1. 

   Craig
   Member

   Certainly the beginning of the 2010 Formula One season has not been without intrigue. Following what many proclaimed to be a boring procession in the first race in Bahrain, a little rain, low track temperatures and a safety car piles on the excitement in the second race in Melbourne. Now it is eyes down for the third race of the season which takes place in Malaya this weekend and it seems that nobody knows quite what to expect.

   Fernando Alonso is leading the race for the championship. In an interview today he said that he had not expected to find himself in this position so early in the season. He attributed his early success to the performance and reliability of the new Ferrari, a car that from the offset he is clearly comfortable with. He sais that it was easy to drive and was kind on its tyres, a vital factor in the new style of racing which has no refuelling.

   Lewis Hamilton is concerned that his McLaren does not have the ability to qualify well. This is even more vital in the new format, and he has called on the team to do something about it. It was no use having a car that was fast in the race, he added, if it did not have single lap qualifying pace.

   The Red Bull is an incredibly fast car and Sebastian Vettell has clearly shown that he is capable of getting the best out of it, but twice it has broken down when he was in the lead in the opening races. Christian Horner the team principal said that he was convinced that things can be turned around.

   Jenson Button, the current champion and winner of the race in Melbourne said that he was hopeful of retaining the world title. He said that there were a few things that McLaren would be adding to their cars and he anticipated that their performance would be better.

   Red Bull Racing driver and double pole-sitter Sebastain Vettel is the current favourite for Sundays race.

   Vettel has struggled to open the year, finishing fourth in the opening race and not scoring last week in the Australian Grand Prix. Vettel finished 15th in this race a year ago. He is currently seventh in the season standings.

   Alonso is a two-time winner of this event, winning in 2007 and 2005. In 2009, he placed 11th in this event and he finished eighth in 2008 and second in 2006. Alonso leads the standings with 37 points after winning the opener and finishing fourth last week.

   Webber has never won this event, but he has finished in the top 10 the last three years, including sixth in 2006. Webber is currently 10th in the season standings with six points after finishing eighth in the first race and ninth last week.

   Hamilton has finished in the top six in both races this season to land fourth in the standings with 23 points. He has finished in the top seven in this race the last four years, including a second place finished in 2007.

   Posted 2 years ago #
2. 

   Tom Jones
   Key Master

   Completely agree that we're not sure what to expect at Sepang, let's just hope that the Malyasian GP picks up where Australia left off!

   Can't see lightning striking for a 3rd time with Vettel, would be very surprised if he didn't register his first podium finish of the season and he has to be favourite despite reliability issues.

   Hamilton is right that McLaren need more pace in qualifying, but Button showed that being on pole is not the be all and end all, although of course it helps.

   Given Alonso's previous success in Malaysia he is a good bet to challenge Vettel and continue an almost dream start to the season for him.

   Posted 2 years ago #
3. 

   Bev Rimmer
   Member

   Would be nice to see Rosberg do well this weekend. It's about time he did something apart from pout and look pretty.

   Posted 2 years ago #

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