inaugural race with the same Schumacher who played good cop bad cop in qualifying and the race to let his team-mate Eddie Irvine win, then in 2008 with a simply mighty Kimi Raikkonen. But from the Finn’s success onwards a wretched period began for the Prancing Horse in the furnace of Sepang: no points in 2009 and just sixth place for Massa in 2010, a feat repeated last year by the same Brazilian who beat team-mate Fernando Alonso to the flag.

    It’s true that all three of these grands prix have been characterised by unusual episodes – rain in the 2009 race and in 2010 qualifying, then contact between Alonso and Hamilton in 2011 – but it’s also true that in recent years the Scuderia has never been competitive at the highest level in Sepang. Fernando has many happy memories of this track too: in 10 races the Spaniard has secured two wins, four podiums, seven finishes in the top ten and two pole positions. Less fortunate has been Felipe Massa who, despite finishing in the top ten in eight out of nine appearances, has never finished higher than fifth position. Above all he didn’t manage to convert his two consecutive pole positions of 2007 and 2008 into victories. It will be difficult to turn that around in 2012 because the Scuderia will have to be on the defensive in Malaysia as well: it could be no other way given that the F2012 will be the same car that appeared in Australia.

    Felipe has certainly been the target of criticism after the race in Albert Park. But the Brazilian driver is used to this situation and remembers well 2008 when after two races – Australia and Malaysia – he had a zero in the points column and many of the media were calling for him to be fired on the spot. Many of those commentators had to change their minds given that only a few exceptional circumstances – from the piston in Budapest to the pit stop in Singapore to cite the most striking examples – denied him the world championship. Felipe knows he can count on the team to do everything, both from the technical and the operational point of view, to put him in a better state to show off his talents – even at the cost of extra work in these few days that separate the Australian race from the one in Malaysia. For example work has already begun in the Sepang pits to prepare chassis number 294, which replaces the number 293 and will be used by the Brazilian in the second race of the season. This choice was taken to clear up any doubts about the unusual performance of his car during the weekend at Albert Park.
    Forza Ferrari

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    I hope our lack of straight line speed is more of a setup issue rather than a design flaw. We would be in real trouble if our straight line speed is anything like it was last week, having 2 massive long straights here in Sepang.

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    Would say it's setup to counter the lack of rear end grip, so a higher wing angle, but with nothing new here then might have to do the same again.
    Forza Ferrari

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    I hope Felipe does well with the new chassis and leave Australia in the past.

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    Im wondering on which of those straights they will be able to use drs?? This is a proper race track, unlike the street circuit, mabey we will
    see a better race..mabey not.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Greig View Post
    Would say it's setup to counter the lack of rear end grip, so a higher wing angle, but with nothing new here then might have to do the same again.
    Agreed.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Greig View Post
    Would say it's setup to counter the lack of rear end grip, so a higher wing angle, but with nothing new here then might have to do the same again.
    very much agree with this. unfortunately, no matter how much straight line speed is sacrificed to gain a bit downfornce, still is not enough. car is very much struggling in corner exits due to lack of grip ultimately proves itself to be the root cause of the problem. sad, but the scuderia will fight to resolve this once and for all, and im confident very soon.

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    hopefully sepang we will be better rather than australia, hopefully our team can put it together all the missing pieces of extra grip and alonso superb delivered it this weekend Malaysia my home country. booking 2 grandstand ticket for this weekend. Podium is out of reach but to get a point a must before we heading to china where out upgrade is ready. and my prediction europe race we must fighting for a win otherwise just forget it this year car.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nova View Post
    Im wondering on which of those straights they will be able to use drs?? This is a proper race track, unlike the street circuit, mabey we will
    see a better race..mabey not.
    I think both long straights are going to be used for DRS.

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    Quote Originally Posted by johncnet View Post
    hopefully sepang we will be better rather than australia, hopefully our team can put it together all the missing pieces of extra grip and alonso superb delivered it this weekend Malaysia my home country. booking 2 grandstand ticket for this weekend. Podium is out of reach but to get a point a must before we heading to china where out upgrade is ready. and my prediction europe race we must fighting for a win otherwise just forget it this year car.
    Based on the team's assessment it may still sadly be a difficult weekend for us. We can maybe gain time at the medium and high speed corners that sector 2 has, but then we may struggle through sectors 1 and 3 because of the straights and the first set of slow corners. Then again we shall see, won't we?

  11. #11
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    NEW CHASSIS FOR MASSA SEPANG

    After a disappointing start to the season in Australia, Felipe Massa will head to Malaysia this weekend with a new chassis.

    The Brazilian was unable to create any miracles in a below-par F2012, qualifying in 16th spot before retiring fro the race following a collision with Bruno Senna.

    Despite this, the team are confident that the 30-year-old will bounce back this weekend and will do so with a new chasiss.

    "Felipe has certainly been the target of criticism after the race in Albert Park," a statement on the Ferrari website read.

