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Malaysian Grand Prix – Race Report

POSTED ON April 04th, 2010

Malaysian Grand Prix – Race Report

“A one-two finish in the Malaysian Grand Prix was a great result for Red Bull Racing, even if second place was a slightly frustrating outcome for me. My RB6 was completely hooked up all weekend and after taking a dominant pole position on Saturday, I was focused on victory in the race.

“In the end, I lost the race in the opening 500 metres. I got a little bit too much wheelspin away from the line, which allowed my team-mate Sebastian Vettel to gain on me from third on the grid. I immediately moved to the inside to defend my position, but as we approached the braking area for Turn 1, I edged towards the centre of the racetrack to defend my position from Nico Rosberg and that’s when Seb took advantage.

“We both braked incredibly late, but Seb dived down my inner. We passed through Turn 1 side-by-side, but he came out ahead and that was pretty much it. I got a run on him towards Turn 4, but I didn’t have enough momentum to make a clean pass, so I backed off because I didn’t want to risk an accident. It’s a shame that the first corner decides the outcome of a race, but that’s what happened at Sepang and it’ll happen at other races as well because there aren’t enough strategic options this year.

“It’s also much harder to race your team-mate than someone from another team because the last thing you want to do is have an accident that takes out both of your cars. Christian Horner, Red Bull Racing’s team boss, told us before the start not to risk an accident if we ended up running side-by-side and those words were ringing in all of our ears as we ran a few inches apart!

“We both ran the soft tyre at the start of the race and I was slightly quicker than Seb during the early laps. Whenever there was enough air between us for my aero to operate properly, I was able to do a succession of fastest laps to bring the gap down. But Seb was ahead and he had the first call on pitstop strategy, so he pitted on lap 23 and I stopped one lap later.

“That extra lap on old tyres cost me time and I lost a further 2.5s at my stop when the wheelnut on the front right put up a bit of a fight. But that mistake didn’t lose me the race; that happened at the first corner. What the delay did mean, however, was that I came out behind Lewis Hamilton and had to spend six laps behind him, until he stopped on lap 30.

“Once Lewis was out of the way, Seb and I were back in our one-two formation and it was just a case of stroking it home. With 15 laps to go we turned down our engines because Rosberg was posing no threat in third place, and it was at about this time that TV viewers heard my race engineer, Ciaron Pilbeam, ask me to press the throttle pedal harder on the straights. So that’s where I was going wrong!

“Apparently, the Renault telemetry showed that the throttle wasn’t opening fully on my car, but that can’t have been the case because even with the engine turned down I was able to set the fastest lap of the race on lap 53. That just shows how competitive the car was at Sepang; it was awesome.

“We now head to China, where Seb and I took Red Bull Racing’s first ever one-two last year. We’ll have a few new parts on the RB6 at this race, so we’ll be hoping to remain at the sharp end of the grid. If we’re up there, I hope we can score another one-two; this time with my car coming home in the lead.”

// ends

Comments
James K POSTED April 12th, 2010

I was bitterly disappointed to miss seeing this race but got straight on the website for the driver comments and review. It seems very clear to me that Vettel is a far bigger threat than Rosberg and you could have covered him, had the advantage of pit stop choice to clear Vettel and have a run at Rosberg for the win. Please race to win mark, we all want to see you number one this season, not Vettel!! Also you are by far the fastest driver out there, but your starts have been ordinary for a long time. With no curs cars, the time for excuses off the line has passed.

Sanjiro POSTED April 10th, 2010

Mark you are an inspiration to many and I am sure dont need encouragement from fans to do what you do, but please know that you have it, in spades.
We cheer for you , scream at you and laugh with you.
We live our F1 dreams vicariously through you.
If we could give you our strength and passion we would.
Stay calm, have fun and KICK @#$$

robert coates POSTED April 10th, 2010

real nigel mansell like aggressive driving..it will oay dividends..a wise work, Sir Edmund Hillary once said when asked did he look up at everist wondering during his climb?, his answer no, look down one step at a time…thats the 2010 chamoionship approach mark!!!

tony callander POSTED April 09th, 2010

Excellent race Mark, Traction and a bit of luck was the only difference in turn ! and 2 quickest lap quickest in practice China the hat trick go for it

