Venue: Sepang International Circuit, Selangor, Malaysia
Track length: 5.543 km
Race distance: 310.408 km (56 laps)

Malaysia held the first ever F1 race in Asia outside of Japan, and this year marks the 10th edition of the Grand Prix. The track is fast and flowing, and its width makes it seem like a runway in places. The racing is generally better than average, and the first corner is often the scene of carnage at the start of the race. In spite of the width though, overtaking opportunities do not number above average, with the entry to turns 1, 4 and 15 being the most popular spots. Monsoon weather has wreaked havoc before once, in 2001, and rain can never be ruled out.

A medium-high downforce is used to help the cars cope with the many fast corners on the track. On the straights, which are unique in being parallel to each other, 320 km/h is still attainable. 2 pitstops are the way to go, with the softer tyre prefered for 2 stints in last year's race. The heat, the humidity and the flowing nature make the race particularly punishing on the drivers, the engines and the brakes.

Of the current crop of drivers, only Alonso, Fisichella and Räikkönen have won this race before, in 2007 and 2005, 2006 and 2003 respectively. Hamilton had a particularly good run to second place last year. The circuit also represents a happy hunting ground for Toyota, which made the points scoring positions in the last 3 seasons.

All eyes will be on several teams this weekend, especially title chasers Ferrari, as both their cars faltered in the heat of Melbourne. The drivers who were involved in accidents will be looking to keep their noses clean and redeem themselves. Nakajima has already been saddled with a 10-place grid penalty for colliding with Kubica in the Australian leg.

Will the hottest race on the calendar yield as much action as the opening round of the season? You'll have to tune in at 3 p.m. on Sunday to find out!

Räikkönen's Ferrari has stopped out on the circuit in FP1. Massa is leading the way with a 1:36.2.

Webber and Sutil have also stopped on the circuit.

Massa improves to a 1:36-dead, and is on another flyer. Piquet is matching Alonso's pace, although he did 20 laps to Alonso's 11.

1:35.7 for Massa now.

Kubica appears to have a problem, he has done no more than 3 installation laps and has yet to set a time.

Button's on to a PB lap. He climbs to 7th with a 1:37.2.

Malaysian GP free practice session 1 times

1.  MASSA         Ferrari       1m35.392s
2.  RAIKKONEN     Ferrari       1m36.459s
3.  KOVALAINEN    McLaren       1m36.556s
4.  ROSBERG       Williams      1m36.578s
5.  HAMILTON      McLaren       1m36.626s
6.  ALONSO        Renault       1m37.022s
7.  PIQUET        Renault       1m37.034s
8.  KUBICA        BMW           1m37.218s
9.  BUTTON        Honda         1m37.282s
10. TRULLI        Toyota        1m37.540s
11. HEIDFELD      BMW           1m37.649s
12. NAKAJIMA      Williams      1m37.649s
13. BARRICHELLO   Honda         1m37.776s
14. GLOCK         Toyota        1m37.782s
15. VETTEL        Toro Rosso    1m38.219s
16. COULTHARD     Red Bull      1m38.232s
17. WEBBER        Red Bull      1m38.707s
18. BOURDAIS      Toro Rosso    1m38.798s
19. FISICHELLA    Force India   1m39.046s
20. SATO          Super Aguri   1m40.178s
21. DAVIDSON      Super Aguri   1m40.351s
22. SUTIL         Force India   1m41.269s

Malaysian GP free practice session 2 times

1.  HAMILTON      McLaren       1m35.055s
2.  MASSA         Ferrari       1m35.206s
3.  RAIKKONEN     Ferrari       1m35.428s
4.  BUTTON        Honda         1m36.037s
5.  VETTEL        Toro Rosso    1m36.474s
6.  TRULLI        Toyota        1m36.493s
7.  KOVALAINEN    McLaren       1m36.512s
8.  KUBICA        BMW           1m36.671s
9.  FISICHELLA    Force India   1m36.756s
10. NAKAJIMA      Williams      1m36.838s
11  BARRICHELLO   Honda         1m36.879s
12. ROSBERG       Williams      1m36.908s
13. HEIDFELD      BMW           1m37.106s
14. ALONSO        Renault       1m37.328s
15. PIQUET        Renault       1m37.331s
16. WEBBER        Red Bull      1m37.346s
17. GLOCK         Toyota        1m37.512s
18. SUTIL         Force India   1m37.614s
19. SATO          Super Aguri   1m39.021s
20. DAVIDSON      Super Aguri   1m39.361s
21. BOURDAIS      Toro Rosso    no time
22. COULTHARD     Red Bull      no time

