F1 2010 Malaysian GP

[Bartek S.]

Number of Laps:56
Circuit Length: 5.543 km
Race Distance: 310.408 km
Lap Record:1:34.223 - JP Montoya (2004)

Eric Boullier Q&A: Renault targeting top three return

Just two races into the season and Renault are already back on the podium - not bad going for new team principal Eric Boullier. And thanks to Robert Kubica’s second place in Australia last weekend, the French team now lie fourth in the constructors’ standings. Boullier, however, is determined they won’t sit on their laurels just yet, and is instead aggressively targeting third place in the championship table, as he explains to Formula1.com...

Q: Eric, you have been Renault’s team principal for just a few months. How are you finding your new role?
Eric Boullier: It feels very, very good. But what can you expect after that fantastic Melbourne weekend? I am very much enjoying my job! I have entered into a new world. In fact it is a completely different universe from what I was used to. Although the day-to-day business of racing is pretty similar to what I was used to, everything else - the hype, the media, the responsibility - is so much more. ‘More’ is the word that I would use to describe it. I would not say being the team principal of an F1 team is a dream come true, but it is definitely a step that you want to make after working in so many other racing categories. If you’re good, F1 could be the ultimate step.

Q: What would you say is the job description for a team principal?
EB: It has two aspects. First it’s purely about the management of people. To build up a successful blend of people who can deliver. Secondly it is the ability to understand the global nature of the sport in every aspect, from marketing, to business and to politics. You have to mix commercial issues, with the interests of manufacturers and with human considerations. To handle this part successfully is the most important thing for a team principal.

Q: Renault had a very difficult 2009 season. Are you surprised by the result in Melbourne?
EB: Well, I think that everybody working in Formula One is very passionate about the sport. The strength of this team is that at its core the people are proper racers, and so even if your morale has been affected by unfortunate affairs, you need to be able to bounce back. If you sit down and cry over spilt milk you will not go anywhere. The will and ability to bounce back is what makes real winners.

Q: Kubica is widely regarded as one of the team’s biggest assets. Would you agree?
EB: Completely! Robert is ideal for us. He is a pure racer, like Fernando (Alonso), and so he fits very well with the team. It is a great motivation for the whole team to see a driver still working with the engineers late into the night - pushing and demanding. If the engineers can follow those demands, and the driver can put that onto the track, then you will have that result.

Q: At the first two races Kubica made it into Q3, while Robert’s second place in Australia catapulted Renault to P4 in the constructors’ standings. Who would you identify as your biggest challengers?
EB: To be honest, we have to work much harder, be much more efficient and aim for P3. We don’t care about P4.

Q: Your rookie driver Vitaly Petrov is the first Russian driver in Formula One racing. Was that one of the main reasons you decided to sign him?
EB: It was very clear that we had to consider an experienced driver, and once we had found him, with Robert, we could concentrate on the rookie driver. There were quite a number of parameters for our decision. The first one was of course performance, and Vitaly had shown that by finishing second in the GP2 championship. There was of course some risk in signing a rookie in terms of his ability to score points, but of course it is good to bring new nationalities into Formula One, and clearly a new market as well. Take Fernando and Spain. Ten years ago Spanish fans were following all kinds of sports, but not really Formula One, and now F1 is one of the most popular sports there. We clearly hope that we can do the same with Russia.

Q: The move from a manufacturer team to a virtual privateer team. What have been the biggest obstacles?
EB: I think it is basically to make people understand that we have a different way of managing the team - that’s it.

 

[Gullwing]

I hope for rain.
Then maybe they will install sprinklers at each track so if it is just a parade they can turn them on and have some fun.

 

[Remy Zero]

I hope for rain.
Then maybe they will install sprinklers at each track so if it is just a parade they can turn them on and have some fun.

I think it will rain mate. It's been raining here for the past 2 weeks or so, starts about 2.30 pm right till about 8pm. Sometimes longer. Starts heavy, then gradually, it lightens and then drizzle. Even in the F1 demo by Schumi yesterday, it was in the wet.

I'll post some pics of the demo soon.

 

[chonkoa]

I miss KL, I wish I was there.

 

[Remy Zero]

Earlier this afternoon, about 3.30 pm

 

[Centurion]

If that's not rain then I don't know what rain is. I'm hoping for a wet race like Melbourne, anything more wet than that would just be a disaster like last year's Malaysian GP. The teams better stock their fridges full of Magnums and Coca-Cola cans.

 

[SKY]

If that's not rain then I don't know what rain is. I'm hoping for a wet race like Melbourne, anything more wet than that would just be a disaster like last year's Malaysian GP. The teams better stock their fridges full of Magnums and Coca-Cola cans.

Nah, Kimi doesn´t race this year

 

[Centurion]

Nah, Kimi doesn´t race this year

Martin Whitmarsh makes poor strategic decisions on an empty stomach. The intense flavour of Magnum Temptation should make his ear lobes tingle and eye pop out -- subsequently guiding him into not calling Lewis in for a second tyre change.

