2013 Malaysian GP: Race Thread

[mirafiori]

HI TO ALL HEY LISTEN I AM GUTTED TO BUT SEEING WHAT HAPPENED WITH REDBULL TODAY THIS WILL HURT THEM BIG TIME MAYBE DERAIL THEM. VETTLE WILL BE VIEWED TOTALY DIFFERENT NOW AND FOR THE REST OF THE SEASON.THE MEDIA WILL GO AFTER HIM AT EVERY RACE OR THE NEXT FEW. PRESSURE WILL MOUNT TO A KNEW LEVEL. REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED TO MICHEAL AND RUBINO NOT VERY HAPPY TIMES FOR US FOR A WHILE.PLUSS I JUST SAW SOMETHING THAT WEBBER IS THINKING OF STEPPING DOWN. WHAT COMES AROUND GOES AROUND

What is your source regarding Webber stepping down.

[sagi58]

Hope this will shut some up !

Ab-so-lute-ly loved listening to Alonso's perspective (more than once!)!!
His comments on Red Bull and their modus operandi are thinly-veiled critiques!!
And, his defense of Ferrari are truly loyal!!

Thank you, so very much for posting this, Dino!! Will definitely sleep better!!

[Meiga]

A bit OT, but I am amazed (yet again) at the level of hatred for Alonso in other forums, mainly in Autosport. Apparently a bunch of people cannot handle Vettel being the bad guy today, and are doing their best to criticise Alonso for every tiny word he has uttered (or not uttered) about his first lap incident.

Some people live very sad lifes indeed...

[sagi58]

The team said after qual that the rain had boosted their positions though so front row was probably not a true performance.

So... we got lucky to be up front? I hope that's not what they meant! I kinda like having everyone behind our guys!!
And, hopefully, in China we'll be finishing in front of them, too!!

[Greig]

So... we got lucky to be up front? I hope that's not what they meant! I kinda like having everyone behind our guys!!
And, hopefully, in China we'll be finishing in front of them, too!!

Well we were still behind Seb....

Fernando Alonso: “I am very happy with this position as it’s been too long since I qualified in the top three! Something I have usually managed to achieve in the race has been missing for quite a while: maybe the rain helped us a bit as we were not the quickest in the dry."

Felipe Massa: “ Today, we were up against very strong opposition and maybe the rain helped us a bit, because in normal conditions it would have been harder to aim for this result. Now we can expect a long and difficult race."

[Hermann]

Nice video, don't understand a word. What does he say?

[sagi58]

Oh, thanks, Greig! To be honest, I'd read their comments; but, when you mentioned the team, so I thought I'd missed something!

[Suzie]

Out of respect, before I answered, I thought I'd better revisit what you posted earlier. It's true that your first comment
was fairly general; however, once you said "here", I assumed you meant on TSN. And, your comment in italics is
so very close to comments I've made "this" season, I assumed you were referring to the present. Just for your own
reference, I thought it would save you the trouble of finding your posting:



p.s. Why use the quotation marks around the word happy, I know I didn't use them in my original post!

I meant 'here' ie. TSN, in the context of my Felipe/Fernando comments, not the Seb/Mark comments above. Apologies for any confusion caused.

Not sure what you mean about my comments in italics. Please advise.

Thanks for saving me precious seconds in finding my post. Much appreciated!! up:

Sorry I thought you'd like the quotation marks as they seem to be your "thing".

Sent from my GT-I9100P using Tapatalk 2

[DJMORIN]

I BELEAVE ITS ON AUTOSPORT THERES A INTERVIEW WITH WEBB ER AND A THREAD IT SAYS HES CONSIDERING QUITING

[Suzie]

No need to shout, DJMORIN!

Sent from my GT-I9100P using Tapatalk 2

[sagi58]

Nice video, don't understand a word. What does he say?

It's in Italian which, I might add, Alonso speaks impeccably!!

I've taken the liberty of paraphrasing in a few places, as a literal translation didn't "sound" right:

Basically describes how the car felt and the team’s decision-making process and the bad luck involved in the wing getting stuck underneath. He compares this incident with a number of situations that seemed worse, initially, and that turned out for the better. Ultimately, he says, it’s easy to look back and wish you could make a different call.
The reporter then speaks, saying that Alonso was forced to watch the race on TV and asks for his reactions to the incident with Red Bull, where Vettel ended up apologizing to Webber. Alonso says that he doesn’t think that Red Bull impressed very much this weekend, as compared to Australia where they were strong in all sections of the track. They suffered more here, so he believes that he could surely have taken the fight to them would have been perfectly reasonable.

