Malaysian GP

[Timmoru Suzuki]

Qualifying times for the Malaysian Grand Prix:

1. Giancarlo Fisichella (Ita) Renault one minute 33.840 seconds

2. Jenson Button (GB) Honda 1:33.986

3. Nico Rosberg (Ger) Williams 1:34.626

4. Michael Schumacher (Ger) Ferrari 1:34.686

(Will start 14th on the grid after changing his engine)

5. Mark Webber (Aus) Williams 1:34.672

6. Juan Pablo Montoya (Col) McLaren-Mercedes 1:34.916

7. Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) McLaren-Mercedes 1:34.983

8. Fernando Alonso (Spa) Renault 1:35.747

9. Christian Klien (Aut) Red Bull 1:38.715

10. Ralf Schumacher (Ger) Toyota no time

11. David Coulthard (GB) Red Bull 1:34.614*

12. Rubens Barrichello (Brz) Honda 1:34.683*

13. Jarno Trulli (Ita) Toyota 1:34.702*

14. Jacques Villeneuve (Can) BMW-Sauber 1:34.752*

15. Nick Heidfeld (Ger) BMW-Sauber 1:34.783*

16. Felipe Massa (Brz) Ferrari no time*

17. Scott Speed (US) Toro Rosso 1:36.297**

18. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Ita) Toro Rosso 1:36.581**

19. Christijan Albers (Ned) Midland 1:37.426**

20. Tiago Monteiro (Por) Midland 1:37.819**

21. Takuma Sato (Jpn) Super Aguri 1:39.011**

22. Yuji Ide (Jpn) Super Aguri 1:40.720**

* = time set in second 15-minute elimination session

** = time set in first 15-minute elimination session

I REALLY, REALLY REALLY hope this is it for Jenson, long over-due a first win. Liking the new qualifying format too, above all else, it can mix things up at the top, if say a driver had one MEGA lap that got him near the top of the pole. It keeps things interesting and fresh. Good qualifier for Rosberg as well, carrying on from his awesome debut last week.

Anyway, after the very good race in Bahrain, here's hoping the fun continues.

Edited March 18, 2006 by timmayy smothers

[Katsuya]

For some reason it says Michael will start 10th...maybe because he got in the pole shootout?

Still, I actually said just before I heard about the grid "I have a feeling Nico Rosberg will win". Well, he's 3rd on the grid, with Fisichella in front of him. I'm gonna go with Rosberg or Button to win the GP.

[hugobomb]

I'd love it if Rosberg won the race in his 2nd race when Button has been waiting for yonks

[Summers]

This should be fucking awesome.

Definately watching, cheering on my boys Button, Alonso and Trulli.

Also egging on Heidfeld, Webber, Rosberg and Coulthard. I like many drivers. >_>

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

Someone wake me if Villeneuve lasts more than half a race.

[Katsuya]

Technically, this should be the grid for tommorow:

1. Fisichella

2. Button

3. Rosberg

4. Webber

5. Montoya

6. Raikkonen

7. Alonso

8. Klien

9. Trulli

10. Villeneuve

11. Heidfeld

12. Speed

13. Liuzzi

14. M. Schumacher

15. Albers

16. Monteiro

17. Sato

18. Ide

19. R. Schumacher

20. Coulthard

21. Barrichello

22. Massa

~ So...I see an interesting fight in the back. All four cars at the back should easily pass the Aguri's and Midlands, but then they'll have to get stuck with the Toro Rosso's, so it might get interesting with the V8/V10 situation. Michael's really gonna struggle to get past Heidfeld, Villeneuve and Trulli, plus we have seen Klien hold Schumacher off a few times before. Then there's Alonso...I really don't see Alonso, Kimi or Michael winning this race. Juan Pablo has an outside shot, I don't see Webber doing it. That of course leaves Fisi, Jenson and Nico. Nico has everything going for him at the moment, but Jenson has the car behind him. Fisichella can win races in the Renault, but he tends to struggle under pressure. If Jenson doesn't get a good start again...I can only see Rosberg winning.

[Summers]

Kimi and Alonso will one stop, expect them to be competing well.

[Katsuya]

Actually, I think they will be two stopping, with the Williams being low on fuel maybe. Saying that, the Cosworth engine seems to be extremely powerful.

[Summers]

itv-f1 spoke to Whitmarsh and he said something along the lines of being confident with the strategy, and they have more fuels in the cars.

[Timmoru Suzuki]

Was a good race. Fishi raced really well. Lot of drop-outs were kinda disappointing, no Rosberg or Kimi finish...

Jenson says the Honda still can't compete with the Renault team, he says that he was really going for it at the end of the race, but wasn't gaining any ground on Fishichella or Alonso.

Anyway, good race in places, looking forward to Australia in two weeks.

[TheArsenal]

I never expect Kimi to produce results anymore.

Ok, so when he does then great, but I'm honestly never surprised to see him go out anymore.

[Timmoru Suzuki]

To be fair, much of it hasn't been his fault, but technical problems.

I managed to miss the first part of the race on Sunday though, so I don't know if the collision was his fault or not.

[TheArsenal]

To be fair, much of it hasn't been his fault, but technical problems.

I managed to miss the first part of the race on Sunday though, so I don't know if the collision was his fault or not.