 

[Leech]

First practice

Pos. Car Driver Car Best lap Laps
1 2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1′34.921 19
2 4 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1′35.106 0.185 19
3 1 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1′35.207 0.286 25
4 3 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1′35.225 0.304 14
5 11 Robert Kubica Renault 1′35.402 0.481 22
6 6 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1′35.479 0.558 22
7 14 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1′35.955 1.034 20
8 8 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1′35.969 1.048 20
9 5 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1′36.043 1.122 19
10 16 Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1′36.100 1.179 20
11 7 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1′36.451 1.53 22
12 23 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1′36.503 1.582 28
13 17 Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1′36.645 1.724 18
14 12 Vitaly Petrov Renault 1′36.712 1.791 9
15 15 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1′36.891 1.97 25
16 22 Pedro de la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 1′36.899 1.978 24
17 10 Nico Hülkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1′37.802 2.881 27
18 9 Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1′38.278 3.357 18
19 18 Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1′39.460 4.539 21
20 24 Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1′39.755 4.834 17
21 25 Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1′40.159 5.238 25
22 19 Fairuz Fauzy Lotus-Cosworth 1′40.721 5.8 19
23 21 Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth 1′41.832 6.911 27
24 20 Karun Chandhok HRT-Cosworth 1′41.966 7.045 24


Second practice

Pos. Car number Driver Car Best lap Laps
1 2 Lewis Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1′34.175 27
2 5 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1′34.441 0.266 28
3 4 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1′34.443 0.268 30
4 1 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1′34.538 0.363 24
5 3 Michael Schumacher Mercedes 1′34.674 0.499 30
6 11 Robert Kubica Renault 1′35.148 0.973 34
7 8 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1′35.581 1.406 34
8 16 Sebastien Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1′35.660 1.485 39
9 12 Vitaly Petrov Renault 1′35.872 1.697 20
10 14 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1′35.957 1.782 32
11 23 Kamui Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1′36.018 1.843 38
12 15 Vitantonio Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1′36.221 2.046 34
13 22 Pedro de la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 1′36.325 2.15 33
14 17 Jaime Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1′36.325 2.15 39
15 7 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1′36.602 2.427 30
16 9 Rubens Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1′36.813 2.638 26
17 10 Nico Hülkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1′37.415 3.24 19
18 18 Jarno Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1′38.454 4.279 34
19 19 Heikki Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1′38.530 4.355 32
20 6 Mark Webber Red Bull-Renault 1′38.786 4.611 13
21 24 Timo Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1′39.061 4.886 23
22 25 Lucas di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1′39.158 4.983 29
23 20 Karun Chandhok HRT-Cosworth 1′41.084 6.909 27
24 21 Bruno Senna HRT-Cosworth 1′41.481 7.306 32

 

[Bartek S.]

 

[Bartek S.]

F1 warned against tyre rules revamp

Formula 1 needs to think carefully about introducing a major revamp of the sport's tyre regulations next year, amid speculation that Michelin could return to grand prix racing with totally different rubber.

As AUTOSPORT revealed yesterday, Michelin is close to giving the green light to coming back to F1 after a four-year absence in a move that could reignite a tyre war for the first time since 2006.

It is also understood that serious consideration is being giving to the French tyre company's desire to make F1's tyres bigger - by running 18-inch diameter tyres rather than the 13-inch ones that are currently used.

Such a move would force teams to make a major revamp to their car designs for 2011 – and it something that Gascoyne believes needs to be thought through with great care before the go-ahead is given.

"It will have a huge impact – and it depends on how we address it," Gascoyne told AUTOSPORT about the prospect of Michelin re-entering F1 next year with 18-inch tyres.

"Some people are saying let's not allow anyone to change anything on the suspension and put 18-inch rims on it, which you can sort of see why. But then you are going to have to change it at some stage and, if you are going to do so, why not do it straight away.

"It is something that I have mixed views about. In some respects as a new team you like big rule changes because it is a great leveller. In other ways, as a new team, maybe you don't have the number of people and the facilities to cope with it – but bring it on. Whatever it will be, we will get on and deal with it."

Gascoyne believes that as well as forcing teams to make big suspension changes, the change of tyre size will have other implications on car design.

"The aero implications are very big as well, it is huge. That is why I think we need to think carefully.

"Obviously there will also be less air in the tyres, so pressure management and all things like that become easier. There are less variables though.

"Obviously with the sidewall stiffness, a variable is taken away out of the suspension system, so there is a lot more space within the uprights – but do you then start damping the wheels and all sorts? We need to think quite carefully about it - that we don't end up allowing huge expense back into the sport."

He added: "Some of the big teams may not want it themselves because they will want to maintain the status quo, but there is a big aero change with the ban on double diffusers anyway – so teams will have to design new cars.

"But from my perspective, every time there is a rule change we are not having to catch up with the two or three year's development we are behind, so we look forward to a big rule change. We will get on and deal with whatever it is."

Bridgestone's director of tyre development Hirohide Hamashima believes a move to 18-inch tyres will lead to a big change in car handling.

"Generally speaking, if we put 18-inch tyres on the current cars suddenly, then it will have big oversteer – and will have less traction very quickly," he told AUTOSPORT. "Teams would have to redesign the rear suspension, aerodynamics and brake discs. It would be a lot of money and a lot of work."

