Chapter 6: Malaysia
After a quick sleep in Australia, the teams were boarding their flights to Malaysia for the next race, fortunately for Simon and Toyota the team were informed there was new evidence regarding the final safety car period. They arrived in Malaysia to the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur to the stewards' office which was unusual for a Tuesday morning usually the driver is training in high intensity for the hard race. The team principal went in with Simon, he sat there while the evidence was being played to him it was the full communication of the McLaren pit wall to Lewis and it was revealed that Lewis told the stewards that the team never told him to let the Toyota overtake which gave Simon the 25 second penalty. After hearing this the stewards discussed it and concluded that Lewis Hamilton misled them and apologised for issuing the penalty, they also concluded that Simon is to be reinstated in 3rd place and declared that the suitable punishment for Lewis and McLaren would be to disqualify him from the race which moves everyone from 4th place downwards a place up.
Leading up to the race there are dark clouds gathering around the track and Simon, Alvin and Theodore were looking at them.
"Hey Simon what's the possibility that it'll rain?"
"Well Alvin, looking at the clouds, a very high chance of monsoon weather we'll be lucky to see out the entire race dry".
"Do monsoons have thunder?" Theodore's body shook.
"Well monsoons are tropical storms so yes unfortunately".
"Well have a good race guys", Alvin wandered off to his BMW garage.
"I'm glad we cleared the mess that occurred at Australia, I knew I didn't overtake behind the safety car, it was all Lewis's doing".
"I believe he's apologised to the world on Thursday Simon".
"Well I'm 3rd, your 7th and Lewis Hamilton disqualified, most deserved penalty, but now let's just focus on this race now, Theo".
Whilst standing on the grid, they tried to keep cool despite the cloud cover lowering the temperature slightly. Martin Brundle does his world famous grid walk as he approaches Simon.
"A quick word Simon" Simon nodded.
"Simon, it must've been a difficult week to endure".
"Yeah indeed it was, I'm not going to go into details, you saw what happened in Australia, but hey I was on the podium in my first race hopefully I can be in this one".
"What are your radars saying about the rain?"
"Well for sure it'll rain, but this is Malaysia where the weather is so unpredictable, it might come on lap 10, 20 maybe 30, we don't know, some time in the race I guess".
"Ok thank you Simon".
Martin wandered further down the grid to Alvin who was sipping his drink bottle in 10th following Vettel's penalty.
"Alvin, up for a quick chat", Alvin took the straw out of his mouth and nodded.
"Second time been knocked out of Q2 what's your mindset on this race?"
"Make up as many positions as possible, rain is forecast and it's so hot here, I'm constantly drinking to stay hydrated".
"What's the team said to you regarding the rain?"
"The team have said that the rain is on its way as we speak so I think it means lap 8 or 9 maybe".
"Ok thank you Alvin", Martin left him to his thoughts as he wandered towards the tail end of the grid.
"Now I need a word to Theodore who had a miserable qualifying yesterday, he couldn't quite do a lot in Q1 and is in 20th", he approached Theodore's car on the grid.
"Theodore, there's talk that the car was set up for a wet race so it should do well right?" Theodore shook his head.
"That's not quite true, we struggled in qualifying, it was a dry set up, but we can only adjust the flaps on the front to help us in the first stint, but no it's not a wet set up and if this rain comes then it should be fun".
"When is the rain expected?"
"My team say lap 15 to 20".
"Ok, did you think the car was capable of more?"
"Well for sure there was a chance to get through to Q2, the car isn't quite there yet, but remember, I missed out of getting into Q2 in Australia and we recovered in the points, it'll be tough today with the heat and rain, heavy rain coming so it should be an entertaining race".
"Ok thank you Theodore".
The grid is lined up ready for the grand prix and the fans look at the sky which is pretty dark and casting a shadow over the track as the sunlight is fading with gathering clouds. Theodore put his helmet on and sat in his car with his mechanics blowing cool air to cool the car and himself down as they prepare for the formation lap.
