#F1 2012 malaysian grand prix drivers
#F1 2012 malaysian grand prix driver

Fernando Alonso also drove only a single lap to preserve his tyres for the race. Of the top ten drivers, only Sebastian Vettel chose to do Q3 on the harder tyre which is a clear strategic move to try and make the Red BullР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›s race pace translate into a possible victory. Felipe Massa too failed to make it into Q1, along with the second Williams of Bruno Senna, SauberР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›s Kamui Kobayashi, the two Force Indias of Paul Di Resta and Nico Hulkenberg & Toro RossoР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›s Daniel Ricciardo. The WilliamsР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС› of Pastor Maldonado had an off track moment and slid into the gravel trap, which saw his carР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›s floor damaged and ending up outside the top ten.

Q2 saw the returning Kimi Raikkonen go fastest ahead of Button and Hamilton. Q1 saw Mark Webber set the pace ahead of Schumacher and Button as the two HRTs, the two Marussias, the two Caterhams and the Toro Rosso of Jean-Eric Vergne dropped out of contention.

#F1 2012 malaysian grand prix drivers

Qualifying was briefly under the threat of rain showers which never showed up and as the track temperatures increased, most of the drivers took to the medium tyre Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™ the softer of the two compounds that Pirelli has brought here Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™ to bolster their lap times. Ferrari got into the top ten for the first time this season with Fernando Alonso starting eighth as SauberР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›s Sergio Perez will start ninth. Romain Grosjean will start sixth ahead of a disappointed Nico Rosberg in the second Mercedes in seventh. LotusР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС› Kimi Raikkonen set the fifth fastest time but will drop down to tenth on the grid as a result of a gearbox change. Red Bull had a lacklustre qualifying with Mark Webber starting fourth and Sebastian Vettel sixth Р В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†Р вЂљРЎС™ but will start from fifth place on the grid.

Mercedes GP had a good showing at their title sponsorР В Р вЂ Р В РІР‚С™Р Р†РІР‚С›РЎС›s home grand prix as Michael Schumacher set the third fastest time. Record number of podiums in Malaysia, shared by four drivers: Michael Schumacher, Fernando Alonso, Sebastian Vettel and Lewis Hamilton.McLaren continued their superb qualifying form this season as Lewis Hamilton secured pole position for the Malaysian Grand Prix at Sepang with teammate Jenson Button a shade behind in second place. He was 17 years, 5 months and 27 days old - more than two years younger than previous record holder Daniil Kvyat.

Max Verstappen became F1's youngest points scorer in Malaysia last year when he finished seventh for Toro Rosso. Brawn's Jenson Button triumphed, but therefore only received five points - while Nico Rosberg picked up 0.5 points for running eighth when the race was called at the end of lap 31. Torrential rain in 2009 meant the Grand Prix was stopped early and half points were awarded for only the fifth time in F1 history. The Australian was less than impressed, leading to a very frosty post-race 'celebration'. Or 'Multi 21' to be precise - a Red Bull team radio phrase now immortalised in F1 lore following the 2013 Malaysian Grand Prix, when Sebastian Vettel ignored team orders and passed Mark Webber to claim victory for Red Bull. Sergio Perez, meanwhile, missed out on what would have been a first F1 triumph by this margin - in seconds - in a wild, rain-hit race in 2012, but even so picked up his first Grand Prix podium with second place.

Rubens Barrichello, racing for Ferrari, was the only man to finish within 60s of Raikkonen, who lapped everyone up to fourth. The margin of victory, in seconds, enjoyed by Kimi Raikkonen in 2003 - the Finn's first F1 win. Fairuz Fauzy is the only other Malaysian to have taken part in F1 - he participated in five FP1 sessions (including at Sepang) with Lotus in 2010. Alex Yoong competed here for Minardi in 2002, qualifying 22nd and climbing as high as 14th before retiring with gearbox issues.

#F1 2012 malaysian grand prix driver

Race start by a Malaysian driver on home soil. The German started from the first grid spot on five occasions in Malaysia, a record no other driver has yet matched - Lewis Hamilton is closest, on three. The average speed, in km/h, of Michael Schumacher's pole lap in 2004.