F1 Zorg & Badger GP 2015 Season
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How the Australian GP unfolded
Summary
- Hamilton wins, Rosberg 2nd, Vettel 3rd
- Massa 4th, Nasr 5th, Ricciardo 6th, Hulkenberg 7th
- Ericsson 8th, Sainz 9th, Perez 10th, Button 11th
- Verstappen out, Raikkonen out after botched pit stop
- Maldonado crashes out, Grosjean out
- Button and Perez make contact during scrap
- Magnussen & Kvyat out after stopping on way to grid
- Bottas does not race after back injury
I will post up the standings after these snippets of media comments.
Jennie Gow
BBC Radio 5 live pit-lane reporter
"Can Arnie come back and do all the podium interviews please….brilliant value and the highlight of the race?"
Oh now this is just glorious. Arnold Schwarzenegger returns to Lewis Hamilton after interviewing Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel and together they say those iconic three words: "I'll BE BACK!"
Amazing scenes.........
James Stevenson: Just a leisurely Sunday afternoon drive in the country for Hamilton & Rosberg so far. They'll be stopping for a picnic any time now.
James Humberstone: The Formula 1 world is relying on Kimi Raikkonen to make this race semi-entertaining.
Dom Ship: My Vauxhall Corsa would have a chance of scoring points in this race!!
Press Association F1 reporter Ian Parkes: A good stat for you folks. 15 cars represents lowest number of starters for a season-opening race since 1963!
Rae Foreman: Who thought having a Felipe Massa and a Felipe Nasr would be a good idea?!
Felicity Green: McLaren should be embarrassed by the car they've got on the grid right now. Alonso probably has his head in his hands.
Lotus's Pastor Maldonado has been explaining his crash on 5 live, saying it was just unfortunate, but that he was happy with the race pace of the Lotus. Maldonado never has a crash.......first one in 2015, there will be many more.
Pastor Maldonado was forced to retire during Lap 1 after making contact with Sauber's Felipe Nasr
Well, went and did it again. Was going to get up on time to do my predictions and watch qualifying.
My wake up call came at exactly 12.00 hrs when my weekend beer got delivered.
I hate these early morning races........
Summary
Lotus F1 Team: Suspicion @RGrosjean might feel something of a washing-out sensation in #Q3
I just knew I was right when I picked this lad for my team..........
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VPN Toro Rosso 1:51.981
Performance of the day?
Formula 1 journalist Sarah Holt: What's the prep plan for teenager Max Verstappen starting sixth for Toro Rosso? He's going to watch videos of race starts with Dad Jos!
Another impressive stat regarding Max Verstappen. In just his second race, he has equalled his dad's best-ever grid position when Jos started from sixth at the 1994 Belgian GP for Benetton. That'll be one proud dad tonight.
Incidentally, Jos Verstappen, finished third in that 1994 Belgian GP, when he qualified sixth. What an achievement it would be if his son Max gets on the podium tomorrow.
The 17-year-old is also firmly on course to become the youngest-ever points scorer in Formula 1, not that he has to worry about achieving that any time soon. He still has TWO YEARS to eclipse current record holder Daniil Kvyat (19 years 324 days).
By qualifying sixth, 17-year-old Max Verstappen secured the highest qualifying position by a teenage driver since Ricardo Rodriguez started on the front row for Ferrari at the 1961 Italian GP.
Meanwhile, at McLaren.............
McLaren driver Jenson Button, who qualified 17th: "It is a lot closer than in Australia and I think our race pace is better than our qualifying pace. We should be happy with the step taken, but there is still a long way to go."
McLaren driver Fernando Alonso, who has qualified 18th: "We know we are struggling with the pace but we are much closer now and I don't think I will be [giving interviews] after Q1 for long."
Mr Rae: I don't share Alonso or Button's faith that the car will come good! It's not good enough, it really isn't!
Adam Swinden: Despite what he says, Alonso has got to be regretting his move to McLaren with a qualifying performance like that.
Well, we will just have to see what happens tomorrow..........
