F1 weekend is here again. This year BMW has brought into Sauber-Petronas team and has been renamed BMW-Sauber. Hope they do better now with BMW onboard.

FORMULA ONE / Malaysian Grand Prix: It’s a change for the better
By By Arnaz M. Khairul

ENTERING its 11th year in Formula One, many are kept wondering whether national petroleum giants Petronas had inched out of prominence with the sale of its main technical partners Sauber to German car maker BMW. In fact, the new season which continues with the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang this weekend, at first glance, shows a missing colour that has often been associated with Petronas’ presence in the sport — its signature turquoise-coloured logos on the Sauber car.

The team itself, previously known as Sauber-Petronas, is now known as BMW-Sauber.

Petronas Motorsport head Rosman Roslan explained that the entire exercise that involved turning Petronas into what they are now known as — a Premium partner — had actually been one of the most calculated moves since its involvement in the sport in 1995.

"This is actually a step forward. Even the decision to have the livery in blue, instead of our turqoise colour, was done after a detailed study. If you look at it now, the Petronas wording is more visible compared to before," said Rosman yesterday.

"Also, the decision was based on the need to establish a strong identity for the team. We can say that on the current arrangement, after all the analyses conducted, we’ve found that the returns are more than what we had before."

BMW, said Rosman, were also careful in selecting its partners for the venture, and at the end of the deal Petronas is still seen as the most visible petroleum company in F1.

The returns in fact, are already being reaped with the success of Petronas’ joint ventures with the Swiss team, which evolved into Sauber-Petronas Engineering (SPE), of which, Rosman said the technology transfer objectives had already been achieved in the form of 50 trained and learned Malaysian engineers involved in the project.

Just one Malaysian, calculations engineer Rohaidi Rashid, remains with the team at its base in Hinwil, Switzerland.

"Before we signed the agreement for SPE, we knew that in technology transfer, we cannot expect to conduct a programme for infinity. Thus, we set out to complete a certain number of modules, which are now all completed. And the timing of the takeover by BMW was perfect," said Rosman.

Now, the future holds a different set of objectives.

The most important aspect is in terms of returns, and Petronas, now present in more than 35 countries worldwide, "and the logo is displayed in more places on the car than before," according to Rosman.

"If you look at other teams, it is now becoming a manufacturer-based sport. Ferrari, McLaren, Renault, Honda, Toyota are all competing against each other. So it is important for us to be tied to a strong manufacturer, like BMW, in order to achieve results.

"As with all ventures, this takes some time, but we believe we have done the right thing. Ferrari are strongly tied to Shell, McLaren to Mobil and Renault with Elf. We are on the same level now."

KL amazes superstar Lionel Richie
By By Shuib Taib

The man famous for timeless hits such as Hello, Truly and Three Times A Lady is here! Five-time Grammy winner Lionel Richie, who arrived yesterday, is in Kuala Lumpur to perform at the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix Spring Gala 2006 tomorrow. The 57-year-old superstar, who is here for the first time, is amazed at how clean the city is.
"It’s great to be here and I’m absolutely surprised as to how modern the city is. It totally blew me away. And the cleanliness!" said the former member of hugely popular 1970s group The Commodores. He left the band in 1981 to pursue a solo career.
He added that this would not be his last visit to Malaysia.
"This is a short trip, but I promise you, very soon we’ll be back. We will embark on a world tour in 2007 and will definitely make a stop here," said Richie who was clad in white.
Richie is expected to render his classics, including All Night Long, Stuck On You and Penny Lover as well as songs from his Commodores days. "Otherwise, they will kill me if I don’t sing those songs," said Richie.
The concert will be held at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. Tickets are priced at RM900, RM1,300 and RM1,550. For enquiries, call ticket hotline at 03-2780-7010 or email info @pineappleconcerts.com
© Copyright 2006 The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad. All rights reserved.

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SAY YOU, SAY ME: Yeoh chatting with Richie during a special welcoming dinner in Kuala Lumpur yesterday. With them are Todt (second left), Massa and girlfriend Raffaela Bassi.

KUALA LUMPUR: For the first time in Malaysia, fans of Lionel Richie can now look forward to singing “All Night Long”. Richie will also deliver other hits like “Hello” and “Truly” when he performs at the Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix Gala tonight.
“It's absolutely wonderful to see how modern and beautiful Malaysia is,” said the Grammy award winner who arrived yesterday.
He also added that he was impressed by the cleanliness at the KL International Airport.
Fans can expect to hear songs from when he was with The Commodores, as well as his solo stuff from the 80s and now.
The singer is currently working on a new album that will be released in three months' time.
“I'm doing something like what I'd previously done with The Commodores,” Richie said, adding that his inspiration for songs came from stories told by people.
“This is a very short trip but I promise a trip back here in 2007.”

Honda
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/F1/DSC00617-small.jpg

New BMW-Sauber colours
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/F1/KL07_100306_BMW_SAUBER.jpg
Does it look better than the previous green & blue

Malaysia F1 like sex in a sauna, says Coulthard :tongue4:

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Photo: AFP
SEPANG, Malaysia (AFP) - David Coulthard lived up to his reputation as one of a dying breed of playboy racing drivers when he compared driving in the sultry heat of Malaysia to having sex in a sauna.

Asked during a routine pre-race news conference at the Sepang circuit about how it felt to drive a Formula One car in high humidity and temperatures of more than 33 degrees Celsius, the Scot gave a typically succinct reply.

"It's like having to do some physical exercise in a sauna, effectively, and unless it was having sex, I cannot imagine why anyone would want to do anything in a sauna," said Couthard, 35 later this month.

When the conference moderator interjected, saying that he always "brought it down to that" Coulthard, who has had a series of model girlfriends without ever settling down or marrying, grinned and continued.

"We're all here because of that aren't we -- so I think it is a natural action between, normally a man and a lady, but sometimes."

As laughter spread, the moderator interjected again.

"Stop there". Are there any other analogies that anyone else can give us?" he said, and the interview swerved off course into more traditional and serious motor racing territory.

The Malaysian Grand Prix, the hottest venue and most humid on the annual calendar of 19 races, drains drivers, spectators and all involved of energy.

"It is very tough because, even on the straights, it is difficult to breathe and because it is so humid here," said Jenson Button, 26, who has also had a playboy reputation during the earlier stages of his career.

He is now concentrating on winning his first race after 101 Grands Prix.

"When you are trying to get some proper air into your lungs," he added, "it is difficult. It is really, really hot air."

Ralf Schumacher, the 30-year-old younger brother of seven-times drivers' champion Michael Schumacher, was more interested in responding by talking about his car's performance.

The Toyota driver said: "It really depends. There are years when I have had a difficult car to race here and it was tough. There were other years when it was totally easy and so it depends on the whole package.

