McLaren went into the Malaysian Grand Prix in confident frame of mind, but even Fernando Alonso said it was a surprise as he and Lewis Hamilton turned on a crushing demonstration in which they left Ferrari for dead in the opening stages and swept to the team’s first one-two result since Brazil 2005. At the start Alonso sprinted alongside polesitter Felipe Massa and was able to take the lead, but in another brilliant display Hamilton dived inside Kimi Raikkonen to #### third place before going round the outside of Felipe Massa in Turn Two to move up to second. The Englishman then contained the Ferrari challenge, earning his spurs with a faultless drive, as his team leader went for the win.
Fernando Alonso: "I think one of our chances to win the race was to be first after the first corner and thanks to a good start, thanks to the car, I was able to arrive side-by-side into the first corner. I was on the inside part so I managed to be first and to be sure, to have my team-mate second makes things easier, for sure, to open a gap."
Lewis Hamilton: "That was the most difficult race I’ve ever had. To see two Ferraris behind you, two red blobs in the mirrors, knowing that they’re slightly lighter than you and slightly quicker than you, it’s very, very difficult to keep them behind. Felipe had a couple of moves, I think he tried into turn four a couple of times, but fortunately I was able to trick him into out-braking himself and get my car stopped and it was very fortunate that I was able to cut across and get back in front of him, to the point where he eventually went off, so I apologise for that but at the end of the day, we got the points, so it doesn’t really matter. And then I had Kimi hunting me down for most of the race and phew, I just can’t explain to you how tough it was.
It’s extremely hot in the cockpit, sweating a lot, I ran out of water halfway through the race, I didn’t have enough water and so it was tricky, it was tricky, and I was getting hotter and hotter throughout the race. It would have been nice to have been a bit further ahead in the last stint but I had to keep pushing to the last lap and that’s what I did. I didn’t make any mistakes. I think the team did a fantastic job preparing the car this weekend. They work extremely long hours, I think longer than most other teams and also back to the factory: you’ve done a fantastic job so well done."
Kimi Raikkonen: "Of course I’m happy to get some points but a bit disappointed how the race ended up. The whole weekend was quite difficult but I think we needed to compromise too many things and we lost too much speed because of those things, but it was one of those weekends where we needed to do what was most important and try to get as many points as we could. We just didn’t have enough speed today and couldn’t do much more.
Ferrari faced an afternoon of trying to salvage something from what was beginning to look like a disaster, for Massa failed on both occasions when he tried to oust Hamilton. Each time he was repassed easily by the British driver, and on the second occasion the Brazilian slid into the gravel on the exit to Turn Four and lost a crucial place to Nick Heidfeld’s BMW Sauber.
There's no doubt in my mind that Raikkonen and Alonso will be the drivers battling it out for the championship this year on the F1 circuit. They're by far the two most competent drivers on the circuit without a doubt ! And it should prove to be an exciting on the season.
The race that I'm particularly looking forward to is the Monaco Grand Prix. It's one of the highlight events on the F1 calendar. I've been to the race on several occasions when I was living in London. And for a brief period also when living in France. There's nothing better in te world than either sitting in a boat on the Mediterranean and watching those cars race by. It really is exhilerating !
Interesting. Would love to see it live. But I don't think it plays on TV very well given the limited passing opportunities. However, naturally, it remains a highlight of the F1 season.
But then again that's what makes the race all the more intriguing as it really tests the driver's real abilities. And just just test the speed and prowess of their vehicles. The to me is the untlimate within the sport.
I'd like to think that Hamilton has a great future ahead of him in F1. He certainly has the skills to ascend to the top of the heap when it comes to competing on the circuit. He's got a bright future ahead of him and has a great role model in current champion Ferdinand Alonso, who's also his teammate.
They'll prove to be a formidable duo and extremely hard to beat. That McLaren is loaded from top to bottom in terms of drivers, mechanics and the prerequisite backup staff. That's why it's my belief that they'll not only win the driver's championship but the constructor's championship also. It could even be a 1-2 finish in the driver's championship.
14Falcons ...It would be certainly something were Hamilton to pull of the unthinkable and win the drviver's championship at his first attempt. Bearing in mind were he to do so he'd be the first driver of Caribbean descent to achieve such a feat. That'd make the Caribbean population of Britain most certinly proud. I'd like to include myself amongst that throng since my parents are from the Caribbean also. I was born in England of Jamaican parents.
I've got a new post up addressing the Imus situation. It's entitleed Nappy Headed ####'s Don't Come Cheaply Yo' ! I know that the outbursts caused by Imus' racially insensitive remarks ahve created a maelstrom across the sports world and beyond. Seeing now as Imus has been suspended for two weeks. Th punishment seems somewhat insignificant in ther realm of things. As once something like that is said it can never really taken back or of forgiven. It was a callous and stupid remark for him to make.
rampant/tophatal ...........
Last edited by rampantfanatic on April 12th at 10:23 PM.
14Falcons ......... With the next race coming up in Bahrain. It'll certainly test the driver's meantal as well as physical capabilities because of the intense heat and humidity. It should make for a very intriguing race.
I've a new post up that deals with the fallout from the Imus remarks. Take a look and let me know what you think ?
The piece is titled Nappy Headed ####'s Don't Come Cheaply Yo ! I'll look forward to reading your comments on the subject matter. Chimin' out !
I read your blog but declined to comment. I respectfully disagree with your point of view but understand given your background which I think is cool. So agree or disagree you may want to check out my blog IMUS - My Turn.
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