Driver of the race: Round 2 - Malaysian Grand Prix

frostie500

Seems like the battle at the front was very exciting with a lot of controversy with the drivers from both Red Bull and Mercedes having good scraps with their teammates at the front so the post race should be quite tense in both teams!

Autosport

Fernando Alonso

Webber for not beating the head of Vettel

Myrddin

Fernando Alonso

Webber for me, nice to see him do well for a change...lord knows he deserves a rub of the green

cherryghost

Fernando Alonso

Webber for sure, great start for once and made the most of it. Deserved to win but that's another story.

paddy147

Fernando Alonso

Webber for having the balls to let his feeling be known to the whole wide world.

And for putting it right to Vettel at the end of the race in the press room and also on the podium when being interviewed.


Anyone think that Hamilton is the "golden boy" and now being favoured by Ross Braun and Mercedes over Rosberg??

Slutmonkey57b

Sergio Perez

Button for driving, he kept his Mclaren in touch with the leaders pace, and fought hard to keep track position wherever he could.

Webber for speaking out about Vettel and Marko.

Rascasse

Max Chilton

None of the top 4 due to the shenanigans. Bianchi for being the the class of the back markers.

Sparks43

Felipe Massa

I went for teflonso

Always makes me happy when he goes out of the race:pac:

Andrew76

Max Chilton

Jules Bianchi for a second race ahead of the Caterhams and his team mate. Seems to be making a name for himself, hopefully a star of the future.

Sheeps

Nico Hulkenberg

I voted Lewis for getting a podium, but it was probably team orders that got him that so I'm going to change my vote to Nico Rosberg or Webber.

Dravokivich

Lewis Hamilton

Voted rosberg. I feel he really could of challenged further up if allowed pass lewis, but held back kept in line with the team.

the culture of deference

Dravokivich wrote: »

Voted rosberg. I feel he really could of challenged further up if allowed pass lewis, but held back kept in line with the team.

Not sure why they held him back. They would have had a podium either way

Anyone

Lewis Hamilton

the culture of deference wrote: »

Not sure why they held him back. They would have had a podium either way

I have no doubt it was part of Hamiltons contract that he would be the lead driver in that team and get certain decisions.

Anyone

Anyone wrote: »

I have no doubt it was part of Hamiltons contract that he would be the lead driver in that team and get certain decisions.

I'd be interested to see the wording. If there had been any danger from behind or McLaren hadn't messed up on Button they likely would've let Rosberg go.

Myrddin

Fernando Alonso

the culture of deference wrote: »

Not sure why they held him back. They would have had a podium either way

What advantage would there be team wise, in letting one ahead of the other? They were never gonna catch the Red Bulls, they had a comfortable lead ahead of those behind them...the sensible, logical thing to do was instruct them to maintain position.

I think the notion of Lewis getting preferential treatment is looking too much into it, & I'd say throughout the season we'll see examples of Rosberg getting similar benefits from Brawns approach to harvesting points

iDave

Mark Webber

Vettel for a terrific well executed over taking manoeuver late on to win the race

Max_Charger

Fernando Alonso

the culture of deference wrote: »

Not sure why they held him back. They would have had a podium either way

Outside the possible Lewis contract clause (which I doubt he has one), in the last 22 races, it's only the 11th time both Merc drivers have crossed the finishing line and they have never before gotten more then 27 points from 1 race weekend. My guess it was Brawn being overly cautious, probably thought the second Nico passed the 4 wheels would simultaneously fall off the car.

Myrddin

Fernando Alonso

Max_Charger wrote: »

My guess it was Brawn being overly cautious, probably thought the second Nico passed the 4 wheels would simultaneously fall off the car.

Possibly. Though I'm certain that if Rosberg had the possibility of catching up to the Red Bulls then Hamilton would have been told to move over. But because the RB's were beyong catching, there was literally no point in rocking the boat

Jordan 199

Anyone wrote: »

I have no doubt it was part of Hamiltons contract that he would be the lead driver in that team and get certain decisions.

I disagree. Both Hamilton and Rosberg have equal status IMO.

Should the reverse of what happened at the Malaysian GP happen again this season and Hamilton is behind Rosberg and going quicker than Rosberg and both drivers are told to hold positions, I for one won't be saying Rosberg has No. 1 status at Mercedes.

I also don't think what happened with Mercedes at the Malaysian GP will occur again this season.

Slutmonkey57b

Sergio Perez

Nothing confusing about . the Mercedes orders at all.

Either Lewis has contractual #1 status, or someone in Mercedes decided the pr boost from having their new signing on the podium in his second race.

I'm glad it backfired on them.

the culture of deference

Anyone wrote: »

I have no doubt it was part of Hamiltons contract that he would be the lead driver in that team and get certain decisions.