    "But the Brazilian driver is used to this situation and remembers well 2008 when after two races - Australia and Malaysia - he had a zero in the points column and many of the media were calling for him to be fired on the spot. Many of those commentators had to change their minds given that only a few exceptional circumstances - from the piston in Budapest to the pit stop in Singapore to cite the most striking examples - denied him the world championship.

    "Felipe knows he can count on the team to do everything, both from the technical and the operational point of view, to put him in a better state to show off his talents - even at the cost of extra work in these few days that separate the Australian race from the one in Malaysia. For example work has already begun in the Sepang pits to prepare chassis number 294, which replaces the number 293 and will be used by the Brazilian in the second race of the season.

    "This choice was taken to clear up any doubts about the unusual performance of his car during the weekend at Albert Park."

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by killer View Post
    Based on the team's assessment it may still sadly be a difficult weekend for us. We can maybe gain time at the medium and high speed corners that sector 2 has, but then we may struggle through sectors 1 and 3 because of the straights and the first set of slow corners. Then again we shall see, won't we?
    Yeah we shall see how the outcome saturday Quali and the race weekend hopefully we can get decent point out of it. hopefully Massa can get a point finish.

  13. #13
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    In my opinion this year's championships are a write off, given that we are best part of a second if not more behind, and whilst we may recoup that through R&D, others will probably gain time through their own R&D.

    As a long term Ferrari fans, I am really worried by how we seem to be regressing since 2010, when everything was looking up. Hopefully the guys at Maranello will know what the problems are.

    Also there is no point people reproaching Massa's performances, when the technical team is not producing the goods.
    "I really don't know what happened" - Lewis Hamilton (frequently)

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    Quote Originally Posted by prancing horse View Post
    In my opinion this year's championships are a write off, given that we are best part of a second if not more behind, and whilst we may recoup that through R&D, others will probably gain time through their own R&D.

    As a long term Ferrari fans, I am really worried by how we seem to be regressing since 2010, when everything was looking up. Hopefully the guys at Maranello will know what the problems are.

    Also there is no point people reproaching Massa's performances, when the technical team is not producing the goods.
    it too early to write off everything, we need to see come to europe race. if we still don't have the speed to race, only than we have to write off that my opinion. but i'm sure that would likely to happen as the team are working flat out now to fix the problem we have, Stefano and Pat Fry are already fly to maranello to understand the problem and fix it as possible.

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    There is the chance of thunderstorms throughout the weekend in Kuala Lumpur (in fact, right up to next Friday). There is a 40% chance of rain on Friday and a 60% chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday.

    If it does rain, would that hamper us further, given our lack of traction?
    Mark Webber: "If you push to try and pass you kill the tyres but if you wait, then you find you're on the same strategy and finish behind them anyway".

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nathan View Post
    There is the chance of thunderstorms throughout the weekend in Kuala Lumpur (in fact, right up to next Friday). There is a 40% chance of rain on Friday and a 60% chance of rain on Saturday and Sunday.

    If it does rain, would that hamper us further, given our lack of traction?
    we still need see a wet race first before come into conclusion hopefully we are not to bad. yeah you are right there are cloud everywhere in here at Kuala Lumpur, I live 20 minute drive from the Sepang track. this morning i go to sepang circuit and see almost all the team truck already in there.

  17. #17
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    If the clouds are already there on Sunday morning, there is actually a higher change that it will NOT rain. Those droplets have already distributed well and settled down among all the clouds and so it's not like its got a whole burst of short-term accumulated water which then starts raining cats and dogs.

  18. #18
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    It will be tough race and weekend for us, again. But, as long as we get few points on board and make most of all the track time in race in all FFPs to understand car more and find right exhaust layout. It will help for rest of season. Do like Malaysia, nice track. Just want our boys to finish in top 10. And the team too proper understand our car.

    Forza Ferrari.
    CAVALLINO RAMPANTE PER SEMPRE

  19. #19
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    i can't understand why the "Reply to thread" button is not functioning here...hence the quick reply..so far this week in KL..

    monday
    not raining

    tuesday
    raining 4-5pm

    wednesday
    noon was hot, evening clowdy

    buy hey, sepang n KL is about 50kms apart...hmmm....the trend of the rain is normally in the late evenings......however I do hope sunday it's a Dry race.....for spectators its not fun at all walking in the rain...kindda spoil da mood a bit...unless we are already on our seats.....ferrari are P10 and above, the slight rain is welcomed..hehe...

    cheers

  20. #20
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    quick reply is default and replies, if you want to load a new page (for some reason) to write then you can double click reply to thread or the go advance button below the quick reply box
    Forza Ferrari

  21. #21
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    The lack of topspeed is back to the lack of traction out of the corners, so the drivers cant step on throttle early and carry much speed onto the straight lines.
    Another reason are the undercuts of the sidepods that are producing much drag but they gonna be mdified in china.

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