Malaysia 2007
FELIPE MASSA TOOK A SUPERB POLE POSITION, AHEAD OF FERNANDO ALONSO AND KIMI RAIKKONEN, WITH A WELL-TIMED LAST-GAP EFFORT. AFTER A DISASTROUS AUSTRALIAN ROUND LAST TIME OUT IT BODED WELL HERE. HOWEVER, THE MCLARENS SEEMED TO HAVE MOVED MUCH CLOSER TO FERRARI AND A MUCH CLOSER RACE SEEMED TO BE IN PROSPECT. AT THE START FERNANDO GOT THE DROP ON FELIPE AND WAS AHEAD BY TURN 2 BUT THE MOST TELLING MOVE WAS THAT OF HIS TEAM-MATE, LEWIS HAMILTON, WHO GOT PAST BOTH FERRARIS AND FOLLOWED FERNANDO OUT OF TURN 2. AND, BASICALLY, THAT'S HOW IT STAYED THROUGHOUT THE RACE SO THAT MCLAREN ENDED WITH A 1-2 FINISH. FERNANDO WON AS HE PLEASED BUT LEWIS HAD TO FIGHT OFF FERRARIS ALL THROUGH THE RACE. FIRST TO ATTACK HIM WAS MASSA IN THE EARLY LAPS BUT HE SEEMED TO REVERT TO HIS BASIC IMPETUS NATURE, TRIED ONE OR TWO OVERTAKING MOVES AND EVENTUALLY TRIED TOO HARD AND WENT OFF THE TRACK. ALTHOUGH HE QUICKLY GOT BACK ON HE HAD DROPPED TO 5TH, WHICH IS WHERE HE FINISHED. NEXT UP WAS RAIKKONEN BUT HE NEVER REALLY GOT CLOSE ENOUGH ALTHOUGH IN THE LAST FEW LAPS HE WAS CLOSING FAST ENOUGH TO MAKE IT A CLIFF-HANGER - WOULD HE GET UP TO HAMILTON BEFORE THE WINNING LINE WAS REACHED. ALMOST BUT NOT QUITE! NICK HEIDFELD QUIETLY WENT ABOUT HIS OWN RACE AND FINISHED A FINE FOURTH. THE BMW'S SEEM TO BE THE ONLY POSSIBLE CHALLENGERS TO MCLAREN AND FERRARI - RENAULT HAVE DROPPED WELL AWAY WHILST HONDA'S CAR IS ABYSMAL AND THEY ARE EVEN RUMOURED TO BE BUILDING A BRAND NEW ONE FOR LATER IN THE SEASON. WILLIAMS SEEM TO BE THE ONLY PRIVATEER WITH A CHANCE OF A PODIUM FINISH. WE SHALL SEE WHAT HAPPENS AS THE SEASON PROGRESSES BUT IT ALREADY LOOKS LIKE A 2-HORSE RACE FOR THE CONSTRUCTORS' TITLE AND, AS A CONSEQUENCE, THEIR FOUR DRIVERS APPEAR TO BE THE ONLY CHALLENGERS FOR THE DRIVERS' TITLE.
STARTING GRID
| |
| 1.
|
Felipe Massa
|
| 2.
|
Fernando Alonso
|
| 3.
|
Kimi Raikkonen
|
| 4.
|
Lewis Hamilton
|
| 5.
|
Nick Heidfeld
|
| 6.
|
Nico Rosberg
|
| 7.
|
Robert Kubica
|
| 8.
|
Jarno Trulli
|
| 9.
|
Ralph Schumacher
|
| 10.
|
Mark Webber
|
| 11.
|
Heikki Kovalainen
|
| 12.
|
Giancarlo Fisichella
|
| 13.
|
David Coulthard
|
| 14.
|
Takuma Sato
|
| 15.
|
Jenson Button
|
| 16.
|
Vitantonio Liuzzi
|
| 17.
|
Scott Speed
|
| 18.
|
Anthony Davidson
|
| 19.
|
Alexander Wurz
|
| 20.
|
Christijan Albers
|
| 21.
|
Aidrian Sutil
|
| 22.
|
Rubens Barrichello
|
RESULT
| |
| 1.
|
Fernando Alonso
|
| 2.
|
Lewis Hamilton
|
| 3.
|
Kimi Raikkonen
|
| 4.
|
Nick Heidfeld
|
| 5.
|
Felipe Massa
|
| 6.
|
Giancarlo Fisichella
|
| 7.
|
Jarno Trulli
|
| 8.
|
Heikki Kovalainen
|
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Drivers :
| |
| Fernando Alonso
|
18
|
| Kimi Raikkonen
|
16
|
| Lewis Hamilton
|
14
|
| Nick Heidfeld
|
10
|
| Giancarlo Fisichella
|
7
|
| =Felipe Massa
|
7
|
| Nico Rosberg
|
2
|
| =Jarno Trulli
|
2
|
Constructors :
|
| McLaren
|
32
|
| Ferrari
|
23
|
| BMW
|
10
|
|
| Renault
|
8
|
| Toyota
|
3
|
| Williams
|
2
|
| Red Bull Racing
|
0
|
| Honda
|
0
|
| Super Aguri
|
0
|
| Scuderia Toro Rosso
|
0
|
| Spyker
|
0
|
Race Results posted by
David Little
9th April 2007
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