Malaysian Grand Prix 2011: Raceday - Formula One Highlights (Part 3)
There was constant speculation over rain in the next 10 minutes as the race headed into lap 6.
Meanwhile, Mark Webber dived inside Kobayashi to take over 9th position. The Australian had to make up ground on the front runners while the track was still dry. However, Kobayashi was able to return the favour heading into turn 1. Webber’s Kinetic Energy Reduction System (KERS) problems seem to be hampering his straight line speed.
Elsewhere on track, Lewis Hamilton set the fastest lap of the race. Moments later, Sebastian Vettel was heard over the radio complaining about a vibration – The reason behind a comparative drop in performance to the McLaren perhaps?
Nick Heidfeld radioed his race engineer about some rain drops on his visor. Were we in for a series of quick stops for intermediate or wet weather tyres? Would it undo all of Sebastian Vettel’s hard work at the head of the pack? Hamilton on the other hand, was making full use of the conditions. The Briton had closed right up on Heidfeld’s exhaust and was hounding him for the 2nd position. Maldonado entered pit lane.
Vettel’s lead over the second placed car was effectively 5.2 seconds. The front runners were starting to struggle for grip and had started to slip and slide on the dry weather soft Pirellis. Maldonado hadn’t left the pits yet and appeared to have suffered some damage from his close contact with Perez earlier.
Mark Webber entered the pits shortly – interestingly, opting for another set of soft compound tyres. Was the rain temporary or was the Australian willing to gamble on speed over control till the track got fully wet?
As the race headed to lap 12, Sebastian Vettel was radioed his crew about entering ‘Phase 2’, apparently a coded message. Hamilton continued to try and find a way past Heidfeld. Paul Di Resta made a pit stop of his own shortly. Meanwhile, Jenson Button, Felipe Massa and Fernando Alonso were fighting over 4th place.
Soon after, there was activity in the McLaren pit garage as the crew prepared themselves for a tyre replacement on Lewis Hamilton’s car. The Briton came out of the pits ahead of Sebestian Buemi’s Toro Rosso and managed to hold off the Swiss driver. Hamilton radioed his team to tell them it had started raining on the backstretch.
Continued in Part 4
Tags: