Formula One 2013: Sepang

Yesterday’s rain during Qualifying caught Mercedes out on track on an older set of tires which may or may not work out to their benefit depending on if it rains again today.  Sepang has been eating tires, which was expected, and the Medium compound has a durability as well as a speed advantage that was not.  Mercedes should have more fresher tires than most of the other teams because of their mistake.

A mistake that might not be so easy to undo is McLaren’s decision to go with an entirely new chassis this year that has proven to be decidedly inferior so far.  Most teams are using tweaked versions of last year’s forgoing a development cycle because of the pending engine change in 2014 to a 6 cylinder turbo charged plant from the current 8.  This is going to mean major design changes so essentially the MP4-28 is a dead end and a waste of time.

It’s not the only problem McLaren has had to face.  Their Engine Control Unit which they supply to all teams crapped out in Webber’s Red Bull at Albert Park last week and was mostly responsible for his poor start.

Hulkenberg will be in the backup Sauber after fuel system probelms prevented him from racing last week.  The whole car has been shipped back to Switzerland for evaluation.

Pretty tables below.

Starting Grid

Grid Driver Team Q-Time Q-Laps
1 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:49.674 13
2 Felipe Massa Ferrari 1:50.587 15
3 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 1:50.727 14
4 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 1:51.699 15
5 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing-Renault 1:52.244 14
6 Nico Rosberg Mercedes 1:52.519 14
7 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault 1:52.970 12
8 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 1:53.175 14
9 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 1:53.439 12
10 Sergio Perez McLaren-Mercedes 1:54.136 16
11 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1:37.636 7
12 Nico Hulkenberg Sauber-Ferrari 1:38.125 12
13 Daniel Ricciardo STR-Ferrari 1:38.822 12
14 Esteban Gutierrez Sauber-Ferrari 1:39.221 14
15 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 1:44.509 10
16 Pastor Maldonado Williams-Renault 1:37.867 10
17 Jean-Eric Vergne STR-Ferrari 1:38.157 8
18 Valtteri Bottas Williams-Renault 1:38.207 7
19 Jules Bianchi Marussia-Cosworth 1:38.434 8
20 Charles Pic Caterham-Renault 1:39.314 6
21 Max Chilton Marussia-Cosworth 1:39.672 8
22 Giedo van der Garde Caterham-Renault 1:39.932 6

Driver Standings

Rank Driver Team Points
1 Kimi Räikkönen Lotus-Renault 25
2 Fernando Alonso Ferrari 18
3 Sebastian Vettel Red Bull Racing-Renault 15
4 Felipe Massa Ferrari 12
5 Lewis Hamilton Mercedes 10
6 Mark Webber Red Bull Racing-Renault 8
7 Adrian Sutil Force India-Mercedes 6
8 Paul di Resta Force India-Mercedes 4
9 Jenson Button McLaren-Mercedes 2
10 Romain Grosjean Lotus-Renault 1

Constructor Standings

Rank Team Points
1 Ferrari 30
2 Lotus-Renault 26
3 Red Bull Racing-Renault 23
4 Mercedes 10
5 Force India-Mercedes 10
6 McLaren-Mercedes 2

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  1. Vettel

    Webber

    Hamilton

    Rosberg

    Grosjean

    Massa

    Raikkonen

    Perez

    Hulkenberg

    Gutierrez

  2. Or someone makes a mistake.

  3. Vettel

    Webber

    Hamilton

    Rosberg

    Massa

    Grosjean

    Raikkonen

    Hulkenberg

    Perez

    Vergne

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