2011 F1 Malaysian Sepang Grand Prix - Preview

An Unprecedented Home Grand Prix for Three Formula 1 Teams

With three Formula 1 teams ‘carrying’ the Malaysian flag, the 2011 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix will indeed be a special one for Malaysians.

“F1 has always been a special event for Malaysia. This year, however, it is even more extraordinary,” says Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak in reference to the alliance of Malaysian corporate companies with the Mercedes GP PETRONAS, Lotus Renault GP and Team Lotus.
“Never has the event been associated with so many Malaysian companies; making the 2011 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix and Sepang Circuit as their ‘home race’ this season,” Najib said in his message at in the event’s official programme.
2011 marked the 13th edition of the Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix, which traced back to 1999 when it was first developed as tourism tool to sell Malaysia as an international destination and a national agenda to uplift the country’s image worldwide.
The new season opened at Albert Park in Melbourne with the Australian Grand Prix on March 27 and Malaysia hosts Round 2 of the 2011 Formula 1 World Championship, which now runs for 19 rounds with the cancellation of Bahrain Grand Prix.
Najib said: “Malaysia’s interest and its glorious image will be prominently projected this year, throughout all the rounds across the globe through the participation of Mercedes GP PETRONAS, the Proton-backed Lotus Renault Racing; the 1Malaysia Team Lotus as well as Virgin Formula 1 Racing, which has Q-Net as one of its key partners this season.
“Formula 1 – the world’s most prestigious motorsports event; and Malaysia’s tool in promoting the country for so long – is now adopted by more Malaysian companies as their business tools as well,” he said, adding that before Sepang Circuit came into the picture in 1999, Malaysia had Tourism Malaysia riding the popularity of the Stewart Grand Prix team in 1997.
Before that PETRONAS became the presenting sponsor for Red Bull Sauber in 1995. Over the years, the national petroleum company expanded further its investment in the sports including becoming the title sponsor for the Malaysian race and deeper involvement in the F1 racing teams.
Najib said: “With an extensive global audience; reaching hundreds of millions televisions on Race Day alone, the sport is undoubtedly the most effective platform for international mileage and worldwide recognition. Apart from global branding, it’s also the place for business networking, a stage to showcase a country; and an engine for transfer of technology. As such, for Malaysia, as a nation aspiring to be a major player in the automotive industry, its deep association with Formula 1 is only natural.
“Malaysia is always proud to be associated with Formula 1. We are proud to be the second Asian nation after Japan to host this prestigious event and inspired other Asian nations to bid for the privilege as well. Our current contract runs until 2015; and we aim to make full use of this privilege to reap in the fruits of benefits. And, to date, the impact of Formula 1 for Malaysia has been tremendous,” he added.
For Youth and Sports Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, the Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix was proof Malaysia’s capability in organizing world class motor racing events; and he hoped that it would be reflected as well in the competition field as well.
“Formula 1 has always been a special event in Malaysia; and the Malaysian Government has always been proud to be associated with the prestigious event. And, we, Malaysians, are truly privileged that have this event here at our own backyard.
“From the first race on October 17, 1999 and 11 editions later, the Formula 1 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix had been a success story for Malaysia. It had transformed Malaysia’s status in the international arena; generated massive tourism dollars as well as jumpstarting the motorsports industry.
“Not too long ago, we would have never imagined of Malaysians competing in international races. But, after the establishment of Sepang Circuit in 1999, the perspective definitely changed – there’s was renewed confidence; and there was enhanced commitment among Malaysians,” he said.
He related the days of PETRONAS Sprinta Yamaha Team TVK venturing into the GP World Championship in 2000, to the introduction of Alex Yoong as Malaysia’s first F1 driver in Alex Yoong, the teenage Jazeman Jaafar dominating the Formula BMW Pacific series and Fairuz Fauzy role as an F1 test driver.
Declaring that he saw good prospects for the future, Shabery said that he believed with the continuous commitment and persistent effort, motor racing, too, could produce Malaysian world beaters
“We are proud to have world class athletes in badminton, squash, cycling and bowling. And, I strongly believe we can have world class performers in motor racing as well; especially with the current emphasis that Malaysian corporate companies are giving to the sports,” he added.
While welcoming the strong alliance of the Malaysian companies in the F1 teams, the minister hoped that the corporate companies involved would look at their partnership more than just from the business perspective.

