2009 Malaysian Grand Prix - Sepang (04.05.09)

It all depends. Hamilton had that KERS boost working in his favor. Alonso can talk all he wants, but let's be real—it was the KERS that kept Glock from blowing past him for most of the race.

There's an 80% chance we're looking at rain this Sunday.

Roger Wright94 said:Over at Ferrari, they’re claiming that KERS introduced some totally unforeseen issues with the rear tires, which were essentially being chewed up on track. I just find myself wondering how something like that wasn't caught during testing or anticipated beforehand, really.
Their go-to comparison is BMW, who ran the exact same strategy but managed to be a class above them.
Whether using KERS is actually worth it remains a massive question mark.
So, we see the same pattern play out in Malaysia, and after that, we can probably expect some definitive decisions to be made. They’re going to have to make adjustments on the fly, and they'll need to move fast.

I'm with you on that. 👍

redstag said:It all depends. KERS was a huge help for Hamilton. Alonso can say whatever he wants, but KERS is what kept Glock from overtaking him for most of the race.

There’s an 80% chance we’re looking at rain this Sunday.

Well, Glock certainly made a bold claim there.

Personally, I’ve always had a hard time taking Glock at his word.

The guy is practically a pathological liar and a total sycophant for Lewis Hamilton.😁

I’m joking, obviously.

But look at the math: Alonso only gets 6 seconds of KERS usage, while a full lap takes about 1:30.

If Glock didn't manage to get past Alonso within that 1:30 window, then you can't really blame KERS for the gap.

Though, to be fair, he did eventually pull it off at the end.😍

redstag said:It all depends. KERS gave Hamilton the edge. Alonso can say whatever he wants, but KERS is exactly what kept Glock from blowing past him for most of the race.

There's an 80% chance we see rain this Sunday..

Hehe, that's what people want 🙂

hollowhawk412 said:Honestly, that one prediction you made last year was probably your best one yet.

I'm expecting a 1.22 Renault. 🙏 🙏

Since when have we actually seen someone like Piquet pull this off? Maybe once in a blue moon. 🙏

Alright, enough with the bullshit...

I don't know, it looked to me like the gaps in Q2 at the Australian GP were only about eight-tenths between first and twelfth... and that was Alonso. Honestly, if he hadn't messed up that last flying lap, he probably could've shaved off another tenth.

Look, Renault was fighting two massive uphill battles here—just like McM and Ferrari. They were missing that double diffuser, plus their KERS was basically just a nuisance during qualifying.
BMW was way faster without the KERS. I mean, it’s only about 30 to 40 kg, but you barely even get to use it—just six seconds. Total waste.

It looks like they’re finally going to make a call on whether KERS is actually worth the trouble during the race in Kuala Lumpur.

I’m expecting a ton of technical tinkering over the next few races from Ferrari, Renault, McM, and even BMW. Expect some serious engineering gymnastics.

Good to see you're back.😁

We didn't get to see if that BMW had any actual KERS advantage or not. Heidfeld went flying off at Turn 1, probably trashed his car, and who knows if his KERS was even working right to begin with. Alonso also ended up in the gravel, so we have zero clue what the real pace looks like for him or the Renault. 😉

Here's another fun fact: Rubens says Kovalainen actually ripped that controversial diffuser right off his car during a collision at the rear.😲 Even with a broken front wing, that BGP was still flying. If this is actually true, they’ve absolutely nailed the car's setup. 😲😲

Rubens is totally overreacting here.

redstag said:It all depends. KERS gave Hamilton the edge. Alonso can talk all he wants, but KERS is what kept Glock from blowing past him for most of the race.

80% chance of rain this Sunday.

Then there's no debate here—Vettel takes this easily.👍

If it starts pouring, I’m honestly praying this happens

🙂

stormybadger8 said:it’s good to see you back in the mix😁

We didn't even get a chance to see if there was a KERS difference on the BMW, mostly because Heidfeld went flying off at the first turn—probably ended up with some serious damage, and who knows if his KERS was even working properly after that wreck. Alonso also went wide, so honestly, nobody has any clue what the actual pace of Alonso and the Renault is right now. 😉

And here's another little tidbit , Rubens claims that Kovalainen ripped off his controversial diffuser during a collision at the rear 😲, yet the BGP was still flying despite having a broken front wing; if that story holds water, the BGP is basically the perfect car. 😲 😲

It sounds like Rubens still hasn't figured out what a diffuser actually is. 🙏 🙏 So what's next on the list? A broken diffuser, a snapped wing, a fly in his eye, an urgent need to pee, a numb arm, a sore seat, half-power engine, or maybe a squirrel jumping into the cockpit... 🙏 🙏

Kimi's gonna take it all. Go Kimi!👍

feralcanyon73 said:Kimi is going to take the win. Go Kimi.👍

Good morning, everyone.☕

feralcanyon73 said:Kimi's gonna pull it off. Go Kimi.👍

It’s right there on his KERS button, plain as day.😬

Arthur Doyle70 said:It’s right there on his KERS button, clearly.😬

I guess Kimi hasn't found that button yet.
Even if he does, I guess he still hasn't quite grasped what the whole thing is actually for. 😬

Roger Williams3 said:if the weather turns and we get rain, I’m really hoping this happens

🙂

What a drive 🙏 🙏 🙏

I find myself revisiting this one with genuine joy every single time. 😍

Ultimately, that race will be remembered for Alonso's brilliant performance rather than Button's first win.

Even though Alonso didn't actually cross the finish line, in my eyes, he's the true winner here. 🙏

Roger Williams3 said:if it rains, I'm praying this happens

🙂

Forget it, there'll be zero traction, plus we've got KERS... things are about to get interesting. 😁

I wouldn't be surprised if we see some KERS magic again today🙏

The odds on a safety car are sitting at 1.85. Anyone know any bets that aren't total suicide?
So, if I wanted to win enough for a decent car—say, maybe $18,000—I’d have to drop about $20,000 upfront. Yeah, wish I had that kind of cash lying around.

A little side note: the odds for a win are 18 for both Toyotas, Vettel, Nico, and Nick. Hamilton is at 16, and Massa is at 15.

Looks like I’ll have to place another bet. Only on Ferrari, obviously. It's the only way I can actually enjoy watching this mess.

Roger Wright94 said:The odds on a safety car are 1.85. Are there any bets actually worth taking?
So, to walk away with a nice decent car—let's say around $18,000—you’d have to put down about $21,500. Well, it's a shame I don't have that kind of cash lying around.

Just some extra trivia: the win odds are 18 for both Toyotas, Vettel, Nico, and Nick. Meanwhile, Hamilton is at 16 and Massa is at 15.

I suppose I'll have to place another bet eventually. On Ferrari, naturally. It's the only way I can watch this without losing my mind.

There hasn't been an SC in Malaysia since 2002, so you tell me how "safe" that bet really is.☕

mistybear87 said:We haven't seen an SC at the Sepang circuit since 2002, so you can decide for yourself just how much of a safe bet that really is... ☕

That’s exactly why Piquet and Nakajima are on the job... to sort this mess out...😂

Roger Williams3 said:if it starts raining, I’m really hoping for this

🙂

Don't you worry, I'll make sure we get some rain...😁🙂