"If you have a nice running car then it is not a real problem. But if you have a lot of work to do in the car, then it is a problem usually."

Canadian Jacques Villeneuve, the 1997 world champion, raised the debate to a higher level by warning of the dire consequences for drivers if, or when, they dehydrated in the stifling and debilitating conditions.

"The thing is that you sweat a lot here which means that you get dehydrated so, in the second half of the race, you start losing a lot of your capacities because of that," he explained.

He said he carried half a litre of fluid in the car for the race and the drivers all agreed that it was essential.

When it was mentioned that current world champion Fernando Alonso of Spain won last year's Malaysian Grand Prix despite the failure of his drinks supply, Button responded.

"I know he won the race, but he didn't look too good did he after the race? You definitely need liquids in the race and before the race, too," he said.

"I normally drink about five litres in the morning before the race. It makes a massive difference. I didn't have a drink here a couple of years ago and I was so dehydrated that I was shivering and getting cold in the car and then you start to lose your eyesight. It is much better to be hydrated."

The last word on the subject, like the first, went to Coulthard.

"Any of the physios should be able to give you figures on what the percentage drop-off in a human is once you start to lose a certain amount of body fluid," he explained.

"You definitely lose performance. You are not going to be as sharp in your reactions, your mental capabilities drop off as your body dehydrates. And you just cannot battle against that.

"You just get on with it because you are focussed, but in any circumstance in normal life you would be admitted to hospital with severe dehydration.

"And you know we just get a cold towel and a glass of water and you guys think 'ah, you don't do anything for your money!'

No-one argued. Coulthard had enjoyed having the first laugh and the last on the subject.

no offense to Button's fan..but Jenson Button should start winning a GP soon...coz i do think that he is so overrated..but this year looks very promising with the new car...

watch out for Nico Rosberg, he's out there to prove that last week race is no fluke...bet he's gonna score points again this week :D i bet he's in the shopping list for most of the big teams this year eh?

if there's no mechanical failure, Kimi will win it this week. :cheers:

GO MCLAREN!!!!!

YEA! GO MCLAREN!!! :D

Alonso braced for tough title defence
Thursday March 16 2006

Fernando Alonso believes defending his Formula One World title will prove harder than winning it as he braces himself for a four-team battle at the Malaysian Grand Prix this weekend.

The Renault man wrapped up the 2005 Championship with two races to run, but knows that the competition is already a lot stiffer this year.

His closest challenger was McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen, whose title bid was ruined by a slow start to the season and poor reliability.

Now, the 24-year-old knows Raikkonen is one of a handful of drivers who all have genuine aspirations of wresting the title from his grasp.

Alonso said: "It will be harder than when we were only fighting with McLaren.

"If you had a very bad weekend last year, you finished fourth because there were no more teams.

"If you have a bad weekend this year, you could finish seventh or eighth - and they are not enough points to win the Championship.

"We have to be more focused, develop the car more and work harder as there are more teams pushing us."

On the evidence of winter testing and last weekend's season-opener in Bahrain, those teams are McLaren, once again, Ferrari and Honda.

Alonso came out on top in the desert duel with a resurgent Michael Schumacher in his Ferrari to win by a second.

But the race pace of Raikkonen, who charged through the field from the back to claim third, and fourth-placed Jenson Button in his Honda served warning to Alonso.

A year ago, victory in Malaysia was the second of seven wins the Spaniard compiled en route to the title and four of them came in the first seven grands prix, extending a gap to Raikkonen which proved too large for the Finn to bridge.

Alonso is not expecting to have things his own way in the early races of the season again.

"The first part of the Championship will be interesting because there are four teams ready to win, Honda, McLaren, Ferrari and Renault," he mused.

"Nothing has changed since last year. I arrive at the circuit thinking I have to be consistent all through the Championship. I know I cannot make any mistakes.

"I need to finish races on the podium and when the car is quick and more competitive than the others, we have the possibility to win. We always have to be there if we want to win the Championship again."

To do so, Alonso will need to beat the toughest competitor of the lot in Schumacher, who categorically dismissed suggestions that his motivation and ability had been blunted by a disappointing 2005 with his strong run in Bahrain.

But Alonso does not think that beating the seven-time Champion in a more competitive car would add extra weight to his achievements this season.

He said: "Michael beat me when I was at Minardi (in 2001). It is always difficult to compare drivers when they are in different cars.

"I had the same satisfaction beating Michael last year as I did in Bahrain last week, as he enjoyed when he beat me when I was with Minardi, and not last year.

"We always do the maximum and sometimes the car is right and sometimes not. Now that the cars are equal like in Bahrain we saw a good show. Sometimes one driver will win, sometimes another driver will win."

Schumacher agreed with Alonso that the title is likely to be fought among the four teams which shared the first four positions in Bahrain, with Williams an outside bet.

"There were still differences between the teams at different parts of their stints, but in the end you got a picture that there was real competitiveness among those teams," said the German.

"I don't see any reason why that situation won't carry on. Maybe there will be races where it suits one team better because of the characteristics of the circuit, but in general there are four teams, maybe even five teams, who are all very close.

"The times will be very tight and you can lose and gain a lot of positions, but this makes the whole thing very interesting. :)

Tricky start continues at Sepang
Thursday March 16 2006

How teams have adapted to Formula One's seemingly perennial changes to its rules and regulations will be put under further scrutiny in the sweltering Malaysian conditions.

The decision to downgrade the size of the cars' engines from V10s to V8s was not universally welcomed and this weekend's race will test those who have hit the ground running and those with work still to do.

With its dusty desert setting, the season opener in Bahrain provided a stern test of the new motors. Now they will be given arguably their most rigorous examination of the year in sticky Sepang.

The temperatures and humidity are always a challenge around the fast, flowing track, but engines are now onto the second of the two race weekends which they must last or face a 10-place penalty on the starting grid.

Brazil's Felipe Massa may be the first to fall foul of this rule in 2006 with his Ferrari rumoured to require a replacement engine before the start of the weekend's running.

The teams are understandably concerned about performance so early in the season.

Simon Corbyn, head of F1 race engineering at Williams' engine supplier Cosworth, said: "The Malaysian Grand Prix is one of the toughest for F1 engines.

"The high ambient temperatures are at the limit of what we experience during a race season and this places maximum demands on both the engine and car systems.

"This year will also be particularly challenging as this will be the first time any of the new V8 engines goes into a second race weekend.

"Engine reliability will be a significant factor, both in terms of the starting grid line-up and the race result in Malaysia."

Luca Marmorini, Toyota's engine technical director, added: "The first two back-to-back races make for a tough start to the year because of the heat of Malaysia, which will be 20 degrees higher than anything we encountered during pre-season testing."

The smaller engines' relative lack of horsepower means that the driver's right foot is on the accelerator for longer than it was in the V10 era, placing them under further strain.