Says he didn’t see the interviews on the podium; but, that he heard about the comments that were made. It’s nothing new. It’s a team that says that it is "super legal" and "super proud" of everything they do; but, then you always see the cracks.

Question from the floor: What about Ferrari?

I believe there is no team in the world that can imitate Ferrari, there is nothing to discuss. It’s the first thing the president says, when you come in the door. But, it seems that no matter what Ferrari does, pages and pages are written and the others, what can I say, just a few words.

Question from the floor: (completely unintelligible... sorry!)

The last bit is Alonso reviewing, once again what happened on the track saying that he started well and on the second curve, he doesn’t understand why Vettel was suddenly to slow down to 10km per hour and they touched.

[sagi58]

I meant 'here' ie. TSN, in the context of my Felipe/Fernando comments, not the Seb/Mark comments above. Apologies for any confusion caused.

Ah... well, my response remains the same! It would all depend on the driver any fan supports.
So, I doubt it would be any different to the types of discussions we have here about our guys!!

Not sure what you mean about my comments in italics. Please advise.

Just as I said... I've made the comment about Massa holding up Alonso in Australia. Since it occurred this year, I assumed you were also referring to this year.

Thanks for saving me precious seconds in finding my post. Much appreciated!! up:

No problem!! I understand and appreicate how important time is for most of us!

Sorry I thought you'd like the quotation marks as they seem to be your "thing".

Thanks for clearing that up, as I was concerned that you may have believed that I was being sarcastic!
I guess I should have accepted the compliment, eh? After all, "imitation is the highest form of flattery"!!

[sagi58]

^^^ only people that speak italian, if thats even what he's speaking.

If you have a problem with someone posting a video/comment that is not in English, all you need to do is ask and someone will likely offer a translation.

[vae32]

..If Alonso didnt hit Vettel, there wouldnt be any problem about Ferrari
having to make such a call in the 1st place.I can see Alonso being excited about having a fairly competitive car,
but slow down big fella..aint nobady won a race on the 1st lap.

Mate you must have not been watching how Alonso races, at every starts that's how close he sit's behind the people in front of him...i know he miss judged this one for sure, but that's racing for you... he's always attacking them on the first lap, i had no doubt in my mind he was setting up to attack Vettel before the end of first lap. He does it all the time on every race, even on safety cars he does same thing...and i'm also positively sure with an unbroken front wing he would have given Vettel a good fight for the lead. I believe the car is strong and fast and that's all it matter's. Nobody should be blamed for this not even the team, people are allowed to make mistakes...and this is one them.

[Poltergeistes]

i don't think that was a misjudgement, this is actualy how close they all come into the first corner, doesn't matter if it's a long run b4 the first or right away, at least the top half of the field comes clipping in and out on each other, not enough space, add that to intermediate tyres, with very wet track on one side of the turn, only one line that was a little more clean, and this happens.

If anyone is going to bump into someone it best be the one car that is behind, in case fernando, if the demage is to a front wing we can always replace it, if the demage had been to vet's rear wing, i'd like to see them fix that at the pitstop

[Hermann]

Thank you sagi, i know its italian i just don't happen to speak or understand italian.

A bit surprising Fernando misjugded fingerboys speed and how close he was, it rarely happens to him but thats life.

[sagi58]

Thank you sagi, i know its italian i just don't happen to speak or understand italian.

My pleasure! You don't have to speak/understand Italian to be a Ferrari fan!!

[DJMORIN]

sorry its f1 reader great f1 site

[Poltergeistes]

i heard something nice from a comentator after all this vettel mess, and the idea is pretty simple, he was making a point that every teammates now they get to dream and beleive they are in a context like senna and prost was at mclaren, and they are not. after germany 2010, the decision of ferrari made sense, for championship, since felipe had no chance to win it in the end, the big upset then was not the team order, but rather the way it was delivered, it was humiliating.

now vettel does this, cause he can right? he has fully become a bratt, here is the difference between what he did today and what senna and prost did then at mclaren, today at redbull there was a team order, and both drivers expected to obey, webber for the life of him did not expect such thing.

Back when it was prost and senna, the one thing that the entire team and both drivers had an agreement on was that there was no agreement, so everyone expected everything from both of them. that made it fair.