Malaysian GP free practice session 3 times

1.  HEIDFELD      BMW           1m35.019s
2.  RAIKKONEN     Ferrari       1m35.262s
3.  MASSA         Ferrari       1m35.388s
4.  TRULLI        Toyota        1m35.389s
5.  WEBBER        Red Bull      1m35.437s
6.  COULTHARD     Red Bull      1m35.653s
7.  PIQUET        Renault       1m35.768s
8.  BUTTON        Honda         1m35.781s
9.  VETTEL        Toro Rosso    1m35.827s
10. GLOCK         Toyota        1m35.911s
11  HAMILTON      McLaren       1m35.927s
12. ALONSO        Renault       1m36.068s 
13. NAKAJIMA      Williams      1m36.183s
14. FISICHELLA    Force India   1m36.229s
15. ROSBERG       Williams      1m36.490s
16. KOVALAINEN    McLaren       1m36.529s
17. KUBICA        BMW           1m36.618s
18. BOURDAIS      Toro Rosso    1m36.668s
19. SATO          Super Aguri   1m36.908s
20. SUTIL         Force India   1m36.939s
21. DAVIDSON      Super Aguri   1m37.140s
22. BARRICHELLO   Honda         1m37.703s

Barrichello and Rosberg completed no more than 13 laps between them. Alonso and Kubica also seemed to run into minor problems.

It's gonna RRRRAIINN!

No rain arrived - they should fire the weatherman on the spot.

Massa takes his second consecutive Sepang pole. Behind him are Kimi, Kovy, Hamster, Trulli, Kubica, Webber, Heidfeld, Webber, Alonso...Glock may be investigated for impeding another driver again.

the final qualifying saw heidfeld darting past a few cars... wonder if they will be investigated. I think i saw hamilton

Originally posted by SBS9828X:

the final qualifying saw heidfeld darting past a few cars... wonder if they will be investigated. I think i saw hamilton

Heidfeld lashes out at slowing cars
http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=42083

McLaren pair get five-place penalties
http://www.itv-f1.com/News_Article.aspx?id=42094

McLaren stresses blocking accidental
http://www.itv-f1.com/news_article.aspx?id=42095

Malaysian GP starting grid

1.  MASSA           Ferrari
2.  RAIKKONEN       Ferrari
3.  TRULLI          Toyota
4.  KUBICA          BMW
5.  HEIDFELD        BMW
6.  WEBBER          Red Bull
7.  ALONSO          Renault
8.  KOVALAINEN      McLaren*
9.  HAMILTON        McLaren*
10. GLOCK           Toyota
11. BUTTON          Honda
12. COULTHARD       Red Bull
13. PIQUET          Renault
14. BARRICHELLO     Honda
15. VETTEL          Toro Rosso
16. ROSBERG         Williams
17. FISICHELLA      Force India
18. BOURDAIS        Toro Rosso
19. SATO            Super Aguri
20. SUTIL           Force India
21. DAVIDSON        Super Aguri
22. NAKAJIMA        Williams**

* penalised 5 places for impeding Heidfeld
** penalised 10 places for Melbourne incident