"The nature of the Sepang circuit lay-out, with the high-speed corners, means the drivers will spend 15 per cent more time at full throttle than last year," Renault's trackside engine chief Denis Chevrier explained.

"It will be a demanding weekend for the V8 and, at its conclusion, we will have a much better idea of how things stand for the first versions of the V8 engines in terms of performance and reliability."

4 fairul, szehoong & all mclaren fans :cheers:
McLaren preview the Malaysian GP
Thursday March 16 2006

Hoping for an incident-free weekend...

Kimi Raikkonen: "My race in Bahrain showed that the MP4-21 is a competitive car, despite the heavy fuel load I had for most of the race compared to the cars around me, it was quick. I now want to get back on track in Malaysia and have a better qualifying session, so that I can improve on my finishing position in Bahrain. Sepang is a track that sees car set-up compromised between efficiency at high speeds, for areas such as the start and final straights where we reach full throttle, and good grip for the slower corners, such as the complex at turns one, 14 and 15. Parts of the track are great to drive, such as the S complex and you need to really push through here to get a good lap time. After Bahrain, I have been spending a few days relaxing and doing my fitness training in hot conditions. I will also focus on getting used to taking on a lot of fluid to replace what is lost through sweat. Dehydration affects concentration levels, muscle strength and endurance, and so I have been working with my trainer to avoid this. We also have to make modifications to the cars to cope with the heat, for example there will be larger air cooling intakes on MP4-21 for this race."

Juan Pablo Montoya: "I am really looking forward to the Malaysian Grand Prix this weekend, Sepang is a track I love to race on and it suits my driving style. I am hoping that this will help me and the team to find a better set-up with the car than I had in Bahrain and that we will be putting more points on the board. The wide track and its sweeping corners mean there are a few good overtaking chances, I guess the main opportunity is corner 15, but you do need really good traction to make the most of it. Other characteristics of the track are the gradient changes, including through the complex at the end of the first straight, and the different cambers. Of course the humidity is another major factor, Malaysia is a really punishing race physically. It gets so hot in the cockpit, up to 50 degrees centigrade and you lose a lot of fluid, up to four litres, during the race alone. The tropical climate means that it could rain at any minute, so that is always a bit unpredictable, particularly because when it rains in Malaysia, it really rains!"

Hopefully, the winning car this week at Sepang :cheers:

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p/s: Travellator, ur avatar looks very familiar..but cant recall it..

Its a still from the movie brokeback mountain

Friday March 17 2006

Honda's 'Friday' test driver Anthony Davidson topped the second practice session for the Malaysian Grand Prix - but Renault World Champion, Fernando Alonso, was in ominous touch.
Davidson's time of 1:35.041 beat third-placed Alonso's best by seven tenths of a second, but the Englishman's weekend ends on Friday. Second place went to Williams tester Alex Wurz after a late run.
The first session had been a quieter affair as most of Sunday's drivers saved their engines for qualifying and the race.
But it was action from the off with Ferrari's Felipe Massa taking a trip through the gravel on his way to fourth quickest in a hotter, sunnier session.
Behind him, McLaren's Kimi Raikkonen was fifth, Giancarlo Fisichella in the sister Renault was sixth and Michael Schumacher was seventh in his Ferrari.
Jenson Button, looking for his first Formula One win, could not better the eighth-best time, but he will have been heartened by Davidson's pace.
Raikkonen's team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya was only 14th, nearly two-and-a-half seconds adrift, after a wayward session that included a rather odd moment.
Having ground to a halt at the end of the pit lane, the Colombian grabbed a jack to drag his stricken car back to his garage before his mechanics belatedly gave him a hand.
Montoya then spun at the same corner that also claimed a charging Davidson early in the session.
Troubled Toyota managed 11th in the shape of Jarno Trulli and 17th for Ralf Schumacher.
Despite Wurz's speed, Williams drivers Mark Webber and Nico Rosberg wound up 20th and 21st, more than three seconds off Davidson.
Massa and Red Bull's David Coulthard, who was 16th, face a 10-place grid penalty from wherever they qualify.
In the first session, Wurz had topped the timesheets for Williams, who are one of seven teams allowed to run three cars on a Friday after finishing outside the top four in last season's Constructors' Championship.

Times
01 A. Davidson Honda 1:35.041 14 laps
02 A. Wurz Williams 1:35.388 30 laps
03 F. Alonso Renault 1:35.806 14 laps
04 F. Massa Ferrari 1:35.924 22 laps
05 K. R�ikk�nen McLaren 1:36.132 15 laps
06 G. Fisichella Renault 1:36.182 14 laps
07 M. Schumacher Ferrari 1:36.617 17 laps
08 J. Button Honda 1:36.661 12 laps
09 J. Villeneuve BMW 1:37.045 9 laps
10 R. Barrichello Honda v0 13 laps
11 J. Trulli Toyota 1:37.317 23 laps
12 N. Heidfeld BMW 1:37.418 7 laps
13 R. Kubica BMW 1:37.457 28 laps
14 JP. Montoya McLaren 1:37.463 12 laps
15 V. Liuzzi Toro Rosso 1:37.590 22 laps
16 D. Coulthard Red Bull 1:37.603 8 laps
17 R. Schumacher Toyota 1:37.695 20 laps
18 N. Jani Toro Rosso 1:37.831 23 laps
19 S. Speed Toro Rosso 1:37.926 21 laps
20 M. Webber Williams 1:38.081 5 laps
21 N. Rosberg Williams 1:38.205 6 laps
22 G. Mondini Midland F1 1:38.256 20 laps
23 C. Klien Red Bull 1:38.644 10 laps
24 C. Albers Midland F1 1:38.918 20 laps
25 R. Doornbos Red Bull 1:39.105 28 laps
26 T. Monteiro Midland F1 1:39.416 20 laps
27 T. Sato Super Aguri 1:41.549 22 laps
28 Y. Ide Super Aguri 1:43.164 16 laps

Malaysia Fri: Renault, McLaren & Ferrari
Friday March 17 2006

Overall a good day...

Renault
Fernando Alonso: We did our job today and the R26 seems competitive. Sepang is a great circuit to drive, one of my favourites, and I was very happy to be out there this afternoon. The heat is really difficult - not just in the car, but in the garage when you stop and there is no ventilation while you are in the car. We have made the usual modifications, but as a driver, you just need to be ready for it, and well prepared. The car is easy to drive here, but we still need more grip and some small changes to the balance. But I think we have a good starting point for the rest of the weekend.

Giancarlo Fisichella: I didn't put a clean lap together on new tyres today, but the car was very consistent indeed on the long run this afternoon. We made some adjustments during the second session, and we have got more to do tonight, but we are definitely moving in the right direction. The car is very stable in the high speed corners, but we need to eliminate a little oversteer in the slower parts. Overall, though, the Renault is consistent and quick here. I am happy this afternoon.

