The Star Online: Sports

Red Bull's Vettel steals thunder from Mark Webber
Malaysia’s Tommy back with MSS Touring ‘bang’
McLaren face problems at pit stop in Sepang

Red Bull's Vettel steals thunder from Mark Webber

Posted: 24 Mar 2013 06:41 PM PDT

REIGNING world champion Sebastian Vettel was hell-bent on finishing the Petronas Malaysia Formula One Grand Prix race in pole position where he started – for his first win of the season and his third win at Sepang. But not before sparking controversy by ignoring team-orders not to overtake his team-mate Mark Webber.

The pair were repeatedly engaged in wheel-to-wheel racing in the closing stages of the 56-lap race before Vettel broke clear – despite the team having ordered them to hold station with Webber ahead.

Conditions had been wet at the start of the race following a shower and last year's winner at Sepang, Fernando Alonso, was the first to retire early when he sustained wing damage on his Ferrari after nudging Vettel on the opening lap.

Alonso, who started third on the grid, immediately passed team-mate Felipe Massa off the line and attacked Vettel for the lead, but slid lightly into the Red Bull car. The Spaniard's wing collapsed in the end as he skated into the gravel.

Vettel and Webber then ran first and second, swapping positions at the pitstops as Vettel's early change to slicks turned out not to be the best decision.

Webber came under increasing pressure from Vettel in mid-race. This prompted Vettel to urge the team to get Webber out of his way but the Australian managed to rebuild a lead and Vettel found himself dropping behind the earlier-pitting Hamilton at the third pit-stops.

Hamilton lost pace in the next stint as he had to start saving fuel, allowing Vettel to reclaim second into the first corner. The world champion then pitted early at the fourth and final pit visit, which brought him right back onto Webber's tail when the Australian changed tyres.

They grappled wheel-to-wheel through the first five corners for two consecutive laps, prompting frantic radio calls from a concerned Red Bull pit-wall, before Vettel got in front and went on to take the chequered flag.

There were no celebrations on the Red Bull pit-wall and the duo were stony-faced on the podium. A fuming Webber was heard angrily confronting Vettel with the phrase "multi 21", believed to be team code for holding station.

Webber confirmed during the tense podium interview later that Red Bull had asked the team to cruise to the end in order but Vettel had ignored that instruction to steal victory from him.

"After the last stop, the team told me the race was over and we turned the engine down to go to the end. I want to race as well but in the end, the team made a decision which we always say before the start of the race is how it's probably going to be, we look after the tyres and get the cars to the end.

"In the end, Seb made his own decisions today and will have protection as usual and that's the way it goes.

"I turned my engine down and started cruising on the tyres, and then the fight was on. I was disappointed with the outcome of today's race," said the Australian.

Vettel later apologised for denying his team-mate his first victory at Sepang. "At the end, I felt I had strong pace and on a new set of medium tyres, I had a bit more speed and it was a close fight, but I did a big mistake today.

"We should have stayed in the positions we were in. I didn't ignore it (the order) on purpose but I messed up in that situation. I took the lead from Mark, which I can see now he is upset about, but I want to be honest and stick to the truth, and apologise," said Vettel.

"I took quite a lot of risk to pass him and I should have behaved better. It doesn't help his feelings right now. Apologies to Mark and now the result is there, but all I can say is that I didn't do it deliberately."

It was not the only controversy at play. The Mercedes cars were involved in their own intra-team controversy. After Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg swapped places repeatedly for several laps, they were ordered to hold station and save fuel and tyres, to Rosberg's clear displeasure. Hamilton eventually cruised to third place ahead of Rosberg while Ferrari had to settle for fifth with Felipe Massa, who recovered after losing ground in the early stages of the race.

That place would have gone to Jenson Button had the McLaren ace not lose two minutes in the pits after pulling away with a loose right front wheel and having to stop in the pitlane and wait for his mechanics to retrieve the car.

Malaysia’s Tommy back with MSS Touring ‘bang’

Posted: 24 Mar 2013 03:50 PM PDT

MALAYSIA'S Tommy Lee marked his comeback to motor-racing with a "bang" as he won Race 2 of the Malaysian Super Series (MSS) Touring Production class at the Sepang International Circuit yesterday.

Tommy, the only driver who won the 12-hour Malaysia Endurance Race (MMER) three times, took over driving duties from partner Damien Dielenberg, who won Race 1 on Saturday.

Showing a bit of rust after a long absence from racing, Tommy in his Honda Integra DC5 took some time to hold the race before winning the eight-lap race in 20:36.708. P. Krishnan, also in a Honda Integra DC5, settled for second place in 20:41.318 while A. Kesavamoorthy (Honda Integra DC5) came third in 20:48.649.

Tommy tried to break away when the Safety Car drove into the pit lane entry for the rolling start but Kesavamoorthy, who clearly had a faster Honda Integra DC5 machine, followed Tommy closely and managed to pass at the first turn but lost the lead back to Tommy on the ensuing tight Turn 2 and Turn 3.

Entering the second lap, Kesavamoorthy again made a successful passing manoeuvre at Turn 1 on Tommy, who again managed to take over the lead, which he was able to hold until the chequered flag.

"I have to defend very hard. I must say that it was much easier to win in those days than now. You have to really, really work hard for it," said Tommy, who confirmed that he would be doing a full season of the MSS.

"I am actually only the second driver for the team and supporting Damien in the MSS. The new rules allow two drivers and I am really, really pleased about it. We may also compete in the S1K (Sepang 1000 Kilometre) race, but we definitely need a new car as it's a very, very competitive event."

In the Malaysian Touring Car Challenge, Syafiq Ali of Proton R3 Motorsports scored his second victory; winning the class with a time of 21:29.173.

Indonesian Andrew Haryanto took second place in 22:01.555, finishing ahead of the second Proton R3 Motorsport driver, James Veerapan, who had to be contented with third placing in 22:08.261.

McLaren face problems at pit stop in Sepang

Posted: 24 Mar 2013 03:50 PM PDT

MCLAREN'S woes continued at the Malaysian Grand Prix yesterday after Jenson Button, who ran in a respectable fifth for most of the race, retired with mechanical problems late in the race.

And Sergio Perez finished the race in ninth spot to collect two points.

Button had a disastrous pit stop when his right front wheel was improperly secured and he dropped back in the pack. He managed to climb up to 12th before being called in for another mechanical problem late in the race.

"We drove a good race today. Strategy-wise, we did everything right. We pitted on the correct laps and looked after the tyres exactly as we should have done," said Button.

"We finished fifth because of the problems in during the pitstop. We could have even ended up third or fourth. It's very disappointing that we were not able to show our potential."

"Struggling with his front left tyre towards the end of the race, Button, who started on eighth position, was called into the pit.

It (tyre) kept locking up, and it was producing such a bad vibration that I think the guys were worried that it might damage the front left suspension if I carried on," he said.

Meanwhile, Perez had heaps of praise for the team as they set up the car to have a good acceleration early in the race to put him in a good position from his 10th place on the starting grid.

"Unfortunately, my tyres began to degrade a bit too much towards the end, especially my front left and we felt it would be too risky to try to drive to the finish on that set. I had no option but to pit for another set of tyres and that caused me to lose position," said Perez.

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Ahad, 24 Mac 2013

The Star Online: Sports

The Star Online: Sports

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