Yesterday was the running of the Malaysian Grand Prix and as all g prix lately, it had it's dramas. This was a race that had it's start time moved from the traditional 2pm kickoff to 5pm to satisfy the European Television receiver viewers and that alone produced the almost drama of the 24-hour interval.

In Malaysia monsoon blazon rain and thunderstorms are very typical anytime afterward 5-6pm and at that place was plenty of concern about this throughout the weekend. It didn't disappoint.

heidfeld podium malaysia 09 04 05 2

Fri do was fairly uneventful, simply information technology looked like the F1.09 was but off the pace and actually didn't look all that impressive. Afterwards practise Mario Theissen said that they completed their schedule and it was very successful. Saturday qualifying was a different story and information technology was Robert Kubica who managed a swell sixth position on the grid.

Because that only about everyone ahead of him were in cars with the controversial two step diffusers, that was about the best case scenario for him.

Nick Heidfeld on the other hand was putting upward very fast sector times throughout Q1 and for the better role of Q2, but after a cursory stop in the pits for new tires for a last flying lap, traffic completely ruined the lap and he was eliminated in Q2. Nick had been taking a lot of criticism for his qualifying bug in 2008 and over again the quick to talk jumped all over him. Truth is, he was as fast and at times faster than Kubica, simply found himself in slower traffic on his well-nigh important lap of qualifying.

The race started with the serious threat of pelting and the ever present late afternoon/evening blackness clouds, just a dry rail. The parade lap was where information technology went all wrong for Kubica when you could hear him radio that he was hearing funny engine noises. The team elected to proceed him out for the get-go, but when he throttled upwardly at the beginning, no power and on lap three pulled off the runway with an engine burn.

Nick Heidfeld started the race full of fuel and the heaviest car on the track due to his lower qualifying spot and the serious threat of pelting. When the leaders with lighter load cars came in for fuel, Nick was able to stay out and gain positions. By his get-go terminate rain was virtually on them and he was able to use that end for fuel and total moisture tires. This may accept been a mistake when the rain came only a little and not enough for full wets. Beingness known every bit a smooth driver easy on tires he was able to preserve his wets until the rain came in buckets. When information technology did, all of the leaders came in to switch to wets leaving him in second identify. Non long after the race was scarlet flagged and eventually called off.

This isn't the first time Heidfeld has used great pit and tire strategy on a rainy runway. Last year it was both Monza and Spa Belgium where his tactics gained him a podium finish.

It was a great podium stop for the team and nosotros await the diffuser appeal that will be heard April 14.

Courtesy of BMWF1blog.com, the number 1 BMW Sauber and Formula 1 related blog.