Webber should only be catching some waves in australia if it's in some beach with urukandjis and great whites as a part of training for dealing with vettel and redbullish.

really hated what vettel did today to webber. as someone pointed here, it's not that he is being a bad boy, but the fact that he is a bad boy and pretends and apologises for it trying to be perceived as good. be a man, be like senna after that first corner agaisnt prost, and tell the world what you did and why you did, if you had a valid revengeful f1 driver reason to do it, which by the way he did not, webber never done anything like that to him.

[justjesper]

Hope this will shut some up !

Think it will only shut up some Italians Or people understanding Italian.
Any Translation available from Ferrari ?

[abbottcostello]

For a race that dashed my spirit a mere 15 sec. after the start, it turned out to be quite entertaining (once I convinced myself to get over Alonso's quick exit & just enjoy the sport)!

First off, I think it is logical to think that SV probably jammed Fernando once he came into the same race line, this isn't uncommon as a lead car tactic, as it will usually give you an advantage getting on the power quicker as you exit the turn, resulting in gaining separation from the pursuing car. I don't think you can consider this as a foul, simply a tactic.

Second, I applaud the team for the decision to try & stay out a few laps, how many examples of the loss of a FW come to mind where the result is so catastrophic as to result in the car becoming completely unsteerable? I can't recall seeing a wing fold under like that & not be immediately spat out in pieces, that thing acted like skis for the wheels & probably contributed to his not making it across the gravel to firm ground. I would guess there was probably a 60% chance the wing holds for a couple more laps, a 35% chance it fails with the consequence ranging from a very small loss of time, either by inflicting minimal damage to tyres or being very close to pit entrance & 5% chance of it having a major neg impact ranging from major time losses to DNF.
An expression I've heard (which apparently infers having many lives, haha) is "Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you!", well the bear ate the whole team this go round!!

The best outcome of this race may be the resurgence of the rift between the RB drivers, I think if not handled properly it could affect them in untold ways as the season progresses, so FINGERS CROSSED that it becomes a distraction to SV & maybe he doesn't get all the help he needs from MW at critical times. Besides that it made for pretty amusing Q & A session, more of that I say

[Poltergeistes]

For a race that dashed my spirit a mere 15 sec. after the start, it turned out to be quite entertaining (once I convinced myself to get over Alonso's quick exit & just enjoy the sport)!

First off, I think it is logical to think that SV probably jammed Fernando once he came into the same race line, this isn't uncommon as a lead car tactic, as it will usually give you an advantage getting on the power quicker as you exit the turn, resulting in gaining separation from the pursuing car. I don't think you can consider this as a foul, simply a tactic.

Second, I applaud the team for the decision to try & stay out a few laps, how many examples of the loss of a FW come to mind where the result is so catastrophic as to result in the car becoming completely unsteerable? I can't recall seeing a wing fold under like that & not be immediately spat out in pieces, that thing acted like skis for the wheels & probably contributed to his not making it across the gravel to firm ground. I would guess there was probably a 60% chance the wing holds for a couple more laps, a 35% chance it fails with the consequence ranging from a very small loss of time, either by inflicting minimal damage to tyres or being very close to pit entrance & 5% chance of it having a major neg impact ranging from major time losses to DNF.
An expression I've heard (which apparently infers having many lives, haha) is "Sometimes you eat the bear, sometimes the bear eats you!", well the bear ate the whole team this go round!!

The best outcome of this race may be the resurgence of the rift between the RB drivers, I think if not handled properly it could affect them in untold ways as the season progresses, so FINGERS CROSSED that it becomes a distraction to SV & maybe he doesn't get all the help he needs from MW at critical times. Besides that it made for pretty amusing Q & A session, more of that I say

That's my point, there is no way this won't effect later on, if alonso needs felipe's help later on , and vettel needs webber... who is gonna have an advantage?

more and more we will see even more carnage during the first turn as everything in everyteam becomes setlled after the last pitstop, so you gotta get in front in the beginning or else...

[71dino]

actually he mentioned in an interview that he is heading for a beach in Oz to do some surfing and to sort things out.

[Nova]

I watched the race again..NBC Sports replays F1 races quite a few times..(Yay)
I gotta say it..It sure looks more n more like Vettel purposely slowed in turn 2, a tad more drastically than any of the other cars...
Im going to be a real pratt here n say that I think he did it on purpose to disrupt Alonso's race. Brake tested, so to speak.
It had to be drastic..if FA, being the top driver in F1 could not react fast enough to avoid Vettel...thats "some" brake test.
Agree with abbottcostello's remarks regarding the 2nd corner incident.