McLaren
Kimi Raikkonen: I am happy with the set up of the car and we managed to complete our programme today despite the small problem this morning with the data logging, where the team decided to cancel my run, whilst there was nothing wrong with the car. The Michelin tyres are working well and I think we look strong compared to our main rivals but we will have to see what happens tomorrow.

Juan Pablo Montoya: I am pretty happy with the car this weekend. This morning we completed one run to see how the car felt and this was pretty good. This afternoon we concentrated on the race set up. There is still a little bit of work to do tomorrow with understanding the car a little better, but the whole package has improved from last weekend. Despite stalling at the end of the grid in the second session and a spin later on we managed to complete our programme and we will see if we have done enough in qualifying tomorrow.

Ferrari
Michael Schumacher: In general we're pleased with the way things went during free practice. Towards the end of the session we managed to improve the balance of the car. As far as times are concerned, apart from what the third drivers do, who do a different job compared to the others, I think that the situation is quite clear. I could have been a bit quicker with my new tyres when I went out on my first run, but I lost a lot of time in a corner of the third sector. The consistency of the Bridgestone tyres looks pretty good, which of course is very important. The actual time recorded is of less importance at this stage because the times improve as the weekend progresses. I reckon that we're competitive and that, like in Bahrain, here in Malaysia we can fight for pole position and for a win on Sunday.

Felipe Massa: I think it went very well. We worked for the race by doing quite a few long runs. The car went well both with used and new tyres and I am very pleased with our race pace. In my opinion we have a good car for the race. Qualifying will of course be a bit difficult for me because I have to pay the price for the engine change, but considering the pace we had during the long run, I think we're in good shape for a good result on Sunday.

^^ Go Raikkonen!! :okay:

Wah! :eek: Got a few McLaren supporters here! :okay:

I always tot the whole world loves Ferrari :lol:

Wah! :eek: Got a few McLaren supporters here! :okay:

I always tot the whole world loves Ferrari :lol:

its just happen that Malaysian SSC prefers Mclaren than Ferrari..but the black prouncing pony team is back in contention this week.. :runaway:

GO McLaren! Kimi has proven in Bahrain that they have a winning car, so hope they can do it in Sepang. Hopefully Montoya will do well also, despite his engine problems.

Rosberg is awesome too, I hope McLaren and Ron Dennis has their eyes on the kid. In case Kimi leaves for Ferrari...;)

@ Szehoong - I've always been a McLaren fan.:) I think i told you that a few years ago.

:rant: I'm still upset that i couldnt it make it to last year's Malaysian GP. I had the tickets and paddock passes! damn exams...:( Now, i cant possibly go because i moved to Canada.

@ Szehoong - I've always been a McLaren fan.:) I think i told you that a few years ago.

:rant: I'm still upset that i couldnt it make it to last year's Malaysian GP. I had the tickets and paddock passes! damn exams...:( Now, i cant possibly go because i moved to Canada.


Yea I remember that :yes: I said that because nearly all my friends are Ferrari fans :D

Oh geez....I still remember your dissappointment :( ANyway the next time you're here please do gimme a buzz ;)

Oh geez....I still remember your dissappointment :( ANyway the next time you're here please do gimme a buzz ;)

Yes, of course;) If only the Malaysian GP was in May, then i can make it.:D My dad is offered tickets and passes every year, but he will only go if i go with him. And so far, i havent had the chance to go.:(

Are you going to watch the race live, Sze? 3 more hours till qualifying!:)

^^ I see ;)

Well........I am not back home yet so I couldn't watch :( But I am sure to catch the race tomorrow afternoon ;)

Wonder if my fren could get some last minute cheap tickets or not :D

The final practice session ahead of the knockout qualifying session later today saw Michael Schumacher set the pace in his Ferrari from the Renault duo of Fernando Alonso and Giancarlo Fisichella. Schumacher set a best time of 1:34.126s, the fastest time so far this weekend in Malaysia.

While Schumacher set the pace in his 248 F1, Felipe Massa was having a less productive time of things. The Brazilian, already facing the possibility of starting near to the back of the field due to a ten position penalty for an engine change, suffered an off as he worked on his race setup and was just 17th fastest.

Back at the sharp end of the field Alonso pushed hard late in this 60-minute session, but was not quite able to pip Schumacher to the fastest time, losing out by just 0.054s. Fisichella was nearly half a second slower in his R26.

Jenson Button set the fourth fastest time in his Honda, just fractions off the pace of Fisichella. Team-mate Rubens Barrichello was just 15th fastest in the sister RA106, over two seconds off the pace of Button.

Red Bull Ferrari showed a good turn of speed in this session as Christian Klien set the fifth best time while eight-tenths back, David Coulthard was ninth fastest.

McLaren Mercedes did not show Pole Position winning pace this morning as Kimi Raikkonen completed a modest number of laps to set the sixth best time.
Juan Pablo Montoya completed a two short runs in his MP4-21 but clearly has a problem with the car as he managed just the 16th best time.

Things are looking a little better for the Toyota team as Ralf Schumacher set the seventh best time ahead of Nico Rosberg in the leading Williams Cosworth, Coulthard and Jarno Trulli. Mark Webber was 11th in his FW28 ahead of the BMW Sauber duo of Jacques Villeneuve and Nick Heidfeld.

Toro Rosso lead driver Tonio Liuzzi was 14th best ahead of Barrichello, Montoya and Massa while Christijan Albers was 18th in his Mf1 Toyota. Team-mate Tiago Monteiro was 20th best behind Scott Speed but is suffering from a trapped nerve in his back and may or may not be able to complete the Grand Prix weekend. Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide brought up the bottom of the timesheets for Super Aguri Honda.

All eyes turn to qualifying and if practice pace is anything to go by it will be a battle between Schumacher, Alonso and perhaps a McLaren driver.


Seems like Michael is back to his old form! :) Onward to the qualifying rounds

My schumi place 4th 4 qualify.
Where McLaren>?

Giancarlo Fisichella spoiled Michael Schumacher's bid to set the Formula One pole position record Saturday, topping qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix in a Renault with a time of 1 minute, 33.840 seconds.

Schumacher's Ferrari was fourth in 1:34.668.

Schumacher, a seven-time world champion, led Ferrari to a 1-2 sweep of the starting grid last weekend in Bahrain to tie Ayrton Senna with 65 poles.

It was Fisichella's third pole position of his career. He won the 2005 Australian Grand Prix from the pole.

"Last year the first race of the season, a fantastic memory," Fisichella said. "This year it was totally different."

He had to drop out of the Bahrain GP after 21 laps last week with engine problems.

"It's a great answer after the last race when we made a big mistake," he said. "We know what the problem was and it should not happen again."

