Malaysian GP 2009 - Sepang

[meves]

It appears that nobody has any major updates for this GP so it'll be a re-run of the Aussie GP. I guess the gaps will be more pronounced and due to the circuit type. I can only imagine how few laps the super soft tyres will last, I wonder if we'll see an initial stint in the GP of only 10 laps to get rid of those tyres and to get someone on pole with really low fuel.

The big bonus could be storms! http://uk.weather.com/weather/10day-Kuala-Lumpur-MYXX0008 Trulli said the cars were almost undrivable in the wet!

[De Jokke]

I would say, a big chance for hammi but with a car lacking of downforce dunno

[freedom_honda]

I don't think Brawn will dominate again this weekend. Sepang is a high-speed circuit so the KERS equipped cars will have a bigger advantage this weekend. I'm expecting Ferrari to do well here, at least a podium if not the win.

[axle]

I think if the rain falls McLaren will do well, I think the chassis is fundementally ok. It's the aero that's the issue...with rain it's less of one.

If it is wet though I wouldn't want KERS. Not for safety, but for weight and practicality. Who is going to be able to use 80 more HP in the wet?!

I hope history doesn't repeat itself for Williams. Last year and this year they went well at Oz but then last year went to Malaysia and were so far off the pace!

Brawns are still the cars to beat but they will be challenged by anycar that can look after its Super Soft Tyres. So I predict BMW to shine, but still for Brawn to win.

In the dry the KERS runners will become mobile barriers...the non KERS runners will be faster yet fail to overtake them.

[Spencifer_Murphy]

I don't think Brawn will dominate again this weekend. Sepang is a high-speed circuit so the KERS equipped cars will have a bigger advantage this weekend. I'm expecting Ferrari to do well here, at least a podium if not the win.

I'm not so sure about how big an influence KERS will have at Sepang. Sure it will have obvious benefits exiting turn 2, the hairpin half way round (turn 9?), and the last corner, but the vast majority of corners at Sepang are high speed, overall downforce will be of importance, and the Brawn has that. I expect them to do very well indeed.

[freedom_honda]

I don't think Brawn will dominate again this weekend. Sepang is a high-speed circuit so the KERS equipped cars will have a bigger advantage this weekend. I'm expecting Ferrari to do well here, at least a podium if not the win.

I'm not so sure about how big an influence KERS will have at Sepang. Sure it will have obvious benefits exiting turn 2, the hairpin half way round (turn 9?), and the last corner, but the vast majority of corners at Sepang are high speed, overall downforce will be of importance, and the Brawn has that. I expect them to do very well indeed.

True i forgot about the high speed corners. I doubt this weekend we would see many overtaking because although the diffuser 3 would have be faster on the corners, the KERS cars would be faster on the straight. So it would be difficult for non-KERS to overtake them in the braking areas. But axle said, i would expect all teams to take their KERS system out if it does rains, then the grid would be all mixed up with Hamilton, the ferraris, Alonso, RBR, Kubica, and the Brawns all fighting for the podiums.

[DaveKillens]

Despite the great promise the double deck diffuser offered, especially from the practice times, in the race two non double diffuser cars made a go at it. Both BMW and Red Bull displayed amazing race pace, and strategy. There's no reason to discount either of these cars. And although Ferrari repeated their effort of '08 (walked away from Australia with zero points), trust me, they will be fully competitive.

[ben_watkins]

I see a dry Malaysian GP this year will be a fight between 4 teams. Brawn, Red Bull, BMW and Ferrari.

However good Hamilton's drive was last weekend, the aero efficiency requirements of the Sepang circuit means he and Heikki will be on the back rows of the grid for this race if it stays dry.

If it's wet, due to traction limitations, no one in their right mind would use KERS too much, if at all. Therefore it will be a very open race for the driver and team with the most luck [avoiding collisions either made by others or themselves, stopping at right time if SC], skill [driving in the wet] and best strategy [pit stops, accounting for SC etc].

Anyone know what the weather will do?

[Giblet]

What compounds are they bringing to Malasia?

Are super softs on the menu there?

I think I remember a list somewhere stating all the compounds for each race planned for 2009. At least I'm sure it's not a secret.

[De Jokke]

Could become a Brawn GP - BMW battle, maybe even RBR if they can nurse their tyres better.

[NormanBates]

I'd bet on a new brawn 1-2 if it doesn't rain, as they seemed head and shoulders above the competition in australia, and their higher downforce will be an even bigger advantage here

but if it rains, it's lottery time: I wouldn't bet on a force india but nearly anything can happen!!

[sticky667]

found this on james allen's blog

McLaren are also flat out building new parts and they will be flying out packing cases full of kit to Malaysia this weekend.

McLaren could be back in within the next 2-3 races if that's the case. we all know they have the money and staff to make it happen.

Brawn should dominate Sepang without a problem because of the raw speed they have. They weren't pushing 100% in Oz. Both Brawn's were 2 secs quicker in qualifying trim than the race. The end of either the 1st or 2nd stint could've been much quicker with low fuel levels and the hard tires still working pretty well.

Reliability is still the biggest mystery as they continue to add mileage. we don't really know how well any of the teams' reliability is this yr since they are limited to even less engines now.

JB is also a wet weather specialist! wet or dry, I predict at least JB winning and possibly Ruben's sealing p2 or p3.

[mx_tifoso]

If it is wet though I wouldn't want KERS. Not for safety, but for weight and practicality. Who is going to be able to use 80 more HP in the wet?

It can be used after initial acceleration when exiting corners. Especially down a straight. As long as the steering is at zero degrees traction shouldn't be a problem.

All of that wet specialist stuff is nonsense, it mostly depends on the chassis and the setup.

[vasia]

Some of you forget that Albert Park in Australia is a strange track and not typical of most other tracks on the calendar. The Sepang track is far different and more typical of tracks on the calendar so the pecking order will be more representative or more accurate than in Australia. This is just deja vu from last year, and from every year for that matter. Every year after Australia, people are quick to make assumptions about who is fast and who will dominate. Also as usual, after Sepang people quickly change their assumptions and predicts as the pecking order changes.

Unlike Australia, Sepang demands high downforce, good mechanical and aero grip, as well as good aero stability and overall car balance. BMW might struggle as their short-wheelbase car has a bit less stability than some of the longer-wheelbase competition.

Toyota should do very well at Sepang, watch for that. Red Bull in theory should do well, except reliability for them is an issue and so is lack of rear downforce compared to the 'diffuser' competition.

I predict Brawn, Ferrari, and Toyota to be battling for the top in Sepang. Williams may or may not do well. Their race pace in Australia was a bit disappointing, as was their reliability but we shall see how they go in Sepang.

[ben_watkins]

With the Brawn cars now with major sponsorship from Virgin, are we about to see a major change of livery in Malaysia for the squad? If so what will it look like?

Also why was Ross Brawn and a few others wearing black race suits on the pit wall?