[redkid]

Whatever happened yesterday, I am still very proud of our Drivers and Ferrari. Fernando took a gamble which did not paid off (getting ahead of Vettel that early in the race and in a very tight corner) although it can be argued that Vettel purposely slowed down to have a strategic edge over the exit which sadly caused FA front wing to sustain a heavy damage. But that's what Champions do...they make their own destiny and not just wait and be contented.

Felipe on his part drove a spirited race...clearly the Ferrari's are outclassed by the RBs and Mercs but Felipe climbed up and got past over the Lotuses and for me that is something noteworthy.

It's better that we experience this kind of circumstances this early rather than the latter part of the season. We still have a very big chance to win it all at the end of the season. We are Ferrari and we will win it all!

Forza Ferrari!

[theforce]

Despite the Ferrari blunder, Fernando's first lap was the 2nd best highlight of the race after Seb v Webber :D

What I cannot comprehend is the need for the pit wall to think taking a risk is necessary at this stage? RB are always conservative and their efforts pay off in strategy calls. We should be maximizing on others mistakes early on not the other way around.

[Katu]

Please excuse me for not responding earlier; but, I don't understand the cultural reference you've made!
And, since I don't know three Estonians or yourself, I would rather err on the side of caution!

Have a great day!!

to educate you a bit - estonia lies south from finland. take a look at Kimi, Mikas or other finnish drivers, they are monotone, cold, emotionless, speak very little (and when are drunk are very, very loud and annoying) etc. so from finland comes those nothern influences, estonians are not that much different from them, so there you go, do i need to explain a bit more?

just a quick personal question - does that 58 behind your nickname indicate your birth year (since asking female's age is very inappropriate)? curious as i am

[Ferrari2183]

Like Lewis who was backing off to save fuel? like Webber who backed off the engine?

Lap 38 was way before they backed off. During this phase Vettel was hunting down Webber prior to his last stop.

If Massa can only perform on a rubbered, warm track with these tyres then we might as well kiss the constructors championship goodbye already. It's nothing but excuses because other drivers have to deal with the same thing.

Anyway, this will happen again in a race. Only this time his teammate will be there. Would be interesting to read the comments then.

[Senna4Ever]

My pleasure! You don't have to speak/understand Italian to be a Ferrari fan!!

Mille grazie
Thank you for the summary.

Ho parlo italiano un pocco - but to less to follow the complete interview. My italian lasts to get a seat in a restaurant and order meal for me and my wife. ;) (and it is not Pizza only)
Despite all the other things it show hows Fernando has grown after all these years and how especially the spirit of Ferrari formed his personality.

In the beginning of 2012 I didn't give much about when he said "we ..." instead of "my team did this or I did that" ... but meanwhile I think that he says what he means and its honest

[medeni73]

So everyone's talking about incident with broken wing, Alonso vs Vettel, RB soap opera, Nico vs Hamilton, but many other things shouldn't be forgotten:

- We are still over 1 second OFF in qualifying. If we hadnt luck with damp track and timing we couldnt get more than P5-7. And this will change rapidly: Mercedes and Lotus to some extent are already faster than us on 1 lap, McLaren is coming back and in worst case scenario if Sauber and Force India hit sweet spot on some tracks we might struggle to get in Q3 !!! Nothing done and learnt from last season where bad qualy positions costed Alonso some crashes...
- and even worse if we sacrificed qualy pace for some race pace I am still NOT AT ALL convinced that we are in race pace that strong like last year for example...Its difficult to say cos we couldnt see Alonso in action, Australia was weird track, and if we look at Massas pace there is room to worry cos it wasnt good at all. I dont know if it lies on Massas driving skills or on car but first half of the race was catastrofic, even McLaren was faster than us...Latest stint from Massa I wouldnt take it for granted as sign of good pace cos he was only one with new set of tyres and he won many places just because other teams made strategic mistake thinking they can make it till the end with one pit stop less...

We need good and significant update for China cos China and later Bahrain will be again not so suitable tracks for us but for RB and Mercedes for example...We must try to be better at qualy cos I am not sure how much luck we will have left in the bag for the rest of the season and the case with Alonso is already showing that fundamental problems come out sooner or later anyway...