Honda's Jenson Button was second in 1:33.986, and Williams rookie Nico Rosberg was third at 1:34.626.

Ferrari
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/F1/schumacher-sepang-z-11_180306.jpg
Felipe Massa already faced a tough challenge in Malaysia on Sunday following an engine change on his 248 F1. Things took another downwards turn for the team today as Massa and Schumacher required new V8 power.

With 30 positions of penalty between them, Schumacher did well to set the fourth best time and qualify 14th while the unfortunate Massa completed just a handful of laps and starts from the back of the pack.

Michael Schumacher
“I’ll be starting from the sixth row (Seventh) which isn’t too bad considering the penalty inflicted for the engine change. We’re satisfied with this position and obviously I hope to end up in the points. I’d be really happy if I could get a podium finish. Considering the circumstances, our objective is not to lose touch with the drivers who presumably will be fighting for the championship. The fact that Alonso and Raikkonen aren’t too far ahead on the grid certainly helps me a bit."

"It’ll be interesting to see whether overtaking will be possible and how much fuel the others have on board. During unofficial practice we have seen that our race pace is fine. It’s a pity that we’ve lost ten places on the grid because of this engine problem, but I would rather try and bring home a few points than end up with nothing at all.
”

Felipe Massa
“Obviously I’m very disappointed because I was convinced that I had the potential to compete with the front runners. We chose to do only the first part of the qualifying session so as to be able and start the race with as much fuel as we want and in order to save our new sets of tyres and keep a fresh engine for the race. This morning, when I was running on used tyres and with quite a lot of fuel on board, I felt that the car in this configuration was performing excellently."

"Tomorrow is going to be difficult for me, but in racing you never know what can happen: perhaps a weekend that got off to a bad start could end up quite well !” Ross Brawn: “This is very frustrating for us. We have had various problems with the engine but we’ll get over them. I’m convinced of that. It’s a pity, because during all the winter testing we were very reliable. Considering the amount of fuel that Michael had on board because of the ten-position penalty, his qualifying session went quite well. The tyres seem to be very consistent in their performance. We can expect a tough race but we’ll do everything possible to finish in the points.”

Jean Todt
“Considering our decision to have Felipe start from the back of the grid, our qualifying session was basically with only one car. This decision was taken so as to let him start the race tomorrow with a fresh engine, lots of fuel on board and new tyres."

"Michael was also obliged to change his engine and he’ll be starting from the sixth row after having gone well in qualifying."

"Tomorrow is going to be a very tough race with reliability and a consistent tyre performance being the decisive factors. The championship has only just begun but even if we are now going through a difficult moment with the reliability of the V8 engine, what is important is to try and pick up as many points as possible. All kinds of things can happen for us tomorrow, but this is true for the others as well.”

Mclaren
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Juan Pablo Montoya and Kimi Raikkonen set the sixth and seventh fastest times for McLaren Mercedes today in qualifying at Sepang. With an engine penalty being applied to Michael Schumacher, both move up a position on the grid order.

Juan Pablo Montoya
“I am happy with our qualifying result today, and we will see tomorrow with the different fuel loads just how well we have done. Hopefully the Michelin tyres will continue to perform, so far they have been good, but it is a very long and hot race. We have worked intensively on the set-up of the car and I am much happier with it. I am looking forward to a good race tomorrow where we can hopefully be challenging at the front."

Kimi Raikkonen
“I had a little bit of traffic on my out lap at the end of the session which disrupted my flying lap. As a result I didn't do as well as I could have, but I am pretty happy with the result.
The car could still be better but I think that we have a competitive strategy and we will still be strong in the race tomorrow.”

Ron Dennis
“We are very comfortable with the outcome of today's qualifying session and we look forward to our race strategy unfolding.”

Norbert Haug
“With Juan Pablo starting in fifth and Kimi in sixth position both our cars are in good position for tomorrow's race. With our strategy we should be in good shape.”

Starting Grid for Sunday this is going to be an interesting race

01 :okay:
FISICHELLA
RENAULT
02 :okay:
BUTTON
HONDA
03
ROSBERG
WILLIAMS COSWORTH
04
WEBBER
WILLIAMS COSWORTH
05 :okay:
MONTOYA
McLAREN MERCEDES
06 :okay:
RAIKKONEN
McLAREN MERCEDES
07
ALONSO
RENAULT
08
KLIEN
RED BULL FERRARI
09
TRULLI
TOYOTA
10 :ohno:
VILLENEUVE
BMW SAUBER
11 :ohno:
M.SCHUMACHER
FERRARI
12 :ohno:
HEIDFELD
BMW SAUBER
13
SPEED
TORO ROSSO COSWORTH
14
LIUZZI
TORO ROSSO COSWORTH
15
ALBERS
MIDLAND TOYOTA
16
MONTEIRO
MIDLAND TOYOTA
17
SATO
SUPER AGURI HONDA
18
IDE
SUPER AGURI HONDA
19
COULTHARD
RED BULL FERRARI
20
BARRICHELLO
HONDA
21
R.SCHUMACHER
TOYOTA
22 :uh:
MASSA
FERRARI

Good Teams
- BMW Sauber
- Mclaren Mercedes
- Williams Cosworth
- Toyota

Neutral
- Midland F1
- Ferrari

Evil Teams
- Super Aguri
- Squadra Torro Rosso
- Renault
- Red Bull Ferrari
- Honda

Fisichella on pole for Malaysian Grand Prix
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Photo: AFP

SEPANG, Malaysia (AFP) - Italian Giancarlo Fisichella has secured the third pole position of his career when he outpaced nearest rival Briton Jenson Button in a thrilling qualifying session for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.

The 33-year-old Renault driver topped the times with a best lap of one minute and 33.840 seconds -- Button clocked 1:33.986 -- and then dedicated his pole to a close friend who was killed in a road accident last Sunday.

"I dedicate this to my friend Pietro who I have known since I was eight years old," he said.

"It is a great result for me and a great answer after the last race. We made a big mistake in Bahrain, but anyway now the package is fantastic and the reliability and performance is good and I am sure now I will have a chance to do well.

"I was confident to be in the top four this morning and after yesterday I felt I had a good set up. Overnight we changed the set up and went quicker this morning, even with scrubbed tyres, and the car was fantastic in qualifying."
:rock:
Button was also delighted with his performance.

"This is great for us because we didn't expect it yesterday and not until qualifiying began and then the car suddenly became alive. :)

"We had a few issues yesterday with the set-up -- we were quite a long way off what we expected here, but I have to say thanks to the team for doing a great job overnight and really turning the car around.

"It's not just one lap race, but also the long run pace and I am so happy to be on the front row. It is a big step forward. I am sure we can have a good race. I think we have a great strategy. The heat is a big challenge but the same for all of us."

