Malaysian Grand Prix 2011: Raceday - Formula One highlights (part 8)
Returning back to the action from Sepang – The race headed into the lap 36 as Adrian Sutil got past Alguersuari for 13th using the DRS. Kovalianen ducked into his pits for taking on hard tyres and hoped to make it the rest of the way from thereon
in.
It appeared that the McLarens, that comfortably looked as the strongest cars on track at one stage, were losing their mojo. Sebastian Vettel’s lead over Lewis Hamilton was effectively up to 8.8 seconds. Fernando Alonso was also catching up to Jenson Button.
Kobayashi entered the pit lane soon after to take on a set of hard compound tyres and came out in 11th position.
The pit lane was getting crowded by the next lap. Hamilton made his third ‘stop and go’ for the day and took on another set of hard tyres. Importantly for the Briton, he came out in front of Mark Webber’s Red Bull. The McLaren pit crew however, didn’t resume
their standby position as they readied themselves for Jenson Button. The British driver dropped out of P-2 to make a pit stop and took on a set of hard compound tyres. He came out just ahead of the Hamilton – Webber battle for P-6, importantly. Felipe Massa’s
Ferrari was also seen to enter and exit the pit lane for his 3rd pit stop of the day – A tough day at the office for the Brazilian yet again.
The race entered lap 40. Moments later, Paul di Resta was seen battling with Nico Rosberg for P-11 and took over the position. Heidfeld pitted for a new set of soft compound Pirellis and rejoined the race track in 7th position.
Shortly after, McLaren confirmed over the team radio that they didn’t plan to pit Hamilton again and told him to conserve his tyres. Hamilton on the other hand, extended his lead over Webber by a few car lengths as the latter’s soft tyres began to lose grip.
Sebastian Vettel dived into the pits at the start of lap 42 and took on a set of hard tyres. He came out in P-1 and looked well on course to take it from there to the finish line without making another pit stop. Fernando Alonso made his 3rd stop
and come out in P-5 behind Mark Webber.
Continued in part 9...
Tags: