Malaysian Grand Prix Review

Whereas after Melbourne there were still doubts as to the success of the new regulations due to the weather factor on race day, at Sepang there was surprisingly no monsoonal downpour to interrupt proceedings, and so we could finally gauge the impact of the rules for themselves. And, compared to processions last year, there was a shaken-up pecking order, more overtaking, and, just like Melbourne, more human error as the pressure of restricted preparation, limited opportunities and greater unknowns came to bear.

And even though the new rules are designed to prevent trends from establishing themselves and taking hold of a season, in general a few interesting signs have emerged from the first two races. McLaren really seem to be the championship contenders their off-season testing suggested they would be; the rumours about the Williams FW25's aerodynamic deficiencies are no lie; the Schumacher brothers look like they are surprisingly rattled by the pressure that the new regulations have put on them.

Alonso, on a slightly lighter fuel load than Trulli, edged out his team-mate to become the first ever Spaniard to record a pole position, and the youngest ever to do so. The 1-2 was Renault's first since Alain Prost and Eddie Cheever locked out the front row at the 1983 French GP. It was also the first time that a car other than a Ferrari, Williams or McLaren had taken pole since the 1999 European GP, when Heinz-Harald Frentzen secured top spot in a Jordan.

Of course, this was all somewhat artificial and thanks to lower fuel levels, and press hacks began speculating whether the R23s had enough fuel to get to the first corner. This was more than unkind, for the Renaults' great aerodynamics were clearly coming to the fore without getting any credit. And in fact they were not planning to make any more fuel stops than their main competitors. It was only that they would be making their two stops earlier than everyone else. In hindsight, this was a strange strategy.

Having said that, Alonso's drive showed the signs of a future champion who, along with Montoya and Raikkonen, can be earmarked for future glory. Considering the fact that he was suffering from a high fever in the stifling Malaysian heat and humidity, his qualifying lap was mistake-free, and he led the early stages of the race with no shortage of nerve. And then, when he was out of the fight for the lead, he drove with maturity to claim his first podium, and a much deserved one at that.

Trulli, though, had yet another enigmatic race en route to a fortunate 5th. After his strategy was destroyed by Schumi at turn 2, he found himself with torrid track position after both his stops, got caught up in an amusing battle with Ralph Firman when he didn't realise (how I do not know, when radios are still allowed) he was racing and not lapping the Jordan, out-braked himself at least twice going into turn 1, and spun on the exit of the last corner whilst fighting with Jenson Button's BAR.

That minor indiscretion cost the Finn the race win in Australia, but the injustices of that and of Magny Cours last year were righted as Kimi recorded the first of what will be many victories. Although things were made a lot easier for him by team-mate David Coulthard's early mechanical failure, Alonso's self-defeating strategy, and Schumacher knocking himself and Trulli out of contention, Raikkonen still had to pass Rubens Barrichello at the start and Nick Heidfeld on the track.

More than that, he had to keep his cool in the overwhelming heat. That he did, and with the Michelins having their typical Sepang advantage over the Bridgestones, his win was more or less assured. What was interesting, though, was Ron Dennis' unusually emotional reaction. He had, after all, had a uniquely close relationship with Mika Hakkinen, and having taken the gamble on Raikkonen after the Finn's debut season, it seems like he is investing as much emotional energy into Kimi as he had done with Mika.

Speaking of back-to-back, this was the first time Ferrari had lost two in a row since the Italian and USA GPs in 2001, and the last time a non-Ferrari team had won twice in succession was when Hakkinen won the 2000 Hungarian and Belgian GPs. Some were claiming after Melbourne that Ferrari's reign was over, and more will join that chorus now, but it is still way too premature. Over one hot lap in Friday qualifying, the true indicator nowadays of relative pace, the Ferraris were easily quicker.

With Sepang's heat being so grossly unfavourable towards the Bridgestones, whether Schumacher could have held Raikkonen off had he not lost his brain at turn 2 remains to be seen, but on speed alone, the F2002 can withstand the challenge of the MP4/17D, and both older cars have the wood over the Williams FW25. This will no doubt be a comfort to the men at Maranello, who must be fretting somewhat at the problems plaguing the lightening F2003-GA.

Even though he was given some fuel when he came in for his nosecone change (which, incidentally, was complete after an amazing 10.7 seconds), it was not enough to take him off a two-stop strategy, and after four trips through the pit lane he finished a fortunate 6th after Button's problems on the last lap. It is ironic that this year he gains 3 points for that instead of the usual 1. The new points system, designed to slow his march to the championship, has thus far benefited his 4th and 6th placings!

This was the first time Michael had not started from pole at Sepang; perhaps he was not used to the concertina effect back in the pack. There was totally no excuse for hitting Trulli so daftly. His penalty was totally deserved, as is his 'Reject of the Race' award. For thus far, Schumi has appeared bothered by the new rules, and his driving has been unsettled. Many have found it hard to win two titles in a row; Schumacher is gunning for his fourth. He is finding it no cake-walk, and as yet he has responded unimpressively.