The grid is as follows:
On the front row we have Jenson Button and Simon Seville, first front row start for him. On row 2 its Timo Glock who's been promoted thanks to Vettel and Barrichello's grid penalties, joining him is Nico Rosberg. On row 3, Mark Webber and Robert Kubica also promoted. On row 4 Kimi Raikkonen and Rubens Barrichello starting 8th due to a gearbox change after qualifying. On row 5 Fernando Alonso and Alvin Seville he'll want a points finish today. On row 6 Kazuki Nakajima and Lewis Hamilton, the car still not like it was 12 months ago. On row 7 Sebastian Vettel, grid penalty for the collision in Australia, with Heikki Kovalainen joining him. On row 8 Sebastien Bourdais and Felipe Massa, he had a bad day in the office as he made a mistake in Q1 and stayed in the garage rather than better his time. On row 9 Nelson Piquet Jr and Giancarlo Fisachella and on the back row of the grid we have Adrian Sutil and Theodore Seville. They took the tyre warmers off the 20 cars on the grid as they set off on their formation lap and drama already as Robert Kubica is slow to get away.
"As the grid is going for their formation lap we'll hand you over to Martin Brundle and Jonathon Legard".
"Everyone got off the line apart from Kubica as he slowly bunches the rest of the pack up, here's team radio from him".
"There's a strange noise from the engine", said Robert to his race engineer.
"Strange noise from the engine, oh dear he may not start", said Martin.
"Well I guess he'll be nice and dry before this rain comes", said Jonathon.
"Look he's taken up his spot on the grid, he will start let's see if he can get it off the line".
"We now wait patiently for the start of the second race of the 2009 F1 season, 1 light, 2 lights, 3 lights, 4, 5 … and we're away, Button's making a move also Kimi Raikkonen and Alonso, but Nico Rosberg has made a storming start, he's side by side with Button and passes him and Nico Rosberg leads the Malaysian Grand Prix".
Heikki Kovalainen is found in the gravel trap as the first retirement of the race.
The action is happening up and down the field as Button is sizing up a move on the heavily fuelled Renault of Alonso through turn 13.
"Button making a move, beautiful move, turn 13", exclaimed Martin.
The camera spots Robert Kubica's stricken BMW with smoke billowing out the engine.
"Well he did say he had a problem with the engine, remember they have eight engines to last them the season and if you go blow them up in the first few races it'll really hurt you later on with the impending ten place engine change penalties".
"There are gathering clouds to our right".
"Team radio for Raikkonen", said Martin.
"Watch for the rain, Kimi, we hear the storm coming".
"We'll watch for the rain also Ferrari, oh team radio from Theodore".
"It's dark, it's like night-time, and it looks like this storm is going to be bad".
"Copy Theo, copy that visibility poor, where is it Theodore?"
"(Downshifting) Turns 5 and 6", replied Theodore.
"Ok Theodore understood".
"Visibility bad at turns 5 and 6, I've never heard that from a driver on only the 4th lap of a race before".
"The cloud cover is so severe no light is getting to the track making it darker than it should be".
On Lap 7 Alonso out-broke himself and is passed by Kimi Raikkonen and is on the defence from Mark Webber.
Positions at the moment are: Rosberg, Simon, Button, Barrichello, Glock, Nakajima, Raikkonen then Alonso outside the points in 9th.
"Remember the top 8 cars score points, but the race must run to 75% race distance for full points to be given, if this storm brings monsoon like conditions then that'll jeopardise the race, if less than 75% of race distance is completed then half points will be rewarded".
"Only four races have been abandoned before 75% in the history of Formula One", said Jonathon.
"I was part of one in 1991 in Adelaide where the race was just impossible and was called after only 14 laps", said Martin.
"You didn't qualify for the race though?"
"Well, no I did struggle that weekend, but I'm glad I didn't qualify for the race, the conditions were terrible".
On Lap 12 rain still hasn't hit the circuit as the leading cars come in for their first pit-stop for fuel and tyres, Rosberg and Simon come in the pits with Button inheriting the lead followed by Barrichello then Glock.
