 Malaysian Grand Prix (Sepang) 2002 review.
Story by Andrew Frampton.
Michael Schumacher and Ferrari have been almost unbeatable in Sepang, since the circuit found a place on the Formula 1 calendar three years ago. Few people would have argued against another Schumacher victory, yet this time it was his younger brother, Ralf who got on the top step of the podium. His brother was in the thick of the action, however, the Ferrari clashing with Ralf's team-mate Juan Pablo Montoya at the first corner.
In qualifying, Michael Schumacher stormed to pole position, finishing the session 0.231secs clear and securing Ferrari's 150th pole position. Montoya lined up in second, ahead of the second Ferrari of Rubens Barrichello, which had taken pole in Australia. Ralf Schumacher lined up fourth ahead of the McLarens of Kimi Raikkonen and David Coulthard, who were disappointed to be over a second off the pace after encouraging testing times. Nick Heidfeld took seventh in his Sauber, while team-mate Felipe Massa could only line up 14th, after making the top ten in Australia. Jenson Button lined up eighth in his Renault, ahead of last year's team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella (Jordan) and Mika Salo (Toyota). The other British drivers struggled to make an impact, with Allan McNish having to qualify in the spare car lining up 19th, and Eddie Irvine taking 20th position.
As the lights turned to green, Montoya made a good start from second spot on the grid, but Michael Schumacher moved across to take the inside line, forcing the Colombian to take the wide line around the outside of Turn 1, which would give him the inside line for Turn 2. However, Montoya did not leave Schumacher enough room, and the German ran out wide, and made contact with the Colombian's Williams. The Ferrari damaged its nosecone and Schumacher was forced to pit, as Montoya fell down the field. This left Barrichello in the lead, ahead of Ralf Schumacher and the two McLarens. Having carved his way back up to sixth position Montoya was called into the pits to serve the first ever drive-through penalty in an F1 race for his part in the first corner incident, and found himself back in the midfield once again.
The Jordan team were also struggling, as F1 rookie Takuma Sato drove into the back of his team-mate Giancarlo Fisichella while fighting with Salo and Montoya - both needed to pit, ruining their chances of claiming points. Next to hit trouble was David Coulthard, whose McLaren lost fourth to Heidfeld, and then pulled out of the race with power failure. Raikkonen would only last another nine laps before a similar problem meant that both Silver Arrows were out.
As Barrichello pitted on lap 20, Ralf Schumacher inherited the lead, which he would hold for ten laps, before he made his one and only stop of the day. Barrichello went back ahead, but only for five laps as the Brazilian was on a two-stop pit strategy, he came back in and resumed in second and looked set for a comfortable second place finish. However, another cruel bit of luck would deny the Ferrari No.2 a podium finish, as the usually reliable engine let go on lap 39. This left Ralf Schumacher comfortably ahead of Montoya, who had carved his way through from the midfield, momentarily held up by Renault's Jenson Button, who was holding a superb third position. However, as Schumacher and Montoya cruised to a fantastic 1-2 finish for Williams, Button's Renault hit rear suspension problems just two laps from home - losing his podium position to the recovering Michael Schumacher.
Button, despite losing over 20 seconds in two laps, was far enough ahead of fifth placed Nick Heidfeld, to take fourth. Heidfeld led home his team-mate Felipe Massa, who recorded a point in only his second Grand Prix. Allan McNish took seventh, but would have finished ahead of Massa if his pit-crew had been better organised at his pit stop by having the correct number of tyres! The Scotsman led home Jacques Villeneuve, whose BAR team are promising a raft of changes in team personnel prior to the next event as they aim to combat their poor performances so far this season. The recovering Sato took ninth, ahead of Jaguar's Pedro De La Rosa, Heinz-Harald Frentzen (Arrows), Salo and Fisichella.
Of those that did not make the finish, Jarno Trulli (Renault) and Oliver Panis (BAR) departed with engine and clutch problems respectively after nine laps. Enrique Bernoldi went out after 20 laps with a fuel pick-up problem, while Eddie Irvine's dreadful season continued with switch failure. Neither Minardi made the finish in Malaysia, this after their fifth and seventh positions in Australia - Mark Webber losing power five laps after Alex Yoong had departed with gearbox gremlins.
The next round is at the notoriously bumpy Interlagos circuit in Brazil.
Malaysian Grand Prix Result:
1. Ralf Schumacher (Williams)
2. Juan Pablo Montoya (Williams) +30.699s
3. Michael Schumacher (Ferrari) +1m01.794s
4. Jenson Button (Renault) +1m09.766s
5. Nick Heidfeld (Sauber) + 1 Lap
6. Felipe Massa (Sauber) + 1 Lap
Driver's Standings:
1. Michael Schumacher 14pts
2. Juan Pablo Montoya 12pts
3. Ralf Schumacher 10pts
4. Kimi Raikkonen 4pts
5. Eddie Irvine 3pts
6. Jenson Button 3pts
7. Mark Webber 2pts
8. Nick Heidfeld 2pts
9. Mika Salo 1pt
10. Felipe Massa 1pt
Constructor's Standings:
1. Williams-BMW 22pts
2. Ferrari 14pts
3. McLaren-Mercedes 4pts
4. Jaguar-Cosworth 3pts
5. Renault 3pts
6. Sauber-Petronas 3pts
7. Minardi-Asiatech 2pts
8. 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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