Rising star Nico Roseberg of Germany, the 20-year-old son of former champion Keke Rosberg of Finland, was third fastest for Williams ahead of seven-times champion Michael Schumacer of Germany, in a Ferrari.

Australian Mark Webber in the second Williams was fifth, Colombian Juan Pablo Montoya sixth for McLaren Mercedes and Finn Kimi Raikkonen, in another McLaren, was seventh.

Defending world champion Spaniard Fernando Alonso was eighth for Renault on a day when engine problems hit the Ferrari team and others.

Shortly before the session began, it was confirmed that both Michael Schumacher and his former Ferrari team-mate Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, now at Honda, had required engine changes.

In addition to these two, Felipe Massa and Briton David Coulthard were also using new power-units, making four drivers in all, the Brazilian having been required to change his engine for a second time on Saturday.

The qualifying session began again in searing heat and high humidity. The track temperature was 48 degrees Celsius and the air temperature 37 when the session started.

The first session saw the 'elimination' of American Scott Speed, Italian Vitantonio Liuzzi, Dutchman Christijan Albers, Portugal's Tiago Monteiro and the Japanese pair Takuma Sato and Yuji Ide.

Respectively, this group took the bottom six places on the grid, from 17th to 22nd.

In effect, it meant that the Toro Rosso, Midland F1 and Super Aguri teams were assured of their roles as the back-markers before the temperature crept up to 49 degrees.

After the opening 15 minutes, the second session saw the first major incident when Ralf Schumacher's Toyota suffered a spectacular engine failure on the pits straight.

This meant he would have to drop down the grid, but since he had clocked a time that earned him a place in the top 10 it also added to the intrigue surrounding the starting order.

The second session saw the elimination also of Massa, who wound up with the 16th best time, German Nick Heidfeld's Sauber-BMW, in 17th, Canadian Jacques Villeneuve in the second Sauber, Italian Jarno Trulli's Toyota, Barrichello's Honda and Coulthard's Red Bull-Ferrari.

This left Massa to sit frustrated on the pit wall while his team-mate Schumacher set about trying to secure pole position. Ralf Schumacher was also unable to run because of his need for another new engine.

Massa had required another engine change following the morning free session, a decision that endorsed concern that the Ferrari V8 power unit was not yet strong or reliable.

Massa and Red Bull's Coulthard suffered failures after last weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix. The problem, according to sources close to the team, was said to be cracked pistons.

This meant that Schumacher had to lose 10 places on the grid which is certain to produce an action packed race. :cheers:

Just 2 get all u dudes into the F1 mood esp 4 2moros exciting race.(all photos from F1-live)

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both Mclaren and Alonso are heavy on fuels, thats the reason why there are few grids behind..dont see Jenson winning the race, i bet the car is light on fuel though the car is sure fast...
as much i like to see rosberg on the podium tomorrow, the car wont have the pace to sustain the entire race..the Mclaren and Renaults will eat them alive..hahaha :cheers:

GO Mclaren!!!

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Favourites hit trouble in Malaysia

Pre-weekend favourite Fernando Alonso will start Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix from just seventh position after a double-whammy in qualifying.

Although Renault's Bahrain winner gained a place with Michael Schumacher's demotion, he could manage only the eighth best lap time after an electrical problem on his car and a fuel-rig glitch back in pit lane.

Because of the fuel problem, the 24-year-old Spaniard is carrying a debilitating fuel load for the big race.

But it could be worse. In the red garage, Ferrari is dealing with a potential crisis of engine reliability, with Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa demoted a combined 30 places on the grid due to problems with their V8s.


Schumacher's change drops him to the midfield, while Massa had two engine changes on Saturday, costing him an outlandish 20-position grid downgrade.

Ferrari's problem is cracking pistons.

"I will be surprised if we can end up on the podium from where we are," Schumacher remarked after qualifying, "but we go for it."

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Id rather see Rosberg in the podium than BUTTon. I hope kimi wins! :okay:

^^ u may just get ur wish :)
McLaren confident that strategy can bring them victory
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SEPANG, Malaysia (AFP) - The McLaren-Mercedes team hardly worried the opposition with their pace in qualifying for Sunday's Malaysian Grand Prix.

Finishing sixth and seventh was, after all, not what their fans expected of Colombian hot shoe Juan Pablo Montoya and flying Finn Kimi Raikkonen.

But team chief Ron Dennis wore the look of an inscrutable visionary as he contemplated the race and his team's strategy for refuelling and tyre changes.

"We are very comfortable with the outcome of today's qualifying session and we look forward to our race strategy unfolding," he said with a half-grin.

On an afternoon of heat and chaos at the Sepang circuit, where nearly one-third of the grid suffered engine problems that required changes and with them a demotion down the grid by 10 places, it was as good as a tip.

In Bahrain, where he started at the back of the grid, Raikkonen made only one pit stop and climbed from nowhere to finish third - and most observers believe that Dennis and McLaren plan a repeat of that for both men.

"I had a little bit of traffic on my 'out' lap at the end," said Raikkonen. "It disrupted my flying lap and I didn't do as well as I could have done, but I am pretty happy with the result.

"The car could still be better, but I think that we have a competitive strategy and we will be strong in the race tomorrow."

In the secretive and competitive world of Formula One, where fuel loads, gear ratios and tyre wear are decisive factors, this was as good as a clear hint that the McLaren men are hoping to surprise their rivals with a tactic that gives them an advantage.

travellator, are you a member of F1-live? I go to the website all the time, but a lot of the pics, old news, etc are only accessible by members.

It would be nice to see Rosberg on the podium. That would surely make him worth a lot for next season. And good for Williams, they are doing very well with Cosworth and Bridgestone. Frank Williams must be laughing at Mario Theissen and his BMW team.

My prediction for the race:
1. Raikkonen
2. Alonso
3. Rosberg!:okay:
4. Fisichella
5. Button
6. Montoya
7. Webber
8. M Schumacher

Grid Confusion

The qualifying session for the Malaysian Grand Prix is almost 12 hours old and the definitive grid line-up while almost certain, is not yet set in stone.

No less than five drivers incurred engine change penalties during the build up to the second round of the championship and there remains the possibility that more could opt to change engines ahead of the race and therefore move towards the back of the field, hence the grid is not definitive.

Exactly where another engine casualty would move is hard to determine with even teams such as Ferrari sending out revised press releases stating a differing qualifying position for their man Schumacher.

The two-race engine rule is aimed at reducing costs but so far in 2006, many of the major engine builders have been hit with reliability issues – and that is good, it is part of the technical challenge of F1.

The complicated sporting regulations are however rather confusing as a drivers such as Jacques Villeneuve can blow his V8 in race one of two and have a new powerplant for the next race without penalty at all, while David Coulthard - for example - can break down on the slow down lap of race one of two and be given a qualifying penalty for an engine change.