"Pit radio from Theodore", said Jonathon.
"Theodore, how's the track?"
"(Downshifting in turn 6) It's still very dark in turns 5 and 6, in fact turns 13 up to 14 is looking a bit dull now, I think rain is on its way".
"Ok understood, looking at our weather radar, rain is coming in 10 minutes, intensity 1 to 2 to start off with, but the rain will be here to stay when it comes, so try to make up places before the rain comes".
"Ok", said Theodore.
"Pit radio from Alvin, boy this is a busy day for the pit wall".
"Alvin, we have information from our radar it says rain is expected in 12 minutes intensity 2".
"(Hitting rev limiter in 7thgear) Right, rain in 12 minutes I copy".
"Just tell us when conditions are inoperable on the slick tyre; we'll change to intermediates ok".
"(Downshifting) Ok", said Alvin.
"We're on lap 15, order is Button, Barrichello, Glock, Simon, Rosberg, Nakajima, Raikkonen, Vettel then Massa with Alonso 10th", said Jonathon.
"Team radio from Kimi", said Martin.
"Do you think it'll rain, Kimi?"
"I think so, I'm coming in".
"What? You can't be serious", exclaimed Martin over commentary.
"Ok Kimi we're out in pit lane, box in this lap".
"If Kimi is taking a gamble with the wet tyre, he must be crazy, they will just shred those up in 3 laps".
"Kimi's in".
"Let's see what they have".
"Those are wets; Ferrari making a gamble which I believe will come to bite them, they need standing water to survive".
On lap 17 Kimi Raikkonen on full wet tyres are just too slow for any advantage.
"Where is the rain? We're going to destroy the tyres".
"Ok Kimi rain hasn't come quickly enough, box in this lap".
"Kimi Raikkonen dropping back ever quicker; this stop won't help either".
"He's back to slick tyres, oh dear, what a waste of a set of wets".
On lap 18 there are spits of rain on the visor of Alonso and Hamilton who is in 10th and 11th place respectively.
"Alonso still hasn't pitted and Webber is behind Hamilton this is going to be fun and is that rain on the camera lens?"
"Looks like it, oh where has Alonso gone?"
"Oh dear there goes Alonso on the grass".
Alonso hit a damp part of the track and skated on the gravel and onto the grass, but managed to limp back on the track down in 14th place behind Theodore. Hamilton going through turns 12 and 13, his McLaren with the lack of down-force is hurting them in terms of grip in wet conditions as Webber makes a move in a car which has more grip than the McLaren has.
"You can see now that the McLaren is slow in the wet".
"Yeah this is where the problem with not enough down-force is really hurting them, Webber with more grip could overtake in turn 12".
"We're on lap 19 now; I think the rain has come now".
"Yeah I think it's worth a gamble on full wets".
"It never rains; it pours in Malaysia, team radio from Glock".
"I think it's time for intermediate tyres".
"Ok Timo understood do you want to pit at the end of this lap?"
"Yes, I pit now".
"Ok Timo, pit this lap".
"Oh hang on everyone's coming in now the track has completely darkened, but Button hasn't pitted that's brave".
"Full wet tyres apart from Glock".
"It has to rain now for this to work for them otherwise Glock will comfortably lead this race".
"We have team radio from Simon".
"When's the rain coming?"
"Apparently it's arrived, but not very heavy at the moment, intensity 1 at the moment, but I can hear rumbles of thunder in the distance, it is coming soon Simon, just hold station on slicks for the time being".
"How much fuel have I got?"
"You have 12 laps of fuel onboard".
"Ok, I'll try saving fuel".
"Ok understood".
On lap 23, the rain is increasing in intensity as Sebastien Bourdais has some aquaplaning at turn 5.
"Oh dear Bourdais almost lost the back end, now you can see the rain coming down, intermediates are the desired tyre at the moment".
"We have team radio from Bourdais".
"We need to pit; I almost lost the car in turn 5, intermediates this lap".