Andrew Porrelli POSTED April 08th, 2010

Hay Mark,
Excelent drive mate.From what I see so far of this year a couple of things seem apperent.Firstly,I’m not so sure I like the no fuelstop idea.Less exciting,less unpredictable,less stratergy.(&more luck needed to have it go perfect)Secondly regardless of this, It’s obviously are in the position to have a great year still.All my hopes & best wishes for the year & I’ll be cheerin for you every race. Andy the motorbike mechanic

aaron donnelly POSTED April 08th, 2010

best of luck in china and well done on your second place we all no you the fastest race pace with those fastest laps in australia and malaysia all of australia is behind you do it for us mate

aaron donnelly POSTED April 08th, 2010

dont worry about the second place mark we all no that u have the best race pace with the fastest lap times in australia and malaysia best of luck in china remember do it for us aussie mate were all behind you

aaron donnelly POSTED April 08th, 2010

great work mark not to worry about the second place we all no u have race pace with the the fastest laps in both australia and malaysia best of luck for china and remember do it for australia mate

Paul Sandusky "AKA" (Wrenman) POSTED April 07th, 2010

Mark, I have followed you since team (JAGUAR.)
Your team mate had better traction in turns 1 & 2 . (thats it in a nut shell.) Time for China ! You know how “PORCELAIN”
shines!!! Now it is your time mate :-)

Taso POSTED April 07th, 2010

We were at Melbourne (my sister and I) up from Canberra and thought other than the bit of bad luck, you seemed right on it! We were glued to One HD for the race in Malaysia…It was a little frustrating for us too at that first corner in Malaysia!!! but well done mate, You put in a ripper in Malaysia and a great quali as well. Here comes China and we’ll be watching again!

Good luck!

Effi & Taso

Steve Potter POSTED April 07th, 2010

Mark, i love you like a brother, and im not sure theres a bigger fan than me, but im not sure you can afford to make those errors of judgement any more. you did show you can match the pace of seb in malaysia throughout the race, its time to show you can drive error free as well. Make it stick in China mate, we all know you can.

Mal POSTED April 07th, 2010

Well done Mark in all races so far. Make your teammate go the long way around next time!!!
Go the Raiders!!!

Mark POSTED April 07th, 2010

Well done Mark, although as per your comments it was a bit of a procession.

Any reason why on Turn 4 you went to the outside, rather than the inside. From the average tv pics it looked like you pulled alongsid Vettel, but being on the outside very hard to pass, whilst it looked like there was just enough room on the inside

Matt POSTED April 06th, 2010

Well done Mark for your drive in Malaysia. Picking up pole, fastest lap and P2 is a pretty solid result at this early stage of a long season. Keep up the good work mate and best of luck.

Inna POSTED April 06th, 2010

A well-known female reporter once said that life is like a game of tennis – it does not matter how the ball comes to you but what matters is how you hit it back. May your next “hit” be successful and takes you where you want to be. Good luck!

corbs POSTED April 06th, 2010

And I’ll be glued to the TV to watch you do it Webbo – I’d say, break a leg but you’ve been there and done that..so best of luck!!

timothy POSTED April 06th, 2010

well done webber

Rick POSTED April 06th, 2010

Best of luck to you Mark on your next race in China. Bring that stuff home and be a winner because we all know you can do it! Never mind the naysayers, they are just ignorant! Nothing would be sweeter than seeing the name of 2010 world champ as Mark Webber! All the best.

Freddie POSTED April 05th, 2010

Do not be disappointed or frustrated with this second place, and forget this little mistake of beginning, nobody can blame you for wanting to be a good guy and your teammate to your team, except maybe those journalists who have missed their embittered career or have never set butt in a car, but who cares about their opinion? Do retain the best and that you’ve been great in qualifying! Do not ever doubt yourself, follow your instincts and believe in your luck, I wish you wholeheartedly in China to be the first.

Jonathan Ling POSTED April 05th, 2010

awesome stuff still mark even tho you got P2!

Scott Martin POSTED April 05th, 2010

well done Mark wish you got the top step though mate as I’m sure you wanted, next race is is your turn good job and good luck.

Grant Heales POSTED April 05th, 2010

Great race Mark enjoyed 99%of it except for numbnuts in that first corner who does’nt give a rats arse about team orders!!!Mate you’ve shown a great deal of patience towards that little punk as not many us would of.Good Luck for the rest of the season.
Cheers Grant.

Mark Warner POSTED April 04th, 2010

Hindsight is wonderful – however Vettel was always a BIGGER threat than Rosberg – he’s the guy to block – and I wouldn’t trust him either – he’s there to win at any cost.

Wendy POSTED April 04th, 2010

Disappointed for you Mark but well done to the team for the first of (I hope) many one-two finishes this season. Will keep everything crossed that a good few have you in front.

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