One thing the test should have done is allow all the drivers to get used to the heat and humidity there, because that is one of the main things about this event. It is tough on them, the car and the whole team, just because the temperatures and humidity are so high. It is very, very draining.
As you would expect from one of the new generations of tracks, Sepang is top notch and the facilities are very good. Granted, it lacks a bit of atmosphere and history, but that is slowly building up and it’s worth remembering that the first
F1 race actually took there back in 1999 – yeah, I didn’t believe it myself until I checked - and this will be the ninth time the
Formula 1 circus has descended on Kuala Lumpur.
Who’s going to win the ninth running? That’s the big question, but I don’t think you have to look far.
Ferrari proved in Melbourne that it has the legs on everyone and will start as favourites.
Felipe Massa was unlucky in Oz and, providing neither he nor Kimi have any problems, they will be tough to beat. The Scuderia seems to have it all right at the moment and the only concern seems to be reliability. There appears to be some speculation that Kimi’s engine might be a bit of a weak link for Malaysia, but we will have to wait and see.
As for McLaren-Mercedes, it will be pushing to the utmost after Alonso and Hamilton proved to be a formidable pairing three weeks ago.
I’ve already mentioned how impressed I was with Lewis, but that’s not to take anything away from Fernando. He is the number one there and, as the only world champion in the field – a double world champion at that – he is the standard by which everyone else must be measured. It won’t be long until he wins his first race with
McLaren.