Malaysian GP result - 56 laps

1.  RAIKKONEN     Ferrari       1h31m18.555s

2.  KUBICA        BMW           +19.5s

3.  KOVALAINEN    McLaren       +38.4s

4.  TRULLI        Toyota        +45.8s

5.  HAMILTON      McLaren       +46.5s

6.  HEIDFELD      BMW           +49.8s

7.  WEBBER        Red Bull      +1m08.1s

8.  ALONSO        Renault       +1m10.0s

9.  COULTHARD     Red Bull      +1m16.2s

10. BUTTON        Honda         +1m26.2s

11. PIQUET        Renault       +1m32.2s

12. FISICHELLA    Force India   +1 lap

13. BARRICHELLO   Honda         +1 lap

14. ROSBERG       Williams      +1 lap

15. DAVIDSON      Super Aguri   +1 lap

16. SATO          Super Aguri   +2 laps

17. NAKAJIMA      Williams      +2 laps

R.  VETTEL        Toro Rosso    +17 laps

R.  MASSA         Ferrari       +26 laps

R.  SUTIL         Force India   +51 laps

R.  GLOCK         Toyota        +55 laps

R.  BOURDAIS      Toro Rosso    +56 laps

 

Fastest lap: HEIDFELD  1m35.366s

No rain in the end. Massa threw second place away, while Hamilton's race was ruined in the first round of pitstops by a loose wheel shield. Kubica takes his best ever finish in second, behind Raikkonen and ahead of Kovalainen.

massa damn sway lar .. spin off the track jus like tat .. i think he turn abit too wide or something ...

 

he doesnt even noe wats wrong with the car when interviwed .. even Kimi finds it weird

 

kubica had a wonder ful race .. but i think Alonso is disappointing ....

Originally posted by hao_hao:

massa damn sway lar .. spin off the track jus like tat .. i think he turn abit too wide or something ...

he doesnt even noe wats wrong with the car when interviwed .. even Kimi finds it weird

kubica had a wonder ful race .. but i think Alonso is disappointing ....

Alonso had a dog of a car to grapple with in the first place.

Malaysian GP result - 56 laps

1.  RAIKKONEN     Ferrari       1h31m18.555s
2.  KUBICA        BMW           +19.5s
3.  KOVALAINEN    McLaren       +38.4s
4.  TRULLI        Toyota        +45.8s
5.  HAMILTON      McLaren       +46.5s
6.  HEIDFELD      BMW           +49.8s
7.  WEBBER        Red Bull      +1m08.1s
8.  ALONSO        Renault       +1m10.0s
9.  COULTHARD     Red Bull      +1m16.2s
10. BUTTON        Honda         +1m26.2s
11. PIQUET        Renault       +1m32.2s
12. FISICHELLA    Force India   +1 lap
13. BARRICHELLO   Honda         +1 lap
14. ROSBERG       Williams      +1 lap
15. DAVIDSON      Super Aguri   +1 lap
16. SATO          Super Aguri   +2 laps
17. NAKAJIMA      Williams      +2 laps
R.  VETTEL        Toro Rosso    +17 laps
R.  MASSA         Ferrari       +26 laps
R.  SUTIL         Force India   +51 laps
R.  GLOCK         Toyota        +55 laps
R.  BOURDAIS      Toro Rosso    +56 laps

Fastest lap: HEIDFELD  1m35.366s

Massa's always had a habit of tripping over himself.  As for Alonso, Renault's back to its 2003/4 form - during that time it performed better than it should have with Alonso at the wheel, and when it just got good enough in 2005, he took the championship.  2008 looks to be another 2004 for Renault.

Originally posted by Gedanken:

Massa's always had a habit of tripping over himself.  As for Alonso, Renault's back to its 2003/4 form - during that time it performed better than it should have with Alonso at the wheel, and when it just got good enough in 2005, he took the championship.  2008 looks to be another 2004 for Renault.

well lets jus wait n see ... its still early in the season afterall

It is, but given the gaps between Renault and the front-runners during winter testing, I'd be very surprised if they did something to close that gap up quickly, short of releasing an all-new car.  If they do, rest assured that the other teams will be screaming blue murder like they did with the mass dampers.

If I remember correctly, it was only Ferrari who made a complaint about the mass dampers in 2006. Lately though Renault haven't been the trendsetters in the design department - the front two, BMW and Red Bull currently fulfill that role.

Yuh huh.  Ferrari whinged after the mass dampers had been in use for 18 months - what a crock.  What I'm saying is that it'll take something like mass dampers to close the gap between Renault and the top teams.