The sporting regulations (87a) on the matter stipulate that 'Each driver may use no more than one engine for two consecutive Events in which his team competes. Should a driver use a replacement engine before the end of the qualifying practice session he will drop ten places on the starting grid at that Event each time a further engine is used.


Unless the driver fails to finish the race the engine fitted to the car at the end of the Event must remain in it until the end of the next. Any driver who failed to finish the race at the first of the two Events for reasons beyond the control of the team or driver, may start the second with a different engine without a penalty being incurred.'

The rules seem clear enough it must be said but there are loopholes within that too. Add to that the complication of having to complete laps within 110 percent of the fastest time in the third phase of qualifying or face not having the fuel credit replaced ahead of the race, such as was the case for Schumacher in Bahrain, and the world of Formula One becomes incredibly complicated.

TV figures are generally on the increase globally for F1, but it remains to be seen if F1 fans in general enjoy the new layers of science and rule-managing that are so prevalent in modern day F1. There are two championships in F1, one is aimed at the driver and one at the constructor. The current rules, it could be argued, blur one into the other as the sport strives to contain costs, create entertaining racing and in the end two Champions.

Back to the point and we think Michael Schumacher starts the Malaysian Grand Prix from P11 as he set the fourth fastest time today in qualifying, incurred a ten position penalty. Then of course Ralf Schumacher, David Coulthard and Rubens Barrichello all suffered penalties too and go to the back of the pack, so that moves Schumacher up to 11th.

We may be wrong though… he may in fact be 14th… or thereabouts.

here's my prediction

1.Kimi Raikkonen :nocrook:
2.Montoya :nocrook:
3.Rosberg
4.Alonso
5.Michael Schumacher
6.Mark Webber

where's Jenson Button? i predict he will clash with any of the lower rank team..hahaah..im so bad..:laugh:
cant wait for the race, for the first time in 4 yrs,i'll be watching it at home..not at the circuit..:ohno:

awww:( Kimi crashed early....:ohno:

Great race for Fisi though. Good for him.:) Montoya doesnt have the pace, i hope his car/engine will improve a lot in Australia.

Oh no :ohno: KIMI!! he should consider taking a pomelo leaf bath...get rid of his bad bad luck :gaah:

Good race for the Renault team, looks like last year was no fluke. They will b the the team 2 beat.

greyx, your prediction was close, it was a good race with a few spills...kimi gettin hit at the start & another with the engine blow out.

I think too many of us were expecting Kimi to win, thats why his bad luck struck again:D

I'd like to rant about the V8s, but its getting late here and i want to sleep. But in a nutshell, they shouldnt have gotten rid of the V10s. They sound so much sweeter and most importantly, they are more reliable. V8s vibrate so much and have other issues, hence all the retirements in today's race.

Kimi lost in first lap

Flag to flag win for Fisichella

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Starting from Pole Position, Giancarlo Fisichella dominated the Malaysian Grand Prix in his Renault, taking the win by five seconds from team-mate and Championship leader Fernando Alonso. The result marks Renault’s first one-two result since the 1982 French Grand Prix and moves the team firmly ahead in this years constructors’ championship.

Fisichella never looked under any real threat as he led away at the start of the race, quickly dropping Jenson Button from his mirrors while Alonso made a stunning getaway from seventh position on the grid. The Bahrain winner watched the battling Williams duo squeezing each other on the run down to the first turn and simply drove around the outside to run third.

With a heavy fuel load on board Alonso was unable to challenge the pace of either Button or his team-mate until he made his first stop and with fresh tyres picked up the pace and come the second stop, exited the pits ahead of Button. Job done.

Honda did not have the pace to match Renault on race day but will be relatively happy to make the podium.

McLaren Mercedes had a race to forget with Kimi Raikkonen eliminated on the first lap following contact with Christian Klien who hit the rear of the MP4-21 resulting in a suspension failure that sent the Finn into the wall. Klien too sustained damage and his race too was effectively over.

That left McLaren’s hopes with Juan Pablo Montoya who has started fifth. The end result was far from what was desired as the package showed no real race pace and Montoya finished a distant fourth half a minute behind Button.

Nick Heidfeld was all set for a fine fifth position in his BMW Sauber until his engine failed eight laps from home handing the position over to Felipe Massa who has a fine race in his Ferrari from the back of the field. Using a one stop strategy well, Massa took the chequered flag less than a second ahead of Michael Schumacher who started in 14th position and ran the usual two stop strategy. It was however a very low-key run from the seven-time champion.

Jacques Villeneuve had a good race in his BMW Sauber to take seventh position while the final point went to Ralf Schumacher who was another one to start his race at the back of the field. In complete contrast to team-mate Jarno Trulli who finished in ninth, Schumacher was able to push hard throughout the race and has brought the beleaguered Toyota team its first point of the season.

Finishing a lap down, Trulli showed little pace from the outset and made little effort to defend his position in the early stages as he fell out of the points. Toyota may not be a race winner at the moment, but the TF106 is a lot better than the Italian made it look for much of the race.

Rubens Barrichello’s rotten start to his career at Honda continued as he finished tenth following a drive through penalty after speeding in the pits in his one scheduled stop while Tonio Liuzzi brought his Toro Rosso home 11th after a slow start to his race.

Over at MF1 Racing, Christijan Albers finished two laps behind the race winner and the team also had to work hard in the early stages of the race as they trailed the Super Aguri Honda of Takuma Sato. Albers eventually found a way past the former BAR Honda racer and quickly pulled away followed by team-mate Tiago Monteiro. Sato would be the final finisher in 14th.

For Williams Cosworth, the race promised a great deal, but a double Cosworth engine failure ended the race for both Mark Webber who ran fourth in the early stages and Nico Rosberg who ran seventh.

It was a similar story at Red Bull Ferrari with a double retirement. David Coulthard pulled his RB2 into the pits with a hydraulics problem while Klien’s race was effectively over with front left suspension damage from his contact with Raikkonen on lap one.

Scott Speed was running well in his Toro Rosso until a mechanical problem sidelined him in the closing stages while Yuji Ide was running before he retired his Super Aguri Honda.

While not the most exciting race ever, the Malaysian Grand Prix was a great race for Renault and Giancarlo Fisichella.

Getting ready
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The Start
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winner & 2nd Renault
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J Button
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Former champion, but Ferrari still finished well from the back
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winner of the malaysian grand prix
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Good race thanks
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just cant believe that kimi crashed out early in the race..
both Renault 1-2 on the podium..so nothing much to celebrate.. :sleepy:

^^ yeh.. the very second kimi crashes.. i turn off the tv.. :(

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Look at the guy at the back, so happy the Sauber car engine explode :eek2:

That is Rosberg, and its a Williams Cosworth car...not a BMW Sauber.

That is Rosberg, and its a Williams Cosworth car...not a BMW Sauber.