REJECT OF THE RACE
Michael Schumacher
Simply had to be first into the first corner

Another to lose out badly in the first few corners was Juan-Pablo Montoya, who got clouted from behind by Antonio Pizzonia and lost his rear wing. The time spent in getting it replaced put him two laps down, and from then on it became no more than a test session. Which no doubt the FW25 needs. Montoya drove like a man possessed in Australia, and likewise throughout practice at Sepang, but in first qualifying he was still a full second off Schumacher. Already it looks like a two-team battle for the 2003 titles.

But at least JPM can hold his head up, as he is doing his best in the circumstances. The same cannot be said of Ralf Schumacher, whose dismal shoot-out qualifying efforts hit a new low. In four one-lap dashes so far, he has been 16th, 9th, 13th and 17th, and on Saturday he was not even on the one-stop fuel level that had won him the race last year! Although his two-stop drive to 4th was a credible effort, he has shown a distinct lack of dynamism this year, which will displease Messrs Williams and Head no little bit.

In hitting both Montoya and Jos Verstappen separately, and having to get his nose assembly changed, he effectively destroyed all three's races. Later he also spun off rather amateurishly at the last corner. For a man we touted as rookie of the year, 'Jungle Boy' has not shown well thus far. The unreliable Jaguar R4 isn't helping; an endless run of problems in Australia would have sapped his confidence, whilst the car's inability to pick up the last 20 litres of fuel in the tank at Sepang would have dampened his spirits.

That fuel pick-up issue is a very odd one to have, and it makes the Jaguar run extremely heavy. That notwithstanding, Mark Webber drove another great race in Malaysia despite limited practice in testing and the frees. On the harder Michelins, he ran as high as 8th and may have scored points had he not been delayed by gear selection troubles at his stop before engine maladies ended his race altogether. That's a lot of different reliability headaches for Jaguar to solve with yet another fly-away race to go.

But for first lap blinders, it is another rookie, Justin Wilson, who is stealing the show so far. In Melbourne he was up to 9th in the early laps; at Sepang, he picked his way through the initial melee and did one better to run in the points in 8th momentarily. Less impressive was the fact that he eventually retired with physical problems in his shoulder, something of a no-no for a Grand Prix driver, although it seemed his injury was severe and genuine. Wilson joined the list of critics against the HANS system.

The system has been in use in CART, and it has caused less of a stir there. Here, Barrichello, Heidfeld, Montoya and Jacques Villeneuve have all been ardent critics of it. Rubens blamed it for his Melbourne crash, and was allowed to race without it in Malaysia. Such a lax attitude from the FIA is a touch worrying (although it looks like they clamped down on qualifying rules after Minardi's trick in Melbourne). In HANS' defence, JPM says he is now used to it, so everyone else might as well get used to it too, and stop whingeing.

Except that it was a lost cause. Whether previously he could have started from the spare anyway is questionable (I suspect he wouldn't have been able to once the warm-up lap was under way), but this year the spare is out of play unless the designated race car is damaged beyond repair. Having sprinted down the pit lane, an incredulous Jacques was told to run back to his race car for the mechanics to try to get it started. Which never happened, so the Canadian was out before the lights even went out.

Maybe it was his comeuppance for his public feud with team-mate Button. Jenson may not be the next Jim Clark, but he does not need to earn Jacques' respect. Anyone who can qualify 3rd on his first visit to Spa as Button did deserves others' respect automatically. But then again, Jenson did not need to be whingeing about the Melbourne pit bungle a week after the event, implying some kind of Villeneuve conspiracy. The radio problems the Canadian alleged are a feasible, if somewhat pathetic, excuse.

Fisichella meanwhile missed his grid spot after the warm-up lap, in exactly the same fashion as he did two years ago, a move that earned him the 'Reject of the Race' award that time around. This time, he had to reverse park into his proper spot, a skilful bit of work good for the local shopping centre, but rather unfair to everyone else who was sitting there with their engines boiling. Then he proceeded to stall the Jordan, although he blamed the launch control. Another in the Pizzonia school of hand-washing, methinks.

There is no doubt that the EJ13 is not what it can be at the moment, but Fisi has not shown the spark that his supposed ability would have you expect. Fundamental errors like this grid mishap further prove that he is not the second-best driver on the grid as some would have you believe. Jordan are also currently filling their cars heavy with fuel, which is hampering their drivers' performances. Would lighter loads and a few dynamic stints help Jordan to catch some attention and attract some sponsorship?

Frentzen could not get off the grid from 13th spot, and one wonders what is this lack of affinity he has with launch control systems, remembering that not getting off the grid cleanly was something of an HHF hallmark in 2002. In the other Sauber, Heidfeld ran 3rd in the first few laps, but like in Melbourne he began to drop back, this time because of his Bridgestone tyres, a slow pit stop, and the simple fact that the Sauber is so aerodynamically troubled it wastes the Ferrari F2002 rear end it's got.

So in the end, it was an interesting Malaysian GP, not as confusing as the Australian race but with a result that was certainly shaken up by the new rules and the pressure they create. But it was once again a race which only a dismal crowd enjoyed. Sepang is a great track, but can Formula One permanently sustain the half-empty grandstands? You can be sure, though, that Interlagos will be packed to the rafters, with Sao Paulo turning out to watch Rubinho hopefully lead a Ferrari resurgence.