My wake up call came at exactly 12.00 hrs when my weekend beer got delivered.
I hate these early morning races........
How Malaysian GP Qualifying unfolded
Summary
- Hamilton on pole, Vettel 2nd, Rosberg 3rd
- Rosberg blocks Hamilton on fast lap
- Torrential rain and thunderstorms delay session
- Raikkonen out in Q2 as rain arrives, Hamilton just makes Q3 in 8th
- Both McLarens and Manors out in Q1
Lotus F1 Team: Suspicion @RGrosjean might feel something of a washing-out sensation in #Q3
6
Performance of the day?
Like father, like son........
Formula 1 journalist Sarah Holt: What's the prep plan for teenager Max Verstappen starting sixth for Toro Rosso? He's going to watch videos of race starts with Dad Jos!
Another impressive stat regarding Max Verstappen. In just his second race, he has equalled his dad's best-ever grid position when Jos started from sixth at the 1994 Belgian GP for Benetton. That'll be one proud dad tonight.
Incidentally, Jos Verstappen, finished third in that 1994 Belgian GP, when he qualified sixth. What an achievement it would be if his son Max gets on the podium tomorrow.
The 17-year-old is also firmly on course to become the youngest-ever points scorer in Formula 1, not that he has to worry about achieving that any time soon. He still has TWO YEARS to eclipse current record holder Daniil Kvyat (19 years 324 days).
By qualifying sixth, 17-year-old Max Verstappen secured the highest qualifying position by a teenage driver since Ricardo Rodriguez started on the front row for Ferrari at the 1961 Italian GP.
McLaren driver Jenson Button, who qualified 17th: "It is a lot closer than in Australia and I think our race pace is better than our qualifying pace. We should be happy with the step taken, but there is still a long way to go."
McLaren driver Fernando Alonso, who has qualified 18th: "We know we are struggling with the pace but we are much closer now and I don't think I will be [giving interviews] after Q1 for long."
Mr Rae: I don't share Alonso or Button's faith that the car will come good! It's not good enough, it really isn't!
Adam Swinden: Despite what he says, Alonso has got to be regretting his move to McLaren with a qualifying performance like that.
Well, we will just have to see what happens tomorrow..........
Who has changed their teams? Come on, own up.........
Vettel takes shock win over Hamilton
Summary
- Vettel wins, Hamilton 2nd, Rosberg 3rd
- Emotional Vettel takes first Ferrari win in second race
- Hamilton unhappy with Mercedes team over tyres
- Raikkonen 4th, Bottas 5th, Massa 6th, Verstappen 7th
- Sainz 8th, Kvyat 9th, Ricciardo 10th
- Vettel kept pace with Mercedes all race
- Hulkenberg and Perez given penalties for collisions
- Ericsson, Alonso, Button, Maldonado out, Stevens does not start
An emotional win for Vettel, but an exciting one for the rest of us in terms of the championship battle, which continues in China on 12 April.
"We welcome the fight," says Lewis Hamilton. "It is great to have a battle with the Ferraris."
The win brought an end to Ferrari's longest winless streak (34) since Alain Prost's Spanish GP victory in 1990 to Gerhard Berger's 1994 win at the German Grand Prix.
Sebastian Vettel's win was the 75th for a German driver with Ferrari, 72 of those were Michael Schumacher's wins.
Sebastian Vettel's win ends a 34-race drought for Ferrari, which extends back to the Spanish GP in May 2013.
Victory for Sebastian Vettel makes him the most successful driver in Malaysian GP history with four wins, surpassing Michael Schumacher and Fernando Alonso.
Plenty of respect shown between winner Sebastian Vettel and championship leader Lewis Hamilton as they prepare to walk out on to the podium. "So good, so quick!" says Hamilton to his rival.
Rian Hoskins: Even if you aren't a fan of Vettel, you have to admit it was a great drive. Looks like he, Ferrari and Raikkonen back to form.
Ian Howard: The body language on the podium is fascinating. Lewis is so comfortable, seated. Seb elated and Nico moody/frustrated while standing.