Ah, pardon me 4 my lack of knowledge. But the guys at the back are happy anyway :)

Its alright, kinda confusing at first since the team last year was Williams BMW:D

Ah, pardon me 4 my lack of knowledge. But the guys at the back are happy anyway :)
there is excitement when there is an accident, it adds 2 the thrill(not 4 the driver tho) Thats why there r many tv shows about crashes & stunts gone wrong

MELBOURNE NEXT WEEK :banana:

MELBOURNE NEXT WEEK :banana:

yerp..cant wait..later this weekend busy again to rake up points for my Fantasy F1...yippy!!

melbourne has commenwealth now F1, very bz down there!

Update for 2moros race in Melbourne, Kimi starts in 4th position :)

Melbourne pole for Button and Honda

It was certainly a case of mixed fortunes for Honda today as Jenson Button secured his first Pole Position since Montreal last year, while team-mate Rubens Barrichello found himself eliminated form the first phase of qualifying after setting the 17th best time.

"It's a very special feeling," said the delighted Button. "I've already seen a few of the guys from Honda and they seem pretty ecstatic, but more important for them will be to have a win tomorrow..."

The three-phase qualifying session certainly brought a few surprises this afternoon in Australia. While Button took a superb Pole with a best lap of 1:25.229s, Giancarlo Fisichella was 'pretty happy' as he continued the momentum from Sepang, recording the second best time in his Renault to start along the British racer.

Fernando Alonso showed stunning ‘race fuel’ pace early in the final phase of qualifying, but found himself a tenth off Fisichella’s best as the fuel load lightened in those critical final few laps. However, starting third, Alonso is by no means out of contention for the race win tomorrow afternoon. "I'm confident I can drive for the win here...

Kimi Raikkonen starts fourth in his McLaren Mercedes while team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya spun away his chance of going for Pole Position and starts fifth in the sister MP4-21. Montoya looked to have the pace to challenge Button’s pole time in the final minutes of the session, but a poor final sector on his very final lap put paid to his chances.

Toyota has a great deal to smile about today as not only did Ralf Schumacher and Jarno Trulli qualify sixth and ninth respectively, but the team also took the honour of being the fastest Bridgestone entry on a day when Ferrari firmly shot itself in the proverbial foot.

Mark Webber had a solid qualifying session in his Williams Cosworth and starts the race from seventh position. The FW28 package does not look as driveable in Melbourne as it did in Malaysia two weeks ago. Webber survived one lurid off track moment while team-mate Nico Rosberg has not looked comfortable with his setup and starts the race from 14th position.

Nick Heidfeld qualified his BMW Sauber in a fine eighth position while team-mate Jacques Villeneuve set the ninth best time but drops to 19th position due to his engine change penalty.

It was a nightmare of a day for Ferrari. Both Michael Schumacher and Felipe Massa made it through the first phase of qualifying but in the second 15 minute session, Massa hooked his left wheels over the kerbing and seconds later found his tail-happy 248 F1 travelling rapidly backwards into the tyre wall. Massa was unhurt but his Ferrari was badly damaged. Massa starts 15th.

Michael Schumacher meanwhile rushed out of the Ferrari pit following the red flags to sweep away Massa’s Ferrari. Unbeknown to the former Champion, a brake cooling device was still attached to the car snd whilst exiting the pits the device flew off and shattered into small pieces. It mattered little as the car was not on the pace of the front-runners and as the briefest of rain showers right at the close of the second phase of qualifying, Schumacher had set just the 11th best time.

Massa got it all wrong as he crashed out of qualifying
Tonio Liuzzi did a good job for Toro Rosso as he split the Red Bull Ferrari pair of David Coulthard and Christian Klien. Felipe Massa starts the race back in 15th position behind Rosberg.

While Button enjoys his Pole, Rubens Barrichello must be wondering quite why it is all going wrong, so fast, for him at Honda. The Brazilian was eliminated from the first phase of qualifying and starts 16th. Barrichello was however badly held up by the erratic and not so rapid Yuji Ide, but that is perhaps the risk you take if you bank on one lap to see you through the first phase of qualifying. Barrichello’s body language as he stepped out of the car summed it up... He is certainly not having fun.

Christijan Albers and Tiago Monteiro start 17th and 20th for MF1 Toyota with Scott Speed and the unfortunate Villeneuve separating the two while Takuma Sato starts 21st in his Super Aguri Honda. Yuji Ide spun once, went off track twice, baulked Barrichello and was nearly four seconds a lap off the pace of his team-mate. Unsurprisingly he starts last.

The top Michelin teams have dominated qualifying in Melbourne and now it seems the battle for the win will be between those in the top five.

Melbourne was an exciting race & kimi did it this time
Kimi Raikkonen got his podium finish but only 2nd to Alonso what an incident filled race :)
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/F1/diapo_361.jpg

http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/F1/diapo.jpg

Jenson Button's engine stalled just before the finishline & he didnt make it :ohno:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d163/picaddict_1975/F1/diapo_351.jpg

P. No Driver Team - Engine Tyres Gaps/Laps
1. 1 ALONSO Renault M 1h34'27"870
2. 3 RAIKKONEN McLaren Mercedes M + 0'01"829
3. 7 R.SCHUMACHER Toyota B + 0'24"824
4. 16 HEIDFELD BMW Sauber M + 0'31"032
5. 2 FISICHELLA Renault M + 0'38"421
6. 17 VILLENEUVE BMW Sauber M + 0'49"554
7. 11 BARRICHELLO Honda M + 0'51"904
8. 21 SPEED Toro Rosso Cosw. M + 0'53"817
9. 14 COULTHARD RedBull Ferrari M + 0'53"983
10. 12 BUTTON Honda M 1 lap(s)
11. 19 ALBERS Midland Toyota B 1 lap(s)
12. 22 SATO S. Aguri F1 Honda B 2 lap(s)
13. 23 IDE S. Aguri F1 Honda B 3 lap(s)
14. 4 MONTOYA McLaren Mercedes M 11 lap(s)
15. 18 MONTEIRO Midland Toyota B 18 lap(s)
16. 20 LIUZZI Toro Rosso Cosw. M 20 lap(s)
17. 5 M.SCHUMACHER Ferrari B 25 lap(s)
18. 9 WEBBER Williams Cosworth B 35 lap(s)
19. 15 KLIEN RedBull Ferrari M 53 lap(s)
20. 8 TRULLI Toyota B 57 lap(s)
21. 10 ROSBERG Williams Cosworth B 57 lap(s)
22. 6 MASSA Ferrari B 57 lap(s)

Jensen stop b4 the finish line 4 engine change advantage. Heidfield of BMW could win if Ralf Schunmi doesn't overtake him during yellow flag, just wait what the FIA gonna say. Good start for BMW!