Lewis quote from the Guardian

"We don't have a one and two at Mercedes. I have always said, from the moment I was speaking to the team, that I wanted equality [with Rosberg].
"They didn't offer me to be favoured but I just wanted to make the point that I am not a driver that comes and requests that like a lot of other drivers do.
"You have to be able to look at yourself in the mirror [and say] you won fair and square. In Malaysia I don't feel like I won my spot fair and square.

EnterNow wrote: »

What advantage would there be team wise, in letting one ahead of the other? They were never gonna catch the Red Bulls, they had a comfortable lead ahead of those behind them...the sensible, logical thing to do was instruct them to maintain position.

It would have let Nico loose to see what he could do, if he was unable to get near MW after a few laps then they still would have been 3rd and 4th.

Zcott

I think most teams have a policy of no inter-team battling after the last stops. Saves fuel, engine, and a lot of points.

Cookie_Monster

Max Chilton

Rosberg would have caught Webber IMO, he was miles faster than him and Hamilton in the laps where he was catching them.

Bianchi for me, everything else was average at best.

Myrddin

Fernando Alonso

the culture of deference wrote: »

It would have let Nico loose to see what he could do, if he was unable to get near MW after a few laps then they still would have been 3rd and 4th.

The RB's were way ahead, and if Rosberg could have caught them, its still a case of Brawn not wanting Rosberg to bin the car in the closing stages of the race. I'm happy enough to see it that Brawn concluded third & fourth were good enough for the team on the day & didn't want to risk throwing away a haul of points

lolie

Lewis Hamilton

Went for rosberg.
After the first stint i felt he had the raw pace to challenge for the win.
Webber was rattled after vettel passed him so brawn should have let him loose the see what he could do

freestyla

Mark Webber

Max_Charger wrote: »

Outside the possible Lewis contract clause (which I doubt he has one), in the last 22 races, it's only the 11th time both Merc drivers have crossed the finishing line and they have never before gotten more then 27 points from 1 race weekend.

but anyway they could let them switch places safely on a straight, once Rosberg was significantly faster!

My guess it was Brawn being overly cautious, probably thought the second Nico passed the 4 wheels would simultaneously fall off the car.

Well.. yeah.. have to understand the old man :pac::pac:

freestyla

Mark Webber

Vettel for me because he spiced up the show :cool: being pure racer.. respect.

What comes to breaking the pre-race contract, that sucks no doubt so Vettle owns a win to Mark
BUT I still vote for such drivers who show more of their personality and feelings exactly like Kimi and Vettel do as long as they race the hell out of their cars. I think team orders + present tech and tires rules are making cars too sensitive toys (that's why more and more women are joining the sport? :rolleyes:).

Remove team orders and bolt on strengthen spoilers, side pods and tires sidewalls.. and battle on!

NobodyImportant

Lewis Hamilton

Vettel = Toe-rag. Broke pre-race agreement, team orders and overtook Mark when he had his engine turned down.

Voted for Rosberg, he drove a good race.

Nobody voted for Max "The Wallet" Chilton?

Autosport

Fernando Alonso

freestyla wrote: »

Vettel for me because he spiced up the show :cool: being pure racer.. respect.

What comes to breaking the pre-race contract, that sucks no doubt so Vettle owns a win to Mark
BUT I still vote for such drivers who show more of their personality and feelings exactly like Kimi and Vettel do as long as they race the hell out of their cars. I think team orders + present tech and tires rules are making cars too sensitive toys (that's why more and more women are joining the sport? :rolleyes:).

Remove team orders and bolt on strengthen spoilers, side pods and tires sidewalls.. and battle on!

The highlighted part what does that mean??

freestyla

Mark Webber

freestyla wrote: »

....

I think team orders + present tech and tires rules are making cars too sensitive toys (that's why more and more women are joining the sport? :rolleyes:).

Autosport wrote: »

The highlighted part what does that mean??

Well women have more sensitive hands so they can feel tires degradation and blistering better than man ? hope this makes sense..

I remember Schumi said a year ago that "new tires are like eggs"

the culture of deference

NobodyImportant wrote: »

Vettel = Toe-rag. Broke pre-race agreement, team orders and overtook Mark when he had his engine turned down.

Voted for Rosberg, he drove a good race.

Nobody voted for Max "The Wallet" Chilton?

Red Bull maintain they never favoured Sebastian Vettel in Sepang despite confirming that the German had more horsepower than his team-mate in the closing stages.
The Red Bull saga has dominated headlines for the past week ever since Vettel disobeyed orders to hold station behind Mark Webber in last Sunday's Malaysian GP.
But instead of doing just that, the German stormed by with ten laps remaining, stealing the grand prix victory from the Australian.
However, it appears it was never going to be a fair fight as Red Bull had told Webber to cut his engine more than Vettel's.
"After speaking with Christian, it seems Mark was told to turn down the wick on his engine, but the team didn't tell Sebastian to do the same thing," Bernie Ecclestone told the The Mail on Sunday.
Red Bull have confirmed the F1 supremo's claims.