Gascoyne is also wary about the prospect of a new tyre war in F1 – with the FIA having favoured a standard tyre for the last few years in a bid to bring down costs.

"I think tyre wars, with limited testing, will be hard," said Gascoyne. "Tyre wars are great if you are on the right tyre, but pretty bad if you are on the wrong one. And again, tyre wars have never brought down costs, they only make them spiral upwards. So again I think we have to be careful about that."

autosport

 

[siko]

Sweeeeet! The 2 wankers in the red cars are out in the Q1 session!!!! Woohoo!

 

[SKY]

Arrrf, those Red Bulls again

PD: I´m starting to really like Rosberg.

 

[LaArtist]

Pos Driver Team Q1 Q2 Q3
1. Webber Red Bull-Renault 1:51.886 1:48.210 1:49.327
2. Rosberg Mercedes 1:52.560 1:47.417 1:50.673
3. Vettel Red Bull-Renault 1:47.632 1:46.828 1:50.789
4. Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:49.479 1:47.085 1:50.914
5. Hulkenberg Williams-Cosworth 1:49.664 1:47.346 1:51.001
6. Kubica Renault 1:46.283 1:46.951 1:51.051
7. Barrichello Williams-Cosworth 1:50.301 1:48.371 1:51.511
8. Schumacher Mercedes 1:52.239 1:48.400 1:51.717
9. Kobayashi Sauber-Ferrari 1:48.467 1:47.792 1:51.767
10. Liuzzi Force India-Mercedes 1:49.922 1:48.238 1:52.254
11. Petrov Renault 1:47.952 1:48.760
12. de la Rosa Sauber-Ferrari 1:47.153 1:48.771
13. Buemi Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:48.945 1:49.207
14. Alguersuari Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:48.655 1:49.464
15. Kovalainen Lotus-Cosworth 1:52.875 1:52.270
16. Glock Virgin-Cosworth 1:52.398 1:52.520
17. Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:52.211
18. Trulli Lotus-Cosworth 1:52.884
19. Alonso Ferrari 1:53.044
20. Hamilton McLaren-Mercedes 1:53.050
21. Massa Ferrari 1:53.283
22. Chandhok HRT-Cosworth 1:56.299
23. Senna HRT-Cosworth 1:57.269
24. di Grassi Virgin-Cosworth 1:59.977

 

[LaArtist]

Hahha..the Ferraris and Mclarens got raped..
Its gonna be a hard race for them tomorrow..

RESPECT for Rosberg

 

[Centurion]

Hahha..the Ferraris and Mclarens got raped..

They raped themselves, collectively. Instead of looking up to the sky, they were glancing across to the pit next door and awaiting their rivals to go out. So they sat pretty until the weather improved slightly but they the rain made a comeback. Once they had to change to wet tires it was pretty much over.

Getting a good lap down in puring conditions on wet tires is a hopeless excersize, as the conditions were borderline undrivable.

Now Mclaren and Ferrari are in the back and will put their drivers on pressure to make tire decisions of their own if they wish to climb the field. That is very much the fallout of Mclaren's last race weekend. It's a sensitive area which is bound to spark some anger amongst top teams.

And off course Red Bull is on pole, but that will end soon enough when other teams have introduced their own ride height systems.

 

[SKY]

And off course Red Bull is on pole, but that will end soon enough when other teams have introduced their own ride height systems.

That´s what we all thought last season when the other teams started to introduce their difusors, and Brawn continued winning. I hope this time it´s wrong, I don´t like Red Bull.

 

[Centurion]

That´s what we all thought last season when the other teams started to introduce their difusors, and Brawn continued winning. I hope this time it´s wrong, I don´t like Red Bull.

Yes. It's one of those again. It is critical to Red Bull's qualifying pace as they are riding much lower than the rest of the grid. Except for that, their race pace isn't much more impressive than Mclaren's. Check the time sheets of Australia and you'll see that the MP-25 was on a par, if not faster.

Another invention that teams have ape, is the F-Duct on the Mclaren as it gives Button and Lewis, crazy advantage on the straight. Last week Hamilton was flying by other drivers as if I had KERS.

How come you dislike Red Bull? They are quite a humble team in my opinion and have made great progress.

 

[SKY]

Yes. It's one of those again. It is critical to Red Bull's qualifying pace as they are riding much lower than the rest of the grid. Except for that, their race pace isn't much more impressive than Mclaren's. Check the time sheets of Australia and you'll see that the MP-25 was on a par, if not faster.

Another invention that teams have ape, is the F-Duct on the Mclaren as it gives Button and Lewis, crazy advantage on the straight. Last week Hamilton was flying by other drivers as if I had KERS.

How come you dislike Red Bull? They are quite a humble team in my opinion and have made great progress.

I wouldn´t like them to win the championship, this year I´d prefer the title to go for McLaren or Ferrari.

BTW, what a gentleman has McLaren on its team this year, I´ve seen a few interviews to Button and I´m really impressed.

 

[Bartek S.]