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Nero Horse
25th March 2014, 15:10
http://img.khelnama.com/sites/default/files/mediaimages/gallery/2013/Mar/Michael%20Schumacher,%20Malaysian%20GP%202001.jpg
Michael Schumacher celebrates victory in the 2001 Malaysian Grand Prix

This weekend’s race at Sepang will be the sixteenth Malaysian Grand Prix. All of them have been held at the 5.543 kilometre track, which is one of the most interesting on the calendar, notable for its suffocating heat, sudden downpours and high speed corners. Ferrari has won here six times, equivalent to a 40% success rate.

The first race dates back to 1999 and marked Michael Schumacher’s return to the cockpit after his accident at Silverstone. At the time, Eddie Irvine was still in the running for the title and Michael, always a team player, did his best to help him.

Having taken pole, Michael let his team-mate by and then became an insurmountable wall for Mika Hakkinen in the McLaren, thus taking second place for himself and keeping Irvine’s championship chances alive to the very last race.

Schumacher won here the following year, when he was already World Champion and again in 2001, when it rained in the race and Ferrari secured a memorable one-two.

Having gone off at turn six Michael and Rubens Barrichello dropped down the order and both came in for Intermediates, confident that the downpour would be brief. It turned out to be the right choice and they worked their way back to first and second.

Michael also won here in 2004, the year of his seventh and final title with the Maranello Scuderia. After a three year absence from the top spot in Malaysia, Kimi Raikkonen secured victory for Ferrari in 2008, with team-mate Felipe Massa following him for 31 laps before going off at half distance.


http://www.drivesouth.co.nz/files/slideshow/APTOPIX_Malaysia_F1_G_Flah.jpg
Alonso crossing the finish line in 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix

The last win for the Scuderia dates back to 2012 and the trophy bears the name Fernando Alonso, who on a wet track, managed to get the most out of the F2012, fending off the hard charging Sergio Perez in the Sauber.

Malaysia was also the scene of the last race to be red flagged and not restarted, with half points being assigned. That happened back in 2009, when for the first time, the race start was given at 17:00.

Heavy rain went on for much longer than expected, which meant a long wait on the grid, but by the time the rain had eased off enough to make racing possible again, night had fallen on the Sepang track. Jenson Button in the Brawn was declared the winner.


http://grandprix247.com/2014/03/25/flashback-heat-rain-and-good-memories-for-ferrari-in-malaysia/

Gerhard Berger
25th March 2014, 15:38
Good memories. Loved seeing Schumi blitz the field in qualifying in 1999 on his return.

2012 win was completely unexpected and definitely very emotional given the hard start we had to the season.

Suzie
25th March 2014, 20:00
1999 was something else. Remember Mika on the podium, completely done?
Those were the days :-)

Katu
25th March 2014, 20:32
already forgot it was 2012 when cars looked that ugly

fratelliferrari
25th March 2014, 20:41
already forgot it was 2012 when cars looked that ugly

I liked the F2012 to be honest even with the step nose. If I look at this year's cars I see some that are much more ugly than our F2012 :-)

Nero Horse
25th March 2014, 22:15
I liked the F2012 to be honest even with the step nose. If I look at this year's cars I see some that are much more ugly than our F2012 :-)

Agreed. :thumb The F2012 wasn't ugly at all.

vcs316
26th March 2014, 06:31
1999 was something else. Remember Mika on the podium, completely done?
Those were the days :-)

Just watched the FIA season review 1998 & 1999. Oh, how i miss those days! Ruthless & relentless MS & Ferrari!!

Senna4Ever
26th March 2014, 10:19
Just watched the FIA season review 1998 & 1999. Oh, how i miss those days! Ruthless & relentless MS & Ferrari!!

and the difference to the last 4 years is what?

wisepie
26th March 2014, 19:04
I'd be pleased to return to proper motor-racing, not the economy drive and technical overkill we're now seeing!

shamim179
26th March 2014, 19:54
I would say bad memories if you look at last year. Disastrous result! Almost every fan and commentator were thinking what on earth is Ferrari doing? I hope we see none of that kind of gambling this year but it keeps reoccurring.

vcs316
26th March 2014, 20:04
and the difference to the last 4 years is what?

The difference - Ferrari was tough, aggressive & ruthless. You could see how bad they wanted to win which sadly I don't see it in them anymore.

Greig
26th March 2014, 20:32
Just watched the FIA season review 1998 & 1999. Oh, how i miss those days! Ruthless & relentless MS & Ferrari!!

97-99 were brilliant seasons, sure we never won but great racing we had.

Cheeseman
26th March 2014, 20:47
They should throw these new cars in the bin and just roll the rules back to what it was like in those days (97-99). Remember Michael's first race back after breaking his legs? Malaysia if I remember correctly :-) He dominated everyone but handed Eddie the win. Michael made it look as if breaking your legs makes you faster

Edit: Sorry I just read the article lol :ouch

Hornet
27th March 2014, 07:01
I'd be pleased to return to proper motor-racing, not the economy drive and technical overkill we're now seeing!

Agreed. Racing today is way too complex, with even more complex rules. Most of these complexity comes from FIA trying to make the sport more green and economy friendly.

vcs316
27th March 2014, 07:47
Agreed. Racing today is way too complex, with even more complex rules. Most of these complexity comes from FIA trying to make the sport more green and economy friendly.

And trying to artificially spice up racing :furious

vcs316
27th March 2014, 07:51
97-99 were brilliant seasons, sure we never won but great racing we had.

Yup, you could see how focused the dream team was. Be it Brawn with his strategies, Todt walking up & down the pitlane telling other team principals to make way for Michael, MS doing everything to bring back the championships to Ferrari.... Brilliant, ruthless & determined are the words I would use to describe those years!

Senna4Ever
27th March 2014, 08:46
The difference - Ferrari was tough, aggressive & ruthless.
Totally agree with you ... Question is where we lost this momentum ... and why: was it the success from 2000 on then?


You could see how bad they wanted to win which sadly I don't see it in them anymore.
Don't know which you refer by saying "them" but I see some of this wanting to win attitude still in some eyes and behaviour at least ...

vcs316
27th March 2014, 12:10
Totally agree with you ... Question is where we lost this momentum ... and why: was it the success from 2000 on then?


Don't know which you refer by saying "them" but I see some of this wanting to win attitude still in some eyes and behaviour at least ...

We have been playing catch up since the 2009 rule changes. Don't know WHEN will we finally be able to catch up & overtake others in the development race.

To answer your second question, the wanting to win attitude cannot reflect only in some eyes & behaviour. It should reflect in everyone for us to be champions again.