"Ok Sebastien, intermediates copy, box in this lap".
"He was on slick tyres no wonder he had trouble keeping the car on track".
"Button pits now for intermediate tyres".
Button exits his pit box and the broadcast suddenly cuts off and back on as the lightning is intensifying and knocked the signal out temporarily with a huge rumble of thunder.
"More bolts of lightning hit the circuit, a couple hit the top of the grandstand".
"Is it worth the gamble on full wet?"
"Depending on how quickly this storm arrives I doubt it at the moment given how hot the track is still, the tyres will just burn themselves up".
"We have team radio from Button".
"Where is the pit stop window for full wet?"
"Ok Jenson the storm is coming in approximately 8 minutes and for a minimum of 30 minutes the intensity will be 2-3 may increase to 3 so in 5 laps I'd pit for wets".
"Wow 30 minutes".
"Oh dear that doesn't sound good".
"Its monsoon season in Malaysia it was threatening and it came as expected".
Through pit stops for inters and wets, Alvin has found himself behind Button with Glock in 3rd.
"Ok Alvin you're in 2nd position so hold this position".
"Really we're in 2nd wow, who's in 3rd?"
"Timo is in 3rd on intermediates, we're on intermediates too so we should be ok unless the rain intensifies".
On lap 28 the storm has come as intensity 3 rain hits the full track as the drivers on intermediate tyres start feeling their cars lifting on the surface of the water.
"We have team radio from Alvin".
"Alvin, the storm has come, pit this lap for full wets, pit in this lap for full wets".
"I'll try, but my car is sliding everywhere".
"Ok, be careful".
"We also have team radio from Simon".
"Uh guys I have very little contact patch on track right now I need full wets, I'm aquaplaning".
"Ok understood, pit this lap".
"You need oars not tyres", commented Jonathon.
Everyone dives in pit lane as a massive bolt of lightning hits the top of the main grandstand as a huge rumble of thunder roars across the circuit making the commentary team stand in the commentary box in shock.
"We have team radio from Theodore as he exited the pits".
"Oh my goodness did you hear the thunder? I have never heard thunder that loud before".
"Yeah we heard it Theodore be careful out there, track conditions are not good".
"The conditions are seriously getting dangerous now; anyone who's on intermediates will effectively float off the road".
As Button starts his 31st lap the rain has made a river out of turn one.
"You can see now the conditions are appalling".
"Safety car conditions now surely, possibly even red flag".
"They're tip toeing now around the track".
"Safety car is out now".
"There's so much standing water I wonder if it's even feasible to continue at this rate, Ted has news in the pit lane".
"Yes, I do and the information I can get without getting too wet is that the rain isn't going away any time soon and the conditions are set to get worse, remember a couple years ago Martin this is about as much rain as in the Nurburgring which was the last time they…"
Ted paused as Team radio for Bourdais displayed on his device.
"Red flag the race, they need to red flag the race, undriveable, undriveable", said Bourdais in his radio.
Marshalls held out the red flag to indicate that the race has been stopped to the drivers and spectators.
"Oh there you go, the race has been stopped".
"Thanks Ted, that's it the race has been suspended, they will now form on the grid and wait to see if the conditions are going to get even worse like Ted said or there'd be a chance that the race can be resumed we shall see".
"Team radio to Alvin", said Martin.
"Ok Alvin, the race has been suspended we're in P2 right now, Glock is in 3rd, we need to just form on the grid, I'll bring an umbrella to you to keep you dry".
"Ok, I hope the race doesn't resume, the track conditions were horrible".
"Ok understood".
"Let's see now who's on the grid, we have Button, Alvin, Glock, Simon, Barrichello, Webber, Hamilton and Rosberg as our top 8, then we still have Massa, Bourdais who wanted it stopped, Alonso, Nakajima, Piquet and that's it, hmm where's Raikkonen?"
"I don't see Vettel, Sutil or Theodore".
Kimi was seen in the Ferrari garage in his shorts and t-shirt getting a can of Coca-cola from the fridge.