“I sincerely hope that it would be translated into programmes for motorsports development as well,” said Shabery, who hailed SIC’s successful efforts in incorporating the Malaysian Super Series as support races for the 2011 Formula 1 PETRONAS Malaysian Grand Prix.

Hailed as the national championship for track racing and introduced in 2002, the MSS would be running the Malaysian GT class and the Malaysian Touring Car Challenge at the F1 race in Sepang as its opening round for its 2011 season.
In his message, SIC Chairman Datuk Mokhzani Mahathir said: “I am very happy that we finally managed to incorporate our Malaysian Super Series as the support races for the F1 event in Sepang. This is a racing series that we, at Sepang International Circuit, had diligently nurtured for years as the national championship for track racing; and the platform to provide top class competition for the drivers and teams.
“Together with our two other major events – the 12-hour Merdeka Millennium Endurance Race and the 1000-kms Endurance, these are the events that we hope for Malaysians to pick up their skills in managing and operating motor racing teams as well as to unearth new talents.
“Through these events, we aim to create a new culture of motorsports among Malaysians especially the grassroots, added Mokhzani.

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Photo Gallery: 2011 F1 Cars - All Teams

This stunning gallery of images documents the latest 2011 models of all 12 of the teams in this seasons F1 World Championships.  For more info on rule changes see this article: link

Please also take time to vote on who you think will be successful this year, there are a set of three polls on the right-hand sidebar which include views on who will win the constructors and drivers championships and who will be the best 'new' team!

Ferrari F150th Italia - 2011 Season F1 Car

Force India VJM04 - 2011 Season F1 Car

HRT (Hispania Racing Team) F111 - 2011 Season F1 Car

Virgin Racing MVR-02 - 2011 Season F1 Car

McLaren Mercedes MP4-26  - 2011 Season F1 Car

Torro Rosso STR6 - 2011 Season F1 Car

Williams FW33 - 2011 Season F1 Car

Red Bull Racing RB7 - 2011 Season F1 Car

Mercedes GP Petronas MGP W02 - 2011 Season F1 Car

Renault Lotus R31 - 2011 Season F1 Car

Sauber C30 - 2011 Season F1 Car

Team Lotus T128 - 2011 Season F1 Car

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Your Predictions: Who will win this seasons F1 World Championship?

So the new F1 season is finally under-way, albeit overdue! With a great first race under the belt, people are already beginning to form opinions on who the think will be the world champion and who will win the constructors championship.

On the left hand side of this page are a number of polls for all the readers of this site to vote on who they think will be the winners of the drivers and constructors championships. The initial lists are quite small, however if you feel a worthy candidate for either championship has been missed of the polls then please comment on this post and I will add them to it for you! It will be very interesting to see everyone's view on who will be triumphant this season. Feel free to share your predictions and comment them below!

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2011 F1 Australian GP Race Report

Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel got his title defence off to a perfect start with a pole-to-flag victory in the Australian Grand Prix.

