 Malaysian Grand Prix (Sepang) 2002 preview.
Story by Andrew Frampton.
Following the dramatic start to the Formula One season in Australia, which saw a Michael Schumacher victory and a huge eight-car pile-up at the first corner, the Malaysian Grand Prix has got quite a lot to live up to!
Despite using only an advanced version of last years car, Michael Schumacher reigned supreme in Australia, taking a comfortable win, and setting himself up for his bid to retain the world title. However, Ferrari's jubilation was spoilt by Rubens Barrichello's first corner exit, after contact with the Williams of Ralf Schumacher caused a huge accident. This was especially hard to stomach, as the Brazilian had taken an unexpected pole position. The team continues with the modified 2001 machine in Malaysia, and despite this, they are favourites to take victory once again.
After Ralf Schumacher's exit at the first corner in Australia, Williams had to rely on Juan Pablo Montoya to get their season off the mark, with a well-deserved second position. Indeed, the Colombian held the lead for four laps following a superb move on Michael Schumacher, but later succumbed to the German's pressure and dropped back. The Williams team will be hoping to build on their Australia performance, as they aim to take at least second position in this year's constructors' championship.
The third of the title-contending teams, McLaren, also had a mixed run in Australia, with Kimi Raikkonen proving the bright spot, taking the final podium position on his debut for the team. David Coulthard edged out Raikkonen in qualifying, finishing the session one place ahead of the Finn in fourth position, but after leading the race early on he suffered an intermittent gearbox problem, that eventually forced him out of the race. McLaren will be hoping that both drivers make it to the podium in Malaysia.
Sauber are looking the maintain the performance that saw them claim fourth position in the constructor's championship last season, and will be hoping to be among the points scorers in Malaysia. Things could not have gone much worse in Australia and despite Formula One rookie Felipe Massa, and more experienced team-mate Nick Heidfeld, lining up ninth and tenth on the grid, both became involved in the first corner shunt and were eliminated.
In their first event after changing from Benetton to Renault, the French team was another that saw neither driver finish in Australia, yet the team showed enough potential to be possible points finishers in Malaysia. Britain's Jenson Button qualified eleventh, but was another to get involved in the first corner shunt. Team-mate Jarno Trulli was running in second position when he spun into a wall under pressure from Michael Schumacher.
The battle between the two Honda-engined teams, Jordan and BAR, continues in Malaysia, after neither team had a driver that finished the event. The teams finished last season tied on points, but many believe that Jordan have yet to reach their full potential. Giancarlo Fisichella is one of the best drivers in Formula One at the moment in the eyes of team boss Eddie Jordan, but the Italian went off at the first corner incident in Australia. Formula One rookie Takuma Sato, last season's British Formula 3 champion, had a troubled time in his first race. An off in qualifying meant he lined up last on the grid, and did only 12 laps in the race before electrical problems intervened. There were high hopes for the BAR machine in Australia, but after qualifying in the midfield, Olivier Panis was forced out at the first corner, while Jacques Villeneuve lasted only 27 laps before his rear wing fell off.
Jaguar have really struggled with their new car, and after under-performing in testing, the cars were only slightly improved in time for qualifying in Australia - Eddie Irvine and Pedro De La Rosa lining up in 19th and 20th positions respectively. While De La Rosa's machine was damaged in the first corner accident and underwent a four minute pitstop before finishing eighth and last, Irvine somehow pedalled his machine to fourth position. A repeat performance in Malaysia is very unlikely.
Arrows are another team that struggled in Australia, and despite Heinz-Harald Frentzen and Enrique Bernoldi posting reasonable times in qualifying (good enough for 15th & 17th) neither driver made it away on the formation lap. Both drivers were black-flagged for illegally rejoining the race, and team boss Tom Walkinshaw has promised better in Malaysia.
Defying all the odds, Minardi have already scored their first points of the season, thanks to Mark Webber's fifth place finish on his home event. After qualifying 18th and 21st on the grid, Webber and Alex Yoong took fifth and seventh positions. A repeat performance is unlikely in Malaysia, although Yoong will be hoping to impress in his home race.