David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"Vettel is celebrating like he has won the World Championship!"
Richard, Bedford: Funny how the Lewis-haters come out to play when he doesn't win. He has driven another great race against poor team tyre choice. Ferrari quick but not there yet. Great race though....
Ratcatcher: Yep. Hamilton can only race when he has the best car in optimal conditions. Give him even a slight challenge & he has a tantrum.
Reece Young: Hamilton in the zone; tells his engineers to leave him alone. Doesn't sound happy.
Joshua Geake: Hamilton's worst enemy beginning to reappear again: himself.
Lewis Hamilton is not happy. His team tell him what he needs to do to catch Sebastian Vettel, drawing this tetchy response: "Hey man, don't talk to me through the corners. I almost went off." Team radio gold.
Hamilton is sounding increasingly frustrated, as this exchange over the team radio shows....
Hamilton: "I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing. Paddy says I might be doing another stop."
Team radio: "That was miscommunication. That was just chatter."
James Allen
BBC Radio 5 live commentator
"Rosberg is having an below-par Malaysian Grand Prix, frankly."
David Coulthard
BBC F1 co-commentator
"We're going to have to get Nico Rosberg a highlights package of the race so he can see what has happened - he has spent a lot of time wondering what is going on around him. The first priority is concentrating on what is happening directly in front of you. The team radio gives you a psychological boost but does not give you pure performance at the next corner."
Very honest interview from Nico Rosberg, who kept asking his team to describe the picture of the race over the radio.
"I struggle to understand what's going on," admits the German. But David Coulthard isn't that impressed.
"Fair play to Nico for being so open and honest - but it's a bit confusing," says the BBC pundit. "Because there isn't that much to work out. You only have two compounds of tyres and you know where stand with your team-mate. So it's either he's suddenly found turn of pace or is on softer tyres if he starts pulling away from you.
"We have all built Nico up as a thinker, the engineer behind the wheel, while pegging Lewis as the raw racer. But that interview exposes Nico to be vulnerable and confused."
'He is better than me'
Former Benetton driver Jos Verstappen after watching 17-year-old son Max become the youngest points scorer in F1 history: "I'm very pleased for what he has done today. I'm happy that he finished the race and the way he raced, he deserved it. I'm very proud.
Is dad or son the better racing driver? "He certainly is. Max is more complete. He is better prepared than me and Red Bull are doing an incredible job, physically, mentally and the way he feels at home on the track. He has to be better than me!"
Toro Rosso's Max Verstappen: "It was a good day. The first few laps were a bit difficult for me, I struggled a bit with the brakes and the tyres. But when we went on to hard tyres, it worked much better, I found good balance and good rhythm. From there, the car felt great."
History maker........
Excellent display by Max Verstappen.
The 17-year-old, who Eddie Jordan believes has the potential to be as good as Michael Schumacher, became the youngest-ever points scorer in Formula 1 by finishing a hugely impressive seventh.
Meanwhile, at McLaren.............
Leading to this gem from Jenson Button on the team radio...
"I'm a little bit surprised - we seem to be catching cars. Quite a few cars," says the Briton.
Rob Douglas-Reeves: Wonder how Alonso feels? His old Ferrari..has become a Ferrari again, his McLaren has become a....well a UnReliant Robin!
McLaren's Fernando Alonso, who retired on lap 21: "The car went better than expected until the retirement. To be able to run with the pack and even catch the Red Bulls before the pit stops was nice surprise. We had some technical issues which we are investigating but it has been a nice weekend. If we keep this rate up, we will enjoy success very soon."
McLaren's British driver Jenson Button, who failed to finish the race: "I think you can see we're improving - we're actually racing now and closing on the pack in front. You can see where our strengths and weaknesses are. It was a useful day, just a pity we both finished early."
Yippee ki-yay, MF........
Badger GP
So how did the Fantasy GP of Malaysia go for you?
Looking to do better or want to learn more about the game - read our statistical review of the Fantasy Grand Prix or Malaysia.
A statistical review of the Malaysian round of Fantasy GP
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