Lewis Hamilton finished second to seal McLaren's turnaround in form but team-mate Jenson Button was sixth after being penalised for cutting a corner.
A brilliant start from Russian Vitaly Petrov propelled him to his first podium with third for Renault.
Scot Paul di Resta finished with 12th for Force India on his debut.
Ferrari's Fernando Alonso jumped Mark Webber's Red Bull in his final pit stop to take fourth place from the Australian, who could only equal his career-best finish at his home race.
There was more frustration for Mercedes as both Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg retired from the race.
It was a faultless race from the man intent on chasing Schumacher's record seven championship as Vettel pulled clear at the start, stopped twice and ran much of the race on his own.
"A stunning performance from the man who's led every lap of the last three grands prix," said BBC F1 commentator Martin Brundle.
"That is a calm and steely Vettel, and frankly I don't think anyone was going to beat him."
Ominously for the rest of the field, team principal Christian Horner revealed after the race that neither of the Red Bull cars was running a Kers boost system.
"It was a fantastic day for Sebastian and the team, he was dominant in qualifying and totally dominant today," said Horner.
"We felt Kers was a potential risk, and we made a decision not to run it. It didn't look like we needed it."
Vettel himself insisted the race had not been as straightforward as it appeared.
"It was not easy, the start was crucial," he said.
"I had a good getaway, but didn't know if it was enough until I saw Lewis and Mark [Webber] battling for position.
"After my stop it was crucial to get past jenson, which I could do immediately, so that was very, very important. There were a lot of things to learn today and we need to have another look at the race."
Vettel had already built a 2.6-second lead at the end of the first lap while others toiled behind him.
Button found himself down in sixth after losing position to Ferrari's Felipe Massa and Petrov, who had brilliantly nosed his Renault up from sixth on the grid.
As the race developed, Button tried time and again to pass Massa, and even activated the moveable rear wing which is designed to aid overtaking, but the Brazilian defended deftly and Button was left asking his team over the radio; 'How's he getting away from me?"
There were more headaches to come for Button when he cut a chicane in an attempt to pass Massa and was subsequently handed a drive-through penalty.
"There's no question that he gained an advantage," said BBC analyst David Coulthard.
"He knew that two doesn't go into one around that curve. He had to go off track and had to pay a penalty for that."
Button had a stab at holding up Vettel - who had pitted for the first of his two stops to leave Hamilton at the front for McLaren - before serving his penalty but the German soon flew past him and comfortably resumed his lead when Hamilton came in.
After his stop-go penalty Button fed back in 12th but he crossed the line in sixth after what Brundle described as an "adventurous race".

Despite Button's busy day, he and team-mate Hamilton will be relieved that McLaren's hard work at their Woking factory to turn a winter marred by a lack of pace and unreliability into a competitive start to the campaign.
Hamilton managed his race well and took his car across the line for second despite warnings from his team that his car was damaged. It quickly became evident the undertray and floor of the car was broken, which as Hamilton pointed out afterwards, badly affected the amount of downforce.
"To come away from here with a second is a great achievement - in the end I was simply trying to nurse the car home," Hamilton said.
Renault proved they had taken a step forward over the winter, in part thanks to their innovative car design with its front-exiting exhausts, as Petrov collected third place with a cool drive.
The Russian repeated his trick from the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix by holding off a looming Alonso.
Robert Kubica was second for Renault at last year's race in Melbourne and Petrov suggested he is capable of leading the time on the track in the absence of Kubica, who is recovering from serious injuries in a rallying accident.
Petrov's Renault team-mate Nick Heidfeld, the stand-in for Kubica, finished a lowly 14th,
Alonso had got himself caught up in Button's wake as the McLaren went backwards off the line and the Ferrari ran wide into the first corner.
The Spaniard slid to 10th but he picked his way smoothly through the field before passing Webber for fourth place.
Both drivers were on a three-stop strategy but Webber conceded fourth place to Alonso on the final stop after he ran wide on his return to the parkland circuit.
There had been a lot of talk about tyre strategy and management in the build-up to the race as this season's Pirellis tyres had been designed too degrade more quickly than 2010's Bridgestones.
Most of the field made straightforward two-stop strategies work but Sauber raised eyebrows as Mexican rookie Sergio Perez stopped just once on his way to seventh.
Mercedes arrived in Melbourne with high hopes of a podium but their weekend ended miserably inside two laps.
Schumacher, who had a puncture at the start, was retired from the race as a precaution before his old Ferrari team-mate Rubens Barrichello added to his misery by ploughing his left wheel into the side of Nico Rosberg's Mercedes, sending him back to the garage for good.
"I had a good start but someone knocked on my rear right and there were consequences from that," Schumacher told BBC Sport.
"I had an entertaining few laps but the team quite rightly for safety decided that I should come in."
Barrichello was the second driver to serve a drive-through penalty for his move on Rosberg and later had to retire from the race.

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