"Hey look there he is, with an ice-cream and a nice cold can of Coca-cola, what's going on?"
"Oh team radio to Kimi as the race was stopped".
"Kimi, we have to retire the car".
"Why?"
"The rain has shorted the KERS unit in the car, might cause an engine problem so we need to as soon as you reach turn 14, drive in the pits and retire the car".
"Ok".
Replays of three victims to the conditions, Vettel, Sutil and Theodore were displayed on the screen at the circuit spinning in the gravel.
"Oh they spun off before the red flag oh dear, well you can't help that, when the water isn't clearing you're a passenger I'm afraid", said Martin.
After an hour the rain was still intense as the light was fading into the night and the race organisers had to call it there at 31 completed laps, the race will not restart.
"Well there you have it, officially the race has been abandoned so this is the fifth time this has happened so half points are rewarded", said Martin.
"Jenson Button has won the Malaysian Grand Prix", as Jenson sat in his car listening to his team tell him race is not going to restart so he's declared the winner.
The race positions were confirmed as Button, Alvin, Glock, Simon, Barrichello, Webber, Hamilton and Rosberg to get the points. As they make their way to somewhere drier in the press conference room for the top three drivers and the paddock for the teams is moved inside as the rain is still present.
"This is the press conference for the 2009 Petronas Malaysian Grand Prix with Jenson Button for Brawn GP, Alvin Seville for BMW Sauber and Timo Glock for Toyota, well Jenson as you said it's never easy at the start and the calls you had to make with the changing of the weather conditions on the approach to your pit stop".
"Well, what a crazy race! It really was, um my start was pretty bad I had loads of over-steer in the car, I don't think I had heat in my rear tyres, I was in fourth and got back up to third eventually got back to the front and I was pretty happy with that, our pace was good, but the rain started. Choosing the tyres was very difficult because normally here when it rains it pours, but it didn't to start off with. We went for the full wet tyre, but that destroyed itself so saw Timo flying behind us with the inter so we put the inter on and saw him go past and his tyres were completely balled, it was raining at the back so he was really struggling quite a bit and had to pit so I got one lap in with the inter with reasonable pace and was able to come in and put the wet tyre on and come out in front. A very interesting race and I haven't yet seen the chequered flag without a safety car in front".
"Well Jenson we'll come back to and congratulations on a third win in your career, Alvin Seville first podium for you, your brother was on the podium last race, but difficult circumstances at the end of that race".
"Yeah indeed, I'm glad the situation was resolved so quickly because to be fair to my brother he drove his heart out in Australia and deserved that 3rd place".
"Now tell us about your race today, Alvin".
"What can I say? It was so tricky today with the changing conditions and in fact I'm still drenched from the torrential rain on the 29th lap I think that's when I was struggling to keep it on the track, the car was lifting off the track and I was on my team radio, I need to pit because I was on the intermediates as was Timo and so we both pitted and I came out ahead of Timo and then I went wide and he re-passed me, but the race apparently was classified on the 31st lap so I had 2nd place and Timo in 3rd".
"Ok thank you Alvin, Timo tricky conditions how important was tyres today?"
"Tyre selection was difficult because the track didn't feel wet enough for full wet at the start, but I was on the radio to the team asking them when the rain was coming and the team kept telling me couple minutes, I took a gamble for inters which paid off in the end, but when the rain really come down I pitted for full wet and the team told me I was leading then I saw Button fly past and I was in 2nd, lining up on the grid I was 2nd, but now I'm up here in 3rd so hopefully I stay 3rd when I leave this room to the team".
"Ok thank you Timo".
"Right to confirm the results which the points will look rather unusual, Button gets 5 points, Alvin getting 4, Glock gets 3, Simon getting 2.5 points which will look interesting all season long, Barrichello getting a couple of points, Webber gets 1.5 points, Lewis Hamilton getting a point though his points from Melbourne no longer stand and Nico Rosberg with half a point, we'll see you in Shanghai for the Chinese Grand Prix", said Jake to round off the coverage.