Toyota's long anticipated entry into Formula One was richly rewarded in Australia, as Mika Salo claimed sixth position, and a world championship point. Despite not being sure if they would qualify prior to the race weekend, Salo lined up in 14th, while Formula One debutante Allan McNish lined up 16th, only to crash out at the first corner.
To throw a spanner in the works, the cars of the Prost Grand Prix team could return in Malaysia. Current reports claim the cars are in the country under the Phoenix Racing banner with Tarso Marques and Gaston Mazzacane lined up as drivers. We wait with bated breath to see if they make the start line…
DRIVERS STANDINGS:
1. Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) 10pts
2. Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams) 6pts
3. Kimi Raikkonen (McLaren) 4pts
4. Eddie Irvine (Jaguar) 3pts
5. Mark Webber (Minardi) 2pts
6. Mika Salo (Toyota) 1pt
2002 F1 season calendar
03/03/2002 - Australian Grand Prix (Melbourne)
- Australia circuit by JR
- Australia preview by AF
- Australia grid by JR
- Australia review by AF
- Australia lap-by-lap by JR
17/03/2002 - Malaysian Grand Prix (Sepang)
- Malaysia circuit by JR
- Malaysia preview by AF
- Malaysia grid by JR
- Malaysia review by AF
- Malaysia lap-by-lap by JR
31/03/2002 - Brazilian Grand Prix (Sao Paulo)
- Brazil circuit by JR
- Brazil preview by AF
- Brazil grid by JR
- Brazil review by AF
- Brazil lap-by-lap by JR
14/04/2002 - San Marino Grand Prix (Imola)
- San Marino circuit by JR
- San Marino preview by AF
- San Marino grid by JR
- San Marino review by AF
- San Marino lap-by-lap by JR
28/04/2002 - Spanish Grand Prix (Barcelona)
- Spain circuit by JR
- Spain preview by AF
- Spain grid by JR
- Spain review by AF
- Spain lap-by-lap by JR
12/05/2002 - Austrian Grand Prix (Spielberg)
- Austria circuit by JR
- Austria preview by AF
- Austria grid by JR
- Austria review by AF
- Austria lap-by-lap by JR
26/05/2002 - Grand Prix de Monaco (Monaco)
- Monaco circuit by JR
- Monaco preview by AF
- Monaco grid by JR
- Monaco review by AF
- Monaco lap-by-lap by JR
09/06/2002 - Canadian Grand Prix (Montreal)
- Canada circuit by JR
- Canada preview by AF
- Canada grid by JR
- Canada review by AF
- Canada lap-by-lap by JR
23/06/2002 - European Grand Prix (Nürburgring)
- Europe circuit by JR
- Europe grid by JR
- Europe review by AF
- Europe lap-by-lap by JR
07/07/2002 - British Grand Prix (Silverstone)
- Britain circuit by JR
- Britain grid by JR
- Britain review by AF
- Britain lap-by-lap by JR
21/07/2002 - French Grand Prix (Magny-Cours)
- France circuit by JR
- France preview by AF
- France grid by JR
- France review by AF
- France lap-by-lap by JR
28/07/2002 - German Grand Prix (Hockenheim)
- Germany circuit by JR
- Germany preview by AF
- Germany grid by JR
- Germany review by AF
- Germany lap-by-lap by JR
18/08/2002 - Hungarian Grand Prix (Budapest)
- Hungary circuit by JR
- Hungary grid by JR
- Hungary lap-by-lap by JR
01/09/2002 - Belgian Grand Prix (Spa Francorchamps)
- Belgium circuit by JR
- Belgium grid by JR
- Belgium review by AF
- Belgium lap-by-lap by JR
15/09/2002 - Italian Grand Prix (Monza)
- Italy circuit by JR
- Italy grid by JR
- Italy lap-by-lap by JR
29/09/2002 - American Grand Prix (Indianapolis)
- USA circuit by JR
- USA grid by JR
- USA lap-by-lap by JR
13/10/2002 - Japanese Grand Prix (Suzuka)
- Japan circuit by JR
- Japan grid by JR
- Japan review by AF
- Japan lap-by-lap by JR
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