Formula 1: Vettel the Ripper strikes again!

Vettel did what Vettel does. A late charge from Lewis Hamilton in qualifying threatened to alter the status quo, but Vettel was not perturbed. The defending champion leaned on the RB7, blew the McLaren away and drove to pole.

Hamilton sitting next to Vettel, makes an interesting first corner. When the red lights lost colour, Vettel sped away. Renault’s Nick Heidfeld and Vitaly Petrov took off like supercharged bullets! Heidfeld slotted into second, Hamilton was third and a KERSless Webber was swamped, his retreat ended at 9th !

Mother nature usually makes an appearance at the Malaysian GP, but she was diffident
at Round 2 and despite a light drizzle the deluge did not materialize.

The Pirellis are known to degrade rapidly and go off dramatically. And that they did. Pit stops featured prominently in the GP, forcing drivers to visit the pits repeatedly.

As Vettel held pace at the front, the writing on the circuit was clear – there would be no response to his dominance in Malaysia and even when the RB7’s Achilles heel became exposed – KERS – he still maintained a comfortable lead.

I have always complained about the lack of genuine overtaking in F1. Someone was listening. KERS and DRS, added for 2011, facilitated rampant overtaking and this definitely heightened the experience for spectators at the track and the settee brigade (fans at home).

Hamilton

As tyre strategies evolved, drama unfolded. Alonso and Hamilton had a front wing and rear wheel fracas, Petrov went airborne, he retired as battles flowed throughout the grid.

In the closing laps, Hamilton, seemingly wounded, lost 3rd place to a thankful Heidfeld. Heidfeld, however, was not allowed to relax. Webber grabbed the Bull by its horns and attacked Heidfeld. Heidfeld drank the Red Bull in one gulp, remained resolute and took 3rd. Jenson Button somehow crept under the radar. He drove a smooth, incident free and stole 2nd place.

Sebastian Vettel a.k.a. ‘Baby Schumi’ was the class act in Sepang. Vettel the Ripper is now roaming F1 circuits. Where will he strike next? The GP of China is next!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer