2013 Malaysian Grand Prix – official qualifying

on March 24, 2013 On the track news with 25 comments
Car 1 SEBASTIAN VETTEL, Position: POLE POSITION! (3rd Practice – P1, 1:36.435)
“It was very difficult as the circuit was half dry and half wet today – so it was difficult to find the right compromise between pushing hard and also saving the tyres. It was the right strategy to come in and change the tyres and the pace was there. It was a good session in Q3 and it was clear what we had to do, so I’m pleased with the result. It’s a long race tomorrow and whoever wins will have done the best job. We managed to save some tyres today which will help if the race is dry, but we will see.”Car 2 MARK WEBBER, Position: 5th, (3rd Practice – P4, 1:36.613)
“It’s disappointing to finish fifth. We didn’t get the timing quite right in the last part of Q3, I thought I had more laps. We were quick enough, but we went too slow on the lap when we should have been going quick and it meant we didn’t get a last timed lap in. The time doesn’t represent how comfortable I felt in the car today and it’s frustrating when you put so much work in and know you could have done better. I’m looking forward to the race tomorrow – it should be interesting with the weather.”

CHRISTIAN HORNER: “A challenging qualifying, but in the end we were able to navigate both cars into Q3 when the rain came – it was then a question of getting the timings right. Sebastian elected to do two runs – it was always clear there was only time for one and one (timed laps) or five laps if you ran the whole session. Mark having not got his first lap in elected to stay out and, as the circuit continued to dry, the lap times continued to fall. Sebastian put together a fantastic lap in tricky conditions to get the pole. With Mark, it was a great shame as we thought he would be the last car to cross the line and get the last timed lap, but a miscommunication about the number of remaining laps meant that he was first car to get the chequered flag, missing a fifth lap by one second. It was a shame, but first and fifth for tomorrow’s race is a good starting position. That said, I don’t think pole will be the deciding factor of tomorrow’s race; if it’s wet it helps with visibility, but in the event of a dry race then tyre degradation and tyre strategy will be key.”
(Renault) THIERRY SALVI: “It’s always a joy to come here as the weather conditions are quite extreme, so it’s interesting in terms of engine settings and engine set up. You can imagine that the engine can suffer quite a lot under these conditions and, in addition, you also have to work on drivability under dry and wet conditions. That means you have to be ready for the kind of qualifying we had today, when it starts dry and ends wet. The challenge here is to be able to cope with that weather and for the engine itself to be able to cope with these extreme conditions.”
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25 Comments

  • Marcus Stanford
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    Deserved more, you drove brilliant.

    But still P5 is a decent starting point, drive excellent as always and a podium should be possible! 🙂

    Remember: Tyres, tyres and tyres!

  • stuart
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    It is a nice result I think MW,s tyres will be the better for the loss of laps
    Tuff at the front this year, But I think this,ll be a race where MW is at the least on the podium

  • TravDog
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    great job by Red Bull to get pole again

  • Robyn M
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    Go get them MArk Cream the start and do not let the four in front get ahead too much. We believe in you and you know you can do it if eth team gives you their full support.

  • John
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    Good luck Mark! You can still win!

  • stuart
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    watching interviews
    Just before the start. Mark is flat, poor guy, mistakes by others and I think he feels the pressure. I have never seen him so down
    It is such a pity, such a good person and such a remarkable driver
    I think he can win this race AS LONG AS HE IS RACING and not trying to overcome stuff he has no control over
    Such as outside influences

  • Vic aka Civy
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    Well done Mark, good drive mate. Next we will hear the Aussie anthem 🙂 cheers

  • Damo
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    The best man didn’t win today… Seb is what you call a bad sport. Lots of respect Mark for your racing today and the way you handled yourself after the race.

  • Trav
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    Mark
    absolutely brilliant job in the race…im hurtin for you m8….we can see that you had control of the race!. Fuck Seb….i listened to him on the radio and he is a spoilt brat…what a sook…he couldnt handle you beating him…so he broke team agreements to win…ges tared with the same brush as Schuey…if he cant win fairly…he will cheat!!!!
    Fuck himmmmm
    ……just keep percevering….beat him the right way……Your an Aussie and we are all proud of you. Win it the right way m8.

  • psycho budgie
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    Just watched the race, unbelievable watching vettel, a man with no shame. He’s a cheat. Good to see how well you drove Mark – for me you won today.

  • Eva
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    Hey Mark,
    apart from what happened in the final laps, with your team favoring SV once again, the most important thing is your fantastic race and phenomenal start. You can hold your head up. Keep fighting Champion!

  • Trav
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    Seb still wears a nappy…yr a man Mark
    Screw babby boy Seb…kick his ass in 2013

  • Trav
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    ….its sickening how Seb needs his lover Helmut Marko to hold his hand….unbelievable….

  • Susan
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    Congrats Mark, gr8 start and you should have been on the middle podium. I was so livid with Vettel but then again not surprising. There are 17 races to go and you can win the championship. All good things come to those who wait 🙂

  • Trav
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    P3 in the championship…..i know you have been shafted by sooky lala Seb….but its ok…head down…cos u must realise that hes still concerned by your speed. Just kick his ass Mark. Your driving at Sepang was flawless…..go m8….go.

  • leo
    on March 24, 2013 Reply

    Great Win Mark!!!!

  • Trav
    on March 25, 2013 Reply

    you wont have to put up with Helmut……..in Noosa on the board

  • Trav
    on March 25, 2013 Reply

    bloody hell….all us aussies just want to see you get the championship…..we know you can do it…so dont quit no matter what. You are an inspirational person Mark.

  • Sergey
    on March 25, 2013 Reply

    Mark you are the best

  • Sergey
    on March 25, 2013 Reply

    Mark you are the best !!!

  • stuart
    on March 25, 2013 Reply

    the body language immediately after the rave from Vettel spoke volumes I saw a tiny glimmer of shame. So maybe there is some hope for this brat yet
    I saw incredible pain on MW.s face , but as usual he handled it in his mature controlled way . An inspiration to all competitors, no matter what sport.
    All those dads that turn their kids into brats, by yelling blue murder on the sidelines, take a page from the Webber book

  • Tony
    on March 25, 2013 Reply

    It has been said. Unfortunately Micheal Shumacher lives on. I am not what seb means when he did not disobey intentionally. Was he not driving then, or was actually told something different to Mark before the race?
    Well done Mark. Integrity wins hands down.

  • George From Argentina
    on March 26, 2013 Reply

    He’s not the Better He’s only Vettel
    Screw babby boy Seb…kick his ass in 2013

  • Rick
    on March 28, 2013 Reply

    Vettel just created a level playing field for the rest of the year. I’ve never agreed with team orders but one would have to assume they don’t exist anymore do they?? That [site manager edit] Christian Horner hasn’t the guts to do anything so you can race your own way for eh rest of the year with nothing to lose. You’d look great in red………..

  • David
    on March 29, 2013 Reply

    We love you Mark

    I got so pissed about Marko and Horner and Bernie

    All of them are just asses and don`t know talent.

    German prick is a huge danger for the sport and other drivers.

    you are the best and you should pusch and become world champion

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