FISICHELLA HEADS RENAULT 1-2 IN MALAYSIA, BUTTON GETS PODIUM
(Image taken from Yahoo)
Wait four months and two Grand Prix come in two weeks. This time the show was in Malaysia and the Sepang circuit is known for producing good early season races. Alonso may have proven himself the man to beat in Bahrain but this was going to be another race.
Everyone knew what the deal was with qualifying now but blown engines were still a factor and four drivers, DC, Rubens Barrichello and both Ferraris were going to start 11th at best. In round 1, more people came out earlier though DC still woulnd up dodging a bullet to make round 2, Jenson had no such worries and no names got toasted in round 1. In round two things were different though, it was Jenson and Alonso's turn to dodge bullets, Massa didn't even bother to go out. Exit DC(who went on to start 19th) along with Barrichello. Ralf made it through to the final round by the skin of his teeth before having to withdraw with a blown engine. Michael set the early pace but Webber then outgunned him before Button grabbed P1, only for Fisichella to get pole, the Brit settled for 2nd. Rosberg pulled off an impressive 3rd, Further down Raikonen was 7th, Alonso 8th, Michael 14th.
Showtime in the race itself and DC had his work cut out. Despite that he's burned through packs before earlier in his career and he certainly looked like he was up for matching Raikonen's run through the field last time out, smoothly getting to 11th only to find Michael in the way in 10th. Someone up there wasn't a fan of his though, the hydraulics on the Scotsman's car went down after 10 laps. Which basically means that everything went down. Megabummer.
Jenson was in much better shape though. He smoothly kept his second place at the start but had to beware of Alonso who was going to be on the track for longer. The problem the Brit had was that each time he went into the pits, he wound up coming out in the dirty air of Montoya in fourth, shutting down any serious challenge he could make to the Renaults, forcing him to settle for third after all the pitstops were done which was still a very good early season result, particularly given his record last year.
With Raikonen having gone out early doors though, the race was between the two Renault's. Alonso initially tried to go after his teammate in the closing laps but then got restrained by his team so that there was no risk of the pair taking each other off and so the last few laps were just a cruise to the finish. Behind Button, Montoya finished fourth but the biggest laugh was Massa beating the oh-so-mighty god of F1 Michael Schumacher to fifth.
Lesson learned in Malaysia:
Honda pitcrew: Get Jenson out in clean air and he'll deliver the jackpot.
The Championship looks like this: Alonso leading with 18 points, Michael and Jenson joint second with 11 points(though I suspect that Michael has an unnoffical edge in the standings as though neither driver has won so far this season, the German does have one second place to Jenson's third). Fisichella 4th with 10 points(having retired in Bahrain).
Overall, Renault are looking like the only team who could win either title right now. There is one guy who has the consistant performance and mechanical reliability at least to possibly mix it with them later in the season, and his name is Jenson